26
Just Keep Kalm!
I got on my knees, and rested my head beside Bugenhagen's arm. A weak hand rubbed thin fingers through my hair; they were cold, and poor in circulation.
Back in his home where he wanted to be, Bugenhagen laid on his long couch, his closed eyes facing the ceiling of painted stars. Red whimpered, rubbing his head over the mound of his grandfather's legs under the furs, and his eyes slammed shut.
"I'm glad we could bring you home," he whispered. To give his thanks, he smiled up at Barret, the one who carried Bugenhagen all the way here. Barret didn't grin, too busy studying the sick man's form. I wondered if he was lost in thoughts of being that old himself someday, left to lie in his sick bed with the people he cared about around him. Who would be at Barret's deathbed? Where would he be? His brown eyes were distant, but he heard Red because he replied half-heartedly, "It was no problem."
Reeve bowed his head towards the Elder, hands sandwiched over his suit.
"Thank you for all that you've done for us," he sniffled.
Bugenhagen coughed, his throat stuffed with rattling congestion.
"Oh, please, enough of this. I'm not dead yet," he joked, voice raspy.
I lifted my head, meeting his sparkling little eyes. Without his glasses, I could easily see the folds of his skin under such warm eyes, and it was the most I've seen him aged, like Bugenhagen gained fifty years overnight.
"Bugen..." I began, and a lump blocked the rest of my words. His hand slipped from my hair, ready to fall, but I saved it and I took it with both hands.
"I'm so sorry for what I've done. If I hadn't destroyed the altar, maybe you would've been okay," I cracked.
His fingers felt brittle. I was afraid to squeeze too hard, or else I could grind his bones to powder under his rice paper skin. Blue veins bulged along Bugenhagen's arm and up his hand like tiny rivers, halting at the dam made up from his knuckles.
My eyes stung.
Bugenhagen closed his eyes again, and he expelled a weak cough, his chest crackling like firecrackers. He struggled to take a full inhale.
"I'm fine, child. It's just my time, soon. I've expected this, so please, do not feel bad." Despite his condition, he beamed.
I squeezed his hand a little tighter, and pushed tears back.
"Okay," I whispered.
He blinked his little eyes at me, and there was a weak smile under his mustache.
"You all did a fantastic job thus far. All that's left is stopping the one sucking the Lifestream, and destroying Meteor," he struggled, and then another cough until he went into a fit.
Red rubbed his nose across Bugenhagen's knees.
"And you will live to see it," Red promised.
Bugenhagen's smile stayed on his fragile face.
"I will see it anyway," he corrected, and his smile grew.
Red ducked his head, eyes hiding in the blanket.
I rubbed Bugenhagen's hand against my cheek.
"We won't let you down," I gasped, and released his hand gently to have it rest.
Bugen turned his head, blinking up at the ceiling of his home he's been in for many years.
"Everyone, if it's all right, I would like to be alone with Nanaki for a minute," he requested weakly. With an inhale, I heard the wheezes, and wished to put Bugen on a monitor just so I could see how close he was to reaching his end. His oxygenation should be dropping. Heart rate climbing, kidneys shutting down, followed by the rest of his organs soon enough, until his heart stops. With his time coming to an end, he was where he wanted to be, and requested to be alone with his grandson.
Red and I exchanged looks, and I saw worry swim in his yellow eyes.
I looked away quickly, biting my lower lip, and slowly stood up.
"Please let us know if you two need anything," I forced, though I knew I couldn't give Red and Bugenhagen what they really wanted: More time.
Quietly, I left, along with Reeve and Barret.
It was Red's time to be with his grandfather.
The three of us walked slowly down the slope, heading towards Cosmo's Candle. I looked up, finding the whole sky glow in a blanket of blood, small Meteor poking its head behind a rocky tower. I shivered, dropping my eyes quickly to stop imaging the death of all the Planet hovering over us like a grisly premonition.
"I'm glad we were able to bring him home," Reeve tried, disliking the heavy silence between us, though I don't think Barret wasn't in much of a mood as I was. I simply shrugged, while Barret muttered a weak, "Yeah..."
I stopped near a ledge to inspect the landscape, wondering if this was going to be the last time I will get to marvel at the beauty of all the canyons and its plentiful nature. Behind the gaps of high red walls, the valley opened up with a new wound for the Planet to heal. Recently, the earth had risen, a new crater taking up a giant hole near the canyons.
Barret and Reeve joined, the two of them frowning at the far away destruction.
"Wow, so Weapon left that behind, huh?" Reeve whispered, his mouth slowly opening as he gazed at the new hole. The Planet's energy collected inside it, bringing a glowing green lake into the valley's shadows. It was going to take many years to heal such a blemish.
"Damn. I'm glad it didn't hit this place," Barret mumbled.
Despite the relief for Cosmo Canyon, the air stayed tense. There was this unspoken knowing that rocked inside all of us, not wanting to bring it up, but it was there, hovering over our shoulders with whispers of it coming: This could be our last time in Cosmo Canyon. The clock was ticking.
I took a deep breath, not desiring to stay in such thoughts, it wasn't helping my anxiety, and I turned on my heel.
"I'm going back to the airship to check on Cloud," I told them.
Cloud took a considerable hit from Ultimate Weapon's final attack. The potions and healing Materia helped some, but even when his deep cuts and internal bleeding faded, he hasn't opened his eyes.
"I'll go with you," Reeve confirmed, walking next to me.
Barret grumbled nonsense, indecisive.
"I should probably wait at the candle for Red. I'd hate to make him feel like we left him behind," he fretted, walking with us.
Reeve slipped his hands into his pockets, his thoughts wandering as he looked up at the red sky. He was starting to grow his five o' clock shadow. I produced a small smile, flashing back to our fun Geisha transformation. Reeve caught my look, and his cheeks turned pink from the attention.
"What? Is something on my face?" He asked.
I looked away, smile growing, and shook my head.
"Nothing. I just miss your John Wick beard," I replied.
"Who's John Wick?"
I heaved a chuckle through my nose.
"No one, never mind," I sighed. Soon, my smile faded, losing the magic moment too quickly.
"Reeve, any word on Shinra? Is Rufus alive?" Barret grunted, changing topics.
Reeve took a deep breath and fiddled with his silver cuff links.
"I...I don't know. My phone has been destroyed in Wutai. Without it, I have no way of knowing what happened to him. There's nothing on the news. Shinra's been quiet lately," he answered regretfully.
The Cosmo Candle grew as we came closer, passing it until its heat came and went.
"Guys…"
Red's voice came from behind, and I smacked a hand to my chest, hearing the dreadful tone in his voice.
The three of us stopped and turned around, finding Red sitting close to Cosmo Candle's flames. It was a quiet night, no reason for celebrating. Only a few quiet seaters enjoyed the fire, but the rest stayed inside their homes, dreading Meteor as it hung far to the north of here. It seemed, with Bugenhagen fading, so was the spirit of his home.
When Red looked up at all of us, he dipped his head, furry chin almost touching his front paws, his ears flat, and he sighed.
Barret blinked at him.
"What's wrong Red?"
"I…."
Red straightened, and give me, Reeve and Barret a strong gaze, determined to say what has been prodding him.
"I would like to stay here, to be by my grandfather's side. He may…." he swallowed, looking to his paws.
"He may not be around much longer."
I stayed quiet, hearing how mighty the fire cracked behind Red, casting most of him in its glorious light. I was certain it was comforting him to be so near the heat during a difficult conversation.
Reeve pressed his lips together, averting his eyes to the dancing shadows of the large fire. I was busy fiddling with the v-neckline of my dress, fingers dancing over my collarbones.
Barret rubbed the back of his head, struggling to find the right set of words, mouth open to release a disgruntled sigh escaped.
"Red, I mean, if that's what you gotta do, I get it. Right, Aqua?" He turned his head to me for clearance, and both of my hands came to center, holding my heart in case it were to fall. I knew this was coming. Red had been carrying this feeling for a while, the idea stuck in his head somewhere that he wanted to stay home before Meteor.
I bit my lower lip, nodding.
"Stay, and be by Bugen's side," I encouraged, forcing a smile, but it felt too heavy to keep at it. I took a deep breath to settle the tension growing inside.
That would make only five of us left.
Red tried to do the same with the smiling, but he couldn't do it, and his eyes moistened.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
I knelt to give him a hug, inhaling incense, fresh rain and earth from his fur in case I were to forget. A paw curled over my shoulder, his way of trying to return the hold.
"I'll miss you and your words of wisdom," I shared.
"I'll miss you and your drama," Red chuckled.
We pulled apart, and he licked my cheek.
Barret wasn't comfortable with goodbyes. He gazed down at Red with his thick eyebrows up, and kept rubbing the back of his neck with his metal hand, his dark skin growing slightly pale.
"Red, ugh, I'm gonna miss you, buddy," he struggled, blinking many times.
He squatted and hugged his canine friend, closing his eyes.
"You come back anytime," Red reminded us.
It was Reeve's turn, and he gave out his hand to do a hand shake, but Red just blinked up at him with dead eyes. He muttered, "I prefer not to do a handshake, if you understand my issue having only paws."
Reeve threw a nervous laugh.
"But dogs can do it if you train them. I just thought-"
"Are you calling me a dog?!"
Reeve held up his hands.
"N-No! I didn't mean it like that!"
Red suddenly grinned up at the anxious man.
"I know, Reeve. I'm going to miss your energy," he shared, and bumped his head into Reeve's thigh as a friendly gesture. Reeve's eyes watered. "I'll miss you too."
Barret, Reeve and I waved, and Red waved back with his tail, standing there alone by Cosmo Candle burning brightly, where he always belonged.
Maybe that's why Red had been so drawn to comforting fires during our journey: It reminded him of Cosmo Candle, his home. I reminisced on all the times I've seen him curled up near a fireplace, pleased as a well-fed infant.
It felt empty walking back to the airship, the three of us quietly gazing up at the stars sprouting in the sky when the sun sank.
"Barret, why don't you go to Kalm and be with Marlene?" I brought up, knowing it has been on his mind for a while.
Listening, Reeve jerked his head at me. "Aqua, we're already small enough as it is! Don't-"
"No, she's right," Barret interrupted. He stopped and got lost in the stars. Their light glistened in his eyes, and he blinked too many times until he rammed fingers over them to stop the tears. I leaned over his giant shoulder and rubbed a comforting hand on his back.
"I want to see my baby girl," Barret cracked.
...
No more Red.
I hung my head low as I checked in on Cloud in our sleep room. He laid there on the bottom bunk, under a thick blanket. I wasn't skilled at sewing like Aerith, having to take his worn clothes away. Quietly, in the dim room, I sat on a chair next to his bedside.
For a long time, I watched Cloud's chest rise and fall to his calm breathing, most of it exposed and left for me to inspect carefully: His long collar bones, edges of his scars taking a peek outside the covers, the definition of his shoulders and upper chest. I swallowed, looking away to keep myself from reaching, and wondered if this is how he felt when he watched me rest after what happened in the Forgotten City.
I picked a far wall as my target, losing my thoughts to what I was going to say when Cloud asks what happened to Red. Who will be next? Barret or Cid? Will there be no one but me and Cloud left? Where would we even go? There was no place specific I could think of to savor the last of our days, not unless Cloud thought of a place. He did have something planned, though, the more time that's being sucked away with higher priorities, the farther away it felt to have our time together.
Keep your friends together.
My eyes burned, and I swallowed, unable to clear that lump that's been there since being at Bugenhagen's bedside.
"What's the matter?"
I gasped, jolting my head to find Cloud lay his eyes up at me, awake.
Thank Gods.
He lifted his hand, and cupped my cheek with it, eyes dark blue.
I pressed my lips together, fighting the tears, but they disobeyed, leaking and touching Cloud's fingers. My chest shook, building with stress, and then I buried my head into his chest, suddenly sobbing.
Cloud stayed quiet, his hands resting on my back, and let me cry for as long as I needed. He never asked, but he had a good idea what was wrong.
...
"Aqua..."
Cloud walked ahead, hands in his pockets of black denim jeans. He scanned the flattered earth around us, walking slow to examine the fresh crater. Swirls of green energy came through the cracked earth like tentacles, bubbling from crevices to sail around our feet like fog.
My hands clasped near my heart when I heard Cloud say my name in that melancholic way, telling me he's had a thought stuck in his head for a while, and he was finally ready to say it. That's just the way Cloud works. He will have a thought, and it will give a glint in his eye, but he won't say anything about it, mulling over it carefully before he decides to say anything, and it could be hours, days, even weeks.
I swallowed, wondering what he could be holding inside.
"Yes?"
He stopped, and the winds of the Planet healing whooshed his hair back, green fingers of light dancing over his cheeks. He looked fresh in a new black t-shirt, his chest plate, left pauldron and belt snugged over it. With a duck of his head, he closed his eyes.
"I want you to tell them," Cloud requested, and when he opened his eyes again, he turned his head to let them sit on mine, glowing bright.
I gulped, heat rushing up to my cheeks from such a look. My fingers squeezed the neckline of my dress.
"Tell them what?"
My heart pounded.
Cloud let out a small gasp, looking away as he softened his eyes to the earth. He swallowed, and his lips curved into a sad smile.
"That we're expecting," he whispered, turning his head away further to hide his face from me, and cleared his throat.
A small quiver rocked my belly, and my hands dropped to it.
I sucked in a slow inhale, watching traces of energy wisp around my legs. Already, there were traces of little grass blades growing inside the crater, a giant effort for such a tiny detail of the Planet healing itself.
I swallowed, Cloud's request repeating in my head. I didn't think he wanted the others to know, for whatever reason. Who would be stupid enough to announce an unexpected pregnancy at this time? I checked Meteor to the far edge of the sky, its mass floating so far away to make it appear small, aligned over the North Crater if it were to fall straight down to earth.
And then there were our friends, what's left of them anyway.
Cloud walked again, his boots kicking over loose rocks.
"You're quiet," he mentioned, knowing to take my silence with caution.
Slowly, I followed behind him, holding my stomach like it was suddenly heavy.
"It's just..." I began, struggling to speak. "Who am I going to tell?"
Quiet, Cloud kept walking, our path leading us towards the center of the crater. The moon was out, almost whole, and it lit him in a milky glow over his head and shoulders, our lantern through the dark. He knew what I meant, aware that our friends were slowly leaving.
"Red left to be with his grandfather, then?" He asked, expecting it.
"Yeah," I forced.
Cloud sighed. "You can tell Barret, and Cid, and Reeve. They still matter, don't they?"
My fingers began to fidget, either with my dress or curling together.
"Cloud, what if it's just us left?" I gasped.
He stopped, head low, to let his eyes wander among the glowing green land. It seemed like we were walking through a crystal green lake, trekking leg deep in its glowing waters. Wisps of the Planet fluttered pass him like ghosts, and Cloud glanced up at the bright, white moon.
"Then it's just us," he put it simply.
He turned around, suddenly appearing a lot older than me, his hair getting longer, more muscle under his shirt and arms, and with eyes holding a serious gaze of lifelong goals. His face glossed in a pearly white, the color of his eyes milky blue.
"And then there won't be anyone to tell," I presumed.
Cloud smirked lightly.
"You want to wait and see if we all come together again?"
I nodded, more heat in my face.
"Yes," I said assertively.
Cloud chuckled to himself, shaking his head.
"If that's what you want." He sounded a bit defeated when he said that, looking away again to hide worries in his eyes. He was worried we all won't come together again. Our friends won't know about our shared secret, and the Planet may perish without giving a chance at bringing that kind of hope.
"I just..." Cloud stopped, and he freed a hand to let it curl over his chest, probably feeling his heart pound.
"I would like them to know," he finalized, keeping his face hidden behind his long bangs.
"I don't want to hide it anymore."
I wish Cloud didn't carry his sword, just so that I could come from behind and hold him. The Hardedge reflected the moon, the blade appearing entirely white with traces of green when another wisp of the Planet passed him.
How many times have I told him that I loved him? Twice? It seemed unnecessary to remind him, and yet I felt it sitting on my lips.
Something then caught Cloud's eye, and he blinked.
"What's that?"
I walked beside him, and followed his gaze.
In the center of the crater, surrounded by a river of energy, stood a handle, followed by a blade.
"A sword?" I guessed.
I squinted to be certain, and asked, "Is that all that's left of Ultimate Weapon?"
Cloud walked closer to it and crouched low to inspect.
"I've never seen anything like it," he whispered, lost in its glamour. I peered at the gold handle reflecting the moonlight, dropping my jaw over the wide blade when it appeared to be made of a milky crystal with a dark blue center. The sword's guard protruded out into four arms of bronze, Materia slots wedged along them.
"It's beautiful," I breathed, never seeing anything like it.
Cloud neared the sword, and his gloved hand wrapped around its handle.
Immediately, the blade came to life, glowing white like the moon.
We both gasped, standing back. When Cloud let go, the blade dimmed again.
"What was that?" I gasped, and we exchanged a look of awe.
Cloud reached again, and took hold. Again, the sword came to life, glowing bright.
His eyes widened, reflecting the light.
"I don't know, but it feels..." His other hand joined. "...like this is meant for me," he speculated.
I took another step back, and watched.
Cloud appeared like King Arthur pulling Excalibur when he lifted the mysterious sword from the broken earth. His arms rose, more blade revealed, until it seemed as long as he was tall, glowing bright as a mighty lantern in his hands. His face when he carried the sword high into the dark sky, holding a mighty light in one hand, mouth open, cheeks aglow, and eyes so blue and bright with purpose; it was spectacular.
Cloud held the glowing sword over his head, casting his body entirely in white, and I took a mental snapshot. Another brilliant photo for the album lodged in my brain.
This photo, if I could ever hold it in my hands, I would've thought Cloud as a warrior of light.
A hero.
...
Cloud and I returned to the bridge, finding Cid fuss over the damage report.
He scrutinized over the long sheets of paper, and crumbled it up in his gloved hands.
"Fuck," he snapped, tossing the ball of paper across the room until it hit Reeve.
"Hey!"
"Cid, how bad is it?" Cloud asked.
Cid thought it was best to pull out another cigarette and enjoy it before answering that question. He took a long drag and blew out smoke towards the high ceiling.
"We lost our propellers, the reserve tanks are shot, and the steering is shit now. No more fucking air battles!" He then noticed the new glowing sword on Cloud's back, and muttered, "Cool sword," before taking another inhale.
"Cid, do you want to pay your respects to Bugen or say goodbye to Red?" I asked, but the pilot quickly recoiled, turning away to show the back of his filthy white-tee.
"I'm not good at those things," he muttered. "I mean, I'm sorry for the guy, and I like Red, but I don't do well with that soppy stuff."
Cloud smirked, walking pass Cid to catch a glimpse of the moon burning through the glass.
"Cid, I couldn't agree with you more," he said cooly.
Cid turned his head to toss Cloud a grin.
"Figured you say that."
I watched Barret carefully, the quiet man lost gazing at the moon. It beamed over his dark skin, making him glimmer in silver. Was he wondering if Marlene was looking up at the same moon? He was breaking, I could tell. Barret wanted to stick with the group as long as he could, but the weight of it brought his shoulders down, his sighs constant, and his eyes losing their light.
"Hey Cid," Barret began, his voice low.
Cid considered Barret, all our attention suddenly to his large back. The troubled man sighed again, arms coming together and chin tucked into his muscular chest.
"Could you fly me to Kalm?"
We all tensed, well, except Cid. He crossed his arms, and behind the smoke of his cigarette, he smiled, blue eyes soft. Maybe he could relate to Barret, missing Shera back at home as well.
"Sure, Barret," Cid muttered, walking up to give him a pat on his back.
Reeve struggled to act, uncertain if he wanted to run up to Barret to shake his shoulders or hug himself.
"Barret, no. Not you, too," he whimpered.
Barret shook his head.
"I just want to visit," he clarified. He turned around, looking at all of us.
"Ya'll welcome to come, too, if ya want."
Reeve's worries shifted into relief, and he smiled.
"I've never been to Kalm!" He suddenly jumped up and down, excited.
Cid rolled his eyes, already walking away.
"Oh brother. Well…" he smacked a hand along the metal base of his station.
"I guess we fly through the night. Better now than never to show what this baby can really do."
He began to climb the ladder up to his post, grinning from ear to ear.
I swallowed, already taking a safe place beside Barret, hands tight over the rail.
Cloud put a hand to his mouth, mentally getting sick over the thought of swerving into the sky again.
Reeve secured himself in a bean bag chair, whimpering.
Cid began to work at his station, pressing buttons.
My feet told me the airship came back to life, its Mako engines rumbling as the fuel gushed through the pipes and into the core. The soft backup lights began to flicker, little lighting flashes inside the bridge.
My stomach flipped, and I knew we were rising towards the moon.
Cid's crew of four men piled in, flabbergasted.
"Captain, what's going on!" One of them cried as they all rushed to their stations. They probably only got a wink of sleep.
"Time to upgrade!" Cid cheered, a hand on his hip while the other held the wheel.
There was nervous energy when gauges twerked, needles spinning uncontrollably.
"After refuel in Bone Village, fuel tanks at sixty-five percent."
"Propellers lost. Releasing the jet engines."
"Extending the wings."
As the airship groaned with its transformation, I was gifted one last look at Cosmo Canyon shrinking away. The moon gave light to the tiny cluster of lamps. Cosmo Candle could be spotted easily, a bright star in the darkness of the earth next to the glowing green lake of the new crater. I sent a silent farewell to Red and Bugenhagen.
The airship jerked, its walls screeching when it sprouted wings from inside its belly.
Cid grinned. "I can't wait to see how fast this baby goes."
"Captain, all systems green!"
Cid pumped a fist into the air.
"All right, fellas!"
Cloud buried his head between his arms when he took hold of the rail with both hands. "Oh no…"
"I wish we had seatbelts!" Reeve screamed, anticipating the airship transformed into a rocket and will plow us into space.
"Let's go to Kalm!" Cid screamed happily.
"Hold on to something," a mate warned.
Barret swallowed, his hands tightening on his safe hold next to me.
With a mighty jolt, the Highwind's rear engines fired, and everything that wasn't screwed into the floor, rolled back. Reeve let out a whelp when he flipped backwards, a bean bag chair toppling over him. It happened in one mighty yank of gravity, and the airship glided across the night sky intensely.
Cid was laughing during the difficult pull, letting his cigarette flick away from his open lips and landed somewhere on the floor. He didn't care if he looked crazy, he just kept one fist high over his head as he steered us eastward.
"Woohoo!"
Eventually, the airship settled, maintaining its speed, and we all relaxed.
One crew member mentioned, "At this speed, estimation to Kalm is four hours."
Cid beamed with pride, and then he cackled across the bridge, "Now that's what I'm talking about!"
The dark world passed under us, and I could hardly see anything except for tiny bodies of silver spots, lakes and rivers glowing under the moon's rays. Looking up, I sucked in a breath.
We were so close to the stars, they greeted us with their billions of lights scattered across the black void.
Like before, it reminded me how small we really were. This Planet is just one of many, embracing its energy that was gifted to it by the cosmos. If such a gift were to be destroyed by Meteor, Sephiroth will come in and take all of that energy. Enough energy for a Planet, and he was planning to suck it all up into his body. What would he do with such strength? Will Jenova stay at his side, holding his puppet strings as they bounce from Planet to Planet, stealing more energy? And then what? Where does it end? Will Sephiroth ever feel pain for all the lives he will take? Feel lonely? Anything at all? Such a strange place for my mind to wander to, but that's just what star gazing does, I guess.
I gasped from such thoughts, reeling my eyes away to notice Barret stuck watching the sky as well. It was tempting to leave him be, but I wanted to ask him something.
"Barret," I started, and sure enough, he lowered his head and peered down at me.
"Yeah, kid?"
I puffed my cheeks, still not liking being called "kid", but just as tired of arguing, and let it slide.
"When we see Marlene, will…." I had to swallow to dislodge my words, catching my breath. It was a simple question, but I wanted to be certain and mentally prepare for it.
"Will Elmyra be there?"
The name hung heavily over our heads, and the air in the room thickened. Cloud averted his worried eyes towards this conversation, keeping his thoughts to himself. Reeve quietly settled next to Barret, not saying anything, but wanted to listen.
Barret's thick neck trembled when he swallowed.
"Yeah, she will be," he finally replied, and his eyes gleamed under the starlight.
My hands tightened around the rail.
"Does she know about Aerith?"
Barret took a fingerless gloved hand up to his mouth, fingers pressed into his dark, trimmed beard, and took a deep breath.
"I….I don't know."
I slapped a hand to my chest.
Did no one tell her?
I turned my head to look at Cloud.
"Cloud, did no one tell her?"
He dodged my eyes by lifting his to the stars. His lips pressed together, face basking in the silver light.
"No, not yet," he answered quietly. After a long silence of me being stunned, Cloud justified with, "So much has happened. It just didn't feel right to tell her on the phone."
He crossed his arms and sighed.
"It's about time we head over there and tell her," he finished.
"Dude, uh, if you don't mind, I, uh…" Barret rubbed the back of his head. "I'm not comfortable doing it."
"I'll tell her," I trembled. That is, if she doesn't know already. Aerith may have paid her adoptive mother a visit, I was certain of it, but still, it was important to share. Elmyra had every right to know.
I hated leaving it there, the surrounding aura unsettling. My hands dropped to cup my stomach, memories of Cloud's words whispering in my head.
I want you to tell them.
It brought heat to my cheeks to learn that Cloud wasn't feeling ashamed nor embarrassed on the matter. He seemed easily…..content, accepting it nobly. I often found myself wishing to have his maturity, not nearly as satisfied with this insane truth that I was growing a child. Even if everyone were here, would I still tell them? To be honest, I was afraid. What could be a worst reaction than to be looked at with pity, knowing Meteor may end all our lives before another were to sprout?
I sighed, thoughts fading fast when I felt eyes on me. Like I knew where to look, I turned and found Cloud to be watching me, his expression unreadable. I wanted to ask what he was thinking about, our eyes locked with us trying to search each other, but I was too depressed at the time to bother.
Feeling sick, I muttered, "I'll be at the lounge," and wandered off, detaching myself from the heavy air when I could no longer breathe in it.
Cloud stayed quiet as Barret muttered, "Four hours is barely enough for sleep. I'd rather wait till we reach Kalm. What about you, man?"
I lied about going to the lounge. In truth, I just wanted to be alone, and aimed towards the conference room, always empty.
For a long time, I sat there under the ceiling lamp, thinking for a long time, fingers tapping the table while my cheek rested on it.
What's the matter?
Aerith sat beside me, hands over her lap.
"I'm dreading the visit to see Elmyra," I whispered.
Aerith looked down at her hands.
She's strong. She will be fine. Marlene has been keeping her company. I think it's what mom needed, someone to take care of. She feels young again.
I sighed, fogging up the glossy table around my lips.
"I have nothing to give her from you. No goodbye trinket, no flowers, nothing. It seems wrong to come back empty-handed. She has nothing to remember you by," I explained.
Aerith smiled, lifting her eyes with her hands to the table, fingers joined as her thumbs danced.
She has many things, most importantly, her memories. Who knows, maybe there's something she might give you.
I wanted to look to Aerith, but know if I did, I would just see an empty chair next to me, and feel just a little more unstable. Instead, I sighed again, and closed my eyes.
"Is it too late for me to take your place?" I randomly asked.
Aerith wrinkled her nose.
Yes, it's too late. Don't say such things.
I don't know which is harder: having to die or to deal with the mess of the Planet? I'm certain Aerith would come back to life in a heartbeat if she could. Immediately, I apologized, and curled my arms around my head, ready to shut down.
You can do this. You've gotten a lot stronger, ya know. Remember when you started?
I grinned, looking back to the simpler days of worrying about getting back home, and not being caught by Shinra. How little those problems seemed now. Ever since stepping out of Midgar, our world expanded with even bigger obstacles. I miss my short stay in Midgar just as much as New York City.
"I miss the old days with you," I trembled.
Me too, Aqua.
How stupid of me to crank my head and try to catch sight of her. Of course, no one was there. No Aerith. Nothing but an empty chair with red cushioning. I was surrounded by two dozen of empty chairs, circling the table.
I looked away and let my thoughts wander until I fluttered in and out of sleep.
—
Kalm was just how I remembered it, but just a little chillier.
The pointed blue roofs sat under a thick, dark sky, cold winds slipping through the stone walls of the mellow town. It was close to midnight. Cid had to bribe the guards to let us through the gates, and we walked through quiet streets.
"Man, I feel bad for showing up so late," Barret whispered, frowning up at the sky. Meteor appeared a lot larger, a blurry red outline of it behind the clouds. Frost clung to the cobblestone streets and skimmed a thin layer over puddles. I kept warm in Tifa's white coat, my hands sucked into its sleeves to protect my cold-numbing fingers.
"I didn't know it could get this cold here," I fussed, and my words turned into fog.
"Elmyra doesn't mind we're here this late?" Reeve asked, eying the taverns still bustling with activity despite most of the town asleep. It seemed the drinking was alive and well, noises of letting loose escaping through open shutters. I could only imagine how stuffy the bars were, leaving the shutters open to welcome the cold air in like a regular customer.
Cid smirked at one busy tavern and mentioned, "Everyone probably splurging on booze, the world ending soon and all. I should join them."
I gawked as he walked away, but then remembered, he was uncomfortable with drama. Lucky for him. Cloud sighed as his eyes followed Cid, most likely wishing to join him, but he was polite enough to stay.
Before Reeve's question hung for too long, Barret finally answered, "Nah, she won't mind. We just gonna go visit." He seemed anxious, often using his metallic hand to run metal fingers over his other arm like a keyboard, tapping away fast with nervous energy.
Cloud followed quietly, his arms crossed. I think he was just stuck in his thoughts, dreading this meeting that put him in a mood too bitter for chat. I didn't blame him, giving him his space.
The four of us stood before a cozy cottage, and with his metal hand, Barret knocked on a wooden door with iron hinges.
A lamp turned on, glaring at us from above. The windows were lit, though the inside of the house was concealed by curtains.
I was grateful Barret was in front of the group, his size almost hiding the rest of us too nervous to be out in the open. I poked over his arm, and saw the door open after a clank.
And then I heard her voice.
"Barret, it's good to finally see you again," Elmyra whispered.
Barret stepped forward and gave her a big hug, smiling over her messy bun.
"I'm sorry it took so long to finally visit," he sighed. Their embrace was true and warm, lost in it for a minute while I hid behind Reeve.
"And who's with you? Cloud, ah, I remember you." Elmyra pulled out of Barret's hold to get a good look at the younger fighter. I remembered how her eyes used to glare at him like he was a creep around me and Aerith, just a boy with a big sword and no manners. Now her eyes had softened some, but her lips still widened into that usual frown of hers.
"You look stronger since I last saw you," she commented, her tired brown eyes scanning Cloud's toned arms.
Cloud shrugged. "We've had plenty of battles since our last encounter," he put it flatly.
Elmyra's eyes wandered to Reeve, and they grew.
"Oh, and who's this handsome gentleman? Your poor suit, oh no…" Before Reeve could protest, Elmyra came towards him and had her fingers brush through the wrinkles of his blazer. She furrowed her blond brows together, adding wrinkles to her face.
"Oh my. Why don't I wash this and iron it for you?"
Reeve's face turned red.
"Uh, I'm R-Reeve, and thank you, but that's not necessary."
Finally, Elmyra's brown eyes looked over his shoulder, and found me. I still felt the pull to dodge her look, feeling like a coward.
"Aqua, is that you?!"
She found me. Defeated, I stepped in view, nervously looking at her floral slippers.
"Hi Elmyra," I whispered.
I felt her arms take hold and push me into her bosom. She smelt like flowers.
"Oh, I've missed you! Look at you! I can't believe you cut off all your beautiful hair! Oh, there's so much to ask! We saw you on the news! What you did to save your friends, you were so brave! And the wedding! Oh my Planet, the wedding! I was so worried!" I never heard her talk too much before, but then again, so much has happened since Aerith pulled me into her house in Sector 5.
"Please, all of you, come inside. I'll make some tea." Elmyra gestured all of us to walk into her lovely cottage.
The living room was cozy as though Aerith still lived with her mother, pots of green plants, herbs, and flowers spread among the hanging shelves and tabletops.
Barret sat awkwardly in a pink love seat with floral pillows, appearing almost too improper in his tattered leather vest, worn green pants and belts of ammo strapped to his chest. Coat off, I sat on the long couch, sandwiched between Cloud and Reeve. In the silence, I heard a grandfather clock ticking too loudly while Elmyra was busy in the kitchen. Barret's nervous fingers tapped his knees. Cloud sat quietly, eyes closed like he was meditating, a pro at sitting still while the rest of us fidgeted like squirming children itching to play.
Reeve cleared his throat. I kept busy letting my eyes explore the walls of the room, finding old family photos of Aerith and her mother. An old sepia photo I've never seen before sat on a table by another love seat, a young man in a Shinra uniform smiling. Elmyra's husband?
Traces of Marlene were left around: crayons and stacks of coloring books on the coffee table. A pile of teddy bears in a corner. Drawings taped to the walls. I got up to peer at what Marlene had been drawing. Nothing tells you about a child's psyche better than what they draw.
In crayon, there was a scribble of a girl with a yellow bow around her neck, holding hands with a man colored in dark brown. Barret and Marlene I presume. They held hands in front of a cute yellow house, with flowers around them, hearts scattered in the white space. With them, there was Elmyra, colored in green to show her day dress. I smiled sadly at the picture, wondering if Marlene often daydreamed of her father coming home and staying.
More drawings of them along the wall, but then one made me uncomfortable. I was surprised to see it hung, but maybe it was best to accept all feelings of a child, not just the happy ones, and put it on display to remind them.
The big blob of red, orange, and yellow had to be Meteor. It took up half a page, and underneath its messy pizza looking art, there was Marlene, dotted with blue tears around her face.
I put hands up to my mouth to conceal my dropped jaw, shattering inside.
It's one thing to take the Planet away from adults, but they had more time with their lives to enjoy themselves, easier to accept the hard truths. But what about the children? They hardly got started, and then, suddenly, the world was going to end? How did they feel? What about their future?
"I didn't want to, but Marlene told me to hang that one up."
I turned around, finding Elmyra smiling sadly at me as she held a tray of goodies. She sighed, setting the tray on the table, and coloring books spilled over the wood floor.
"Oh dear," she breathed. I knelt down to help pick up the books and stacked them under the table. Elmyra smiled tiredly as she rubbed her fingers up her messy bun. She seemed to have aged more than I wanted to admit. More lines appeared around her mouth, and there were dark circles under her eyes. She wrapped herself up in a soft, yellow house coat, almost matching with her dull complexion. Her chin was narrower than before, cheeks hollow.
Her hands shook when she passed around teacups filled with tea. Barret declined, too on edge to relax and sip chamomile, Cloud as well. Reeve gladly took a cup. I accepted and sat back down. Elmyra took the empty love seat, and her hands rested over her crossed legs, eyes stuck to them.
"Yes, Marlene drew that one a few days ago. She wanted me to hang it up. I asked her, 'Why would you want me to do that?' And she said she wants to remember it, something like that. Pretty complicated for a four-year old to explain, but I think I can understand. Good memories, bad memories. We should be accepting all of them. The bad ones are lessons, and the good ones keep us going."
Barret eyed at all the drawings behind Elmyra, and whispered, "She's really a smart girl. I don't know where she got it from."
Elmyra lifted her eyes to us and held a fragile smile.
"So, how long will you all be staying?"
Barret rubbed the back of his head.
"Uh, not sure exactly. I mean, we didn't mean to come in so late. I just wanted to see Marlene."
Elmyra sat back in her seat, her tea left sitting next to the old photo of her husband, untouched.
"Well, she's asleep, but you can go wake her if you'd like. She'll be happy to see you. Her room is the pink door down the hall."
Barret rose, his boots adding squeaks over the floor, and he blushed from the loud noises he made, his size almost too big for such a small cottage.
"Thank you, Elmyra," he whispered, and he gave all of us a gloomy gaze before spinning around to disappear into the hall. His steps could be heard easily through the house. I wanted to eavesdrop, my ears tuning in to a door opening, but Elmyra's voice interrupted.
"So, Aqua, tell me what happened at the wedding? We were watching it on TV, and then everything cut out. Shinra broadcasted later that Weapon showed up, and you were taken away, though Rufus still acknowledges you as his wife. Of course, I take what Shinra says with a grain of salt."
I pressed my lips together as I set my cup of tea down on the low table. Who cares what was on the news, just tell her about Aerith.
My hands fiddled on my lap like two busy, pale spiders fighting each other. Before I were to wheeze, Cloud's gloved hand took one of mine, and squeezed, stopping my fidgeting and reminded me to stay focus.
I took a deep breath.
"No, we're not husband and wife," I clarified. Thank Gods. How did that get through the news?
I took another deep breath and squeezed Cloud's hand so hard, worried he will wince from the pain, but he didn't budge.
"Did you ever find your old fiancee?" she pried. Reeve choked on his tea and apologized.
It seemed Elmyra got all her drama from me, so I didn't blame her for asking these personal questions. The woman probably lacked a love life, dutiful to just work and keeping Marlene safe. I was basically this woman's soap opera.
I swallowed, trying not to sink too deep in memories of Isaac. To make it simple, I replied in a whisper, "No." I wasn't in the mood to trek that far, leaving it at that.
When Elmyra stayed quiet to mull over her next bullets of questions, my lips quivered, trying to speak.
"Elmyra…."
My eyes stung until I had to blink to the ceiling. Cloud slipped his fingers through mine, keeping me on track. Again, I looked to the black and white photos of little Aerith next to Marlene's drawings.
"It's about Aerith," I tried.
Reeve held his breath, and Cloud swallowed.
But Elmyra shook her head, eyes closed.
"There's no need."
I straightened. "What?"
Elmyra used a frail hand to hide her eyes.
"About a month ago, she came to me. Maybe it was a dream or a vision, but, she told me she was returning to the Planet, and I shouldn't be afraid."
The older woman trembled in her chair, appearing too small in her house coat.
"Aerith said it's for the Planet, why she's there."
I looked to Cloud's and my hand together, so grateful to have someone take a hold of during difficult moments like this.
"We're so sorry," I gasped, blinking rapidly to keep the tears in. Reeve took my other hand and I squeezed it.
Elmyra let out a shaky sigh and slapped her hand away from her eyes with a huff.
"I know she's keeping an eye on all of us, protecting us. Even now…" she looked to the ceiling, expecting to see Aerith up there from the heavens.
"Aerith is with us."
We let everything settle in silence for a minute, as though to pay our respects, but then Elmyra stood up, sniffling.
"Anyway, I'm grateful to have Marlene around. She keeps me busy. Without her, I would probably never get out of bed." She tightened her coat's belt around her small waist, and added with a jolt like she almost forgot something.
"Oh, Aqua, I have something to give you. I'll be right back," Elmyra whimpered, and she disappeared into the hall.
For me? Maybe it was something of Aerith's, but what? Another Materia?
Reeve let go of my hand just to take out a handkerchief from his breast pocket, and blew his nose.
"What a remarkable woman Aerith's mom is," he gurgled, dabbing his eyes.
I looked to Cloud, our faces comfortable being so close I didn't mind his breath tickling my cheek, and we shared a look. Again, I tried to read him, but he was on guard.
"Do you want to say something?" I whispered to him. He opened his lips to rebel, but nothing came out except a grunt, and then he looked away, his blond eyebrows up. His hand released mine, and he shrank into himself.
"I'm not good at this," Cloud admitted, ashamed to feel that way.
I rubbed my eyes.
"You're doing fine. You're here, that's all that matters," I whispered, taking hold of his arm under his pauldron. Cloud forced a smirk for a second.
"Thanks."
"I wonder if Barret will stay," Reeve pondered aloud.
"I don't blame him," Cloud replied quickly, expecting it.
"He makes it sound like this is just a visit for afternoon tea," I muttered. Will Barret actually leave after such a brief visit? It wasn't enough after being away from his precious daughter for months.
"You think he'll tell her about Dyne someday?" Cloud asked, his thoughts already there, and I shushed him.
"Don't," I whispered harshly.
Cloud frowned.
"I wouldn't," Reeve grumbled. I shushed him, too. We didn't want any chance for the child nor Elmyra to eavesdrop.
Footsteps creaked, and then Elmyra returned with something inside her curled hand.
"I think Aerith would want you to have this," she whispered.
I blinked, wondering what it could be as my hands opened up for her to drop whatever it was.
A tiny gold ring plopped in my palm. I held it between my finger and thumb, analyzing it. The ring appeared old, its gold scratched in some places. A small diamond sparkled under the lamp light. A wedding ring?
"It used to be her real mother's," Elmyra shared, answering my thoughts.
I gasped, looking up at her. Her lips lifted slightly.
"Aerith kept it safe. It's all she had of her real mother. Now that she's…." she dodged the hardest of those words and skipped to, "It's best to have you hold on to it."
I let the ring speckle in the light, blinking at it. How ironic, to lose one ring and end up with another. My hand squeezed around it tight.
"I'll cherish it always. Thank you," I whispered, and stood up to give Elmyra a strong hug. She sighed, holding me tight, maybe imagining me as Aerith, the daughter she will never see again.
More footsteps, and Barret walked in with a sleepy Marlene in his arms.
Her big, beady eyes blinked down from Barret's shoulder, gawking at all of us.
She gasped when she saw me.
"Doctor lady!"
She jumped down, and I sank on my knees to give her a hug at her level.
"Marlene," I breathed, afraid to crush her little body in my arms. I pressed my cheek into her dark, brown hair, two little pigtails bobbing up and down. She smelt of soap and flowers.
When we pulled apart, Marlene's large brown eyes sparkled up at me.
"The flower lady came to visit me. She told me you will save us," she spewed, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
My body grew hot, blinking over her words.
"She did? Well, I will try, thanks to my friends and your daddy, of course," I struggled.
"Talk about pressure," Cloud sighed, standing up to unintentionally loom over Marlene, and the little girl hid behind my arm.
Barret glared down at Cloud. "You're scaring my little girl!"
Cloud flushed with embarrassment. "I didn't mean to!"
"Who are you?" Marlene asked, pointing a little finger at Reeve. He swallowed, his tea trembling on its saucer.
"Uh, a friend. I'm Reeve," he replied nervously.
Marline smiled at him. "You should draw with me, it will make you feel better." She took his hand without asking, and Reeve was suddenly pulled onto the floor to join Marlene with her stack of coloring books.
"Oh, okay. I'll color with you," he stammered, uncertain why he was dragged into this.
Elmyra and Barret shared a smile. Reeve colored with Marlene, relaxing. Cloud sat quietly, taking in the whole living room like a watchdog. I lost myself in the ring, feeling like a fraud to be holding it. It was small. When I slipped it over my index finger, it fit snugged. It felt wrong to wear it, but if I didn't, then would it just sit in a drawer forever? I will always think of Aerith, but this ring will remind me of her during those moments when it's easy to forget.
"It's beautiful," Cloud observed, eying the ring with me.
I was still too stunned to really marvel it just yet, slightly overwhelmed by the precious gift.
"It's-!
All of a sudden, the earth shook.
Frames and vases fell from their places, some shattering. Marlene screamed, Barret quickly taking her in his arms to be her protector while Reeve hid under the table.
"What in the world?!" Elmyra screeched, getting on her hands and knees. Books flopped on the floor. There was the sound of dishes shattering in the kitchen, startling me into wheezes. I instantly grabbed a hold of Cloud, burying my head in his arms while the earth seemed to tear apart, lamps flickering. Was Meteor going to hit us this soon? Was our timing off? Everything rattled, dancing across the wood floor with many scrapes. Picture frames bounced against the walls, some falling. I prayed for it to be over, hiding in Cloud's chest where I felt the safest, his body curling over mine.
And then the whispers came, followed by a booming voice of a thousand voices in my head.
They are destroying Mother. I, Diamond Weapon, protector of the Planet, will make them pay.
I began to sweat.
So much death. I will destroy this considerable parasite sucking up Mother.
Another Weapon?
I wheezed, curling into Cloud as images burned behind my eyes. There was a flash of a giant monster rising from a black sea, water sloshing off its white armor of bone or white crystal, a giant humanoid creature. It stepped onto the black earth shore, with a mouth of red light open, and it released a cry so mighty, the whole Planet trembled to it.
Its screech could be heard through the trembling walls. With each step, the land shook.
I pushed away from Cloud, and he saw the horror in my eyes when I whispered, "Another Weapon. Diamond."
In reply, his hands squeezed my arms.
Marlene was sobbing, Barret hugging her tight while he jerked his head at me.
"What?! Another one! Are you fu-, I mean, serious?!"
Reeve climbed out from under the table, his face white.
"Is it heading this way?"
"Let's find out," Cloud hissed, jumping to his feet and darting towards the door. I followed him, rushing outside into the cold. Among us, there were many others stepping out into the dark night to catch a glimpse of what stirred them out of their beds. There were mutters of Meteor falling, but it stayed behind the clouds. Many hands smacked over hearts, eyes gawking up at the dark sky, and then screams spread among the residents.
I spun, and stumbled back a few steps, a hand over my mouth.
"Cloud," I gasped, uncertain why I said his name, it just came out like another way to lay some reassurance to my shaken state.
Cloud narrowed his eyes, glowing bright as they glazed over the rooftops of Kalm towards the one causing all the commotion.
A giant shadow brushed by Kalm's tall walls, a storm passing through, but one made up of another Weapon, its steps creating vibrations in the streets. It seemed to be paying little attention to us, turning its wide shoulders glowing of gold light and cape-like tail towards us.
Reeve stumbled out to see it, and he grabbed my arm when he caught a glimpse of the terrifying display.
"Where's it going?!" he cried.
"Guys!"
It was Cid running in to meet us, each step of Weapon causing him to fumble a bit until he almost bumped into Cloud.
"What the fuck is going on?!" He cried, cheeks red of alcohol.
"Weapon," Cloud muttered dryly.
"It said it's going to a considerable parasite sucking up the Planet," I shared.
Cid slapped his hands over his jeans, not catching a break. "What the hell does that mean?"
Reeve fell into thought, but he figured it out quickly with a gasp, and his eyes grew.
"It's going to Midgar!" He panicked.
Barret marched out to join us, asking, "What's going on?" Elmyra walked out with Marlene cradled in her arms, the two of them extremely pale.
Reeve turned to Barret. "Another Weapon, and it's going to Midgar," he reported.
When no one said anything to process this, he lifted his dark eyebrows up and added, "We need to stop it."
Cid sighed into a hand.
"Fuck man, I'm tired. Can't a guy catch a break?"
"Watch your language!" Elmyra hissed at him, while Marlene whimpered over her shoulder. Cid was taken aback, not noticing those two until now, and muttered an apology.
"Cid," Reeve tugged, biting his lower lip. He held his fists up like he wanted to squeeze the disgruntled man's shoulders, but grasped air instead, and gave a pleading look.
"Please, Cid. We have to stop it."
Barret stepped in. "Some of us still got family in there."
Cid glared up to the stars, the tip of his cigarette burning bright orange to them with a hiss. "Oh man…."
I looked into Cloud's eyes, finding defeat leak out of a blue ocean when he failed to hide it, and he grunted, looking away quickly before I had a chance to discover more of his emotions. Whatever his thoughts were, he kept them to himself.
Cid rubbed his face hard, and he slapped his hands to his sides.
"My men are exhausted, but god damn, we can't let Midgar fall apart."
"We destroyed one Weapon, what's wrong with another?" Cloud grumbled, crossing his arms.
"But damn it, Red is gone. Tifa, Yuffie, Vincent. It's just us," Cid reminded all of us. Those last three words seethed the air like thick fog, suffocating us with the hard truth. We all exchanged looks, wondering what the other was thinking, our lips together to keep from saying something more hurtful.
Hard eyes darted back and forth. Cloud grind his teeth and tossed me another look.
Cid had a finger continuously rubbing his chin. Reeve's sullen eyes clung to Cid, desperate for a set answer to make the final decision. Barret narrowed his eyes to his fist, losing his thoughts to the people he left behind in Midgar. Old friends, old memories, and an old life he may someday go back to.
I licked my lips, tired like everybody else, but Reeve was right. We had to stop Weapon.
"We have to go to Midgar, and fight Weapon," I declared.
All heads turned, frowning down at me.
I sighed, hate being the one to say it.
"I know we're tired, and there's less of us, but we can't ignore this. There are too many lives at stake. Midgar may be a toxic place, but it's still a home to millions of people."
Cloud frowned, looking away, but he agreed with, "Let's go to Midgar." He lifted his gaze to Barret, and the big man nodded at him.
"Yeah, let's go."
Reeve nodded.
"I can help this time, I think. If I can get a phone and call a few friends, I may be able to help evacuate some of the city, just in case," he muttered. His cheeks turned red when he randomly asked Cloud," Could I borrow your cellphone?"
Cloud didn't have to think twice to dig it out of his pocket and hand the ancient looking phone over. Reeve twisted his face at it, and flipped it open.
"It could be worst," he muttered.
We all turned to Cid, the one with the final say because we needed his airship after all.
Cid rubbed his hand roughly across the back of his neck, his cigarette spilling ash over his brown boots.
"Stupid effin weapon," he censored in front of Elmyra and Marline, glaring up at the moon like he didn't want to be reminded it was his bedtime.
He dropped his hand and sank.
"We have no choice, do we? It sucks being the heroes. Fine, let's go," he sighed with defeat.
I gave Cid a hug, startling him.
"Thank you, Cid," I warmed, my face pressed into his t-shirt to smell fresh beer and cigarettes. Reeve joined, hugging the both of us, and he teared up.
"Thank you!" He wailed, sounding like he was crying.
Barret shook his head, while Cloud rolled his eyes.
Cid hissed and tried to push Reeve away, his hands smudging his cheeks.
"Hey, hey, get off! I only enjoy hugging beautiful women!"
"Don't enjoy it too much," Cloud warned, throwing Cid a threatening look. I could've sworn his new sword brightened its blade with warning, its light matching to Cloud's emotions.
I giggled, glad to have what was left of us still making jokes despite the chaos that unfolded.
60