i don't own ff7 ac. i do own my characters and story line though. hehe yay!
The cold rain bit into my cloaked back. I shivered and looked up, the sky flashed and the light stung my eyes. A sudden pain spit across my right shoulder and back. I gripped my shoulder tightly. I gasped as the pain intensified and then receded. I looked at my surroundings. I was in an alley filled with boxes and garbage. A shadow blocked the warm light and I shivered. A large man stood in front of me. He grabbed me roughly by the arm and shook me.
"Back again eh?" his words were slurred together and his breath stank. "I aint lettin you get nothin this time." he slapped me across my cheek. He lifted me to his face. He looked dazed and strange. "What's wrong with you?" he slapped me again. The pain came back again and I winced and bit my lip. "I'm talkin to you!" his fist slammed into my stomach making red spots flash in my vision. He laughed and threw me against a building. I slumped to the ground and moaned. He grabbed my neck and I clawed at his hand. The air stopped flowing into my lungs and the spots grew bigger. They nearly covered my vision completely when I felt the ground rush to meet me. I didn't get to feel the ground hit me as the spots took over and I fell unconscious. A quiet hum woke me. The tune sounded slightly familiar.
"She's awake." the deep voice made me confused. I opened my eyes. A man with blonde spiked hair and blue eyes sat against a wall on a stool his weapons sat in front of him as he found tools. Another person moved from behind a counter. The woman had long black hair and burgundy eyes. She smiled warmly at me and walked over.
"So I see." she said turning to the man. "You could be a bit nicer. You'll scare the poor girl sharpening your swords here." he looked up a bit. Then his eyes met mine.
"She's fine." he grumbled and directed his attention back to his tools. The woman sighed.
"Sorry hun. He's just too stubborn." she said shaking her head.
"I am not." he grumbled.
"Are too." she countered.
"I am not she's just..." his sentence trailed off as he looked at me. The woman saw the look.
"Honey go on upstairs and find the other children." she helped me stand and pushed me forward slightly. I slowly climbed the stairs. When I got about half way their voices climbed with me. I looked back and saw the woman's arms flying, expressing her anger.
"She just..." the man's voice shouted and quieted.
"What?" the woman demanded. "Just because of her looks you automatically hate her?!
"That's not it!" he yelled.
"Damn it Cloud! Did you see her body?!" she yelled her voice cracked slightly. "It's the Geostigma! It's all over her." the voices quieted slightly. I looked back up the stair and saw children gathered at the top.
"Tifa and Cloud are fighting again." one said turning to another. "You should go get Marlene and Denzel." the little girl nodded and ran down the hall. The rest of the children stared at me. I counted about four kids all together. The girl came back with two other kids. They looked at me for a moment and then the girl went downstairs. The boy and stayed half way down the stairs. He looked at my right arm. His eyes looked surprised a stronger pain seared through my body. I winced and held my arm to my body.
"Are you okay? Is it hurting?" he asked, his face held worry. I shook my head and gripped it harder as the pain welled again. He read my face and grabbed me as I started swaying. I heard him yell at the people downstairs then I felt the darkness swallow me.
The noise that woke me didn't seem familiar. Glass clinking and loud voices reached me. I sat up slowly and looked around. Instead of on a couch I was in a bed. The room was open and plain. Somehow I felt a great comfort here. The door was opened slightly and I slid out of the bed. Laughter flowed upstairs, it felt like they were cheering me on. I took a step outside and hesitantly poked my head out the door. I took tiptoed steps out the door.
"What do you think you're doing?" the voice made me jump and I turned around too quickly. I tripped over my feet and grabbed at the doorframe. I missed it and fell hard on my butt. A loud thump made some of the noise leave before it started up again. I looked up to glare at the person who scared me. I was half shocked to see a slight grin on the blonde man's face. I fidgeted slightly under his gaze.
"Um, can I ask what your name is?" I whispered.
"Cloud, what's yours?" he asked. The thought stumped me for a minute.
"Um, I don't know." my heart pounded. "I can't remember anything." sadness welled in my throat making it hard to breathe.
"Would you like one?" he asked. He sat back in his chair and looked thoughtful. He glanced at me a few times. I stood off of the floor and walked over to the bed next to him. I stared at the ceiling while he thought. "How about Ariane?" he asked. I thought about the name for a minute. I said it over and over in my head. I smiled at the name as it left a certain ring behind as I said it aloud.
"I like it." I turned over on my belly and propped my chin on my fists.
"Ariane it is then. Well Ariane I believe you wanted to explore?" he motioned to the door. I smiled and bounced off of my bed. I waved as I left the room and the man named Cloud nodded. I smiled as I bounced around, I whispered my name in between each bounce and smiled. Ariane, I thought, I like it.
a/n: aww a little fluff with cloud. i couldn't help it. sorry if it's out of character for him.