For the anon who asked about Cloud's mother coming to him in his dreams: I made it awful, sorry
"Mom?" Cloud's own voice sounded incredibly far away, echoing back to him - mom, mother, mama, please…
How long had it been since he'd seen her? He'd almost never even called, too embarrassed to admit he'd failed in his quest to prove himself and become a SOLDIER.
He'd spoken to her, recently, right? She'd wanted him to find someone older, someone more mature than he was, someone to take care of him.
He'd rejected it, scoffed a little, and returned to stare at the ceiling over his bed.
Since when was the ceiling so far away?
Why was he so far away?
"Mom?" he called again, feeling his mouth shape the word, a voice that sounded like hers answering back - "Mother."
Cloud shivered, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides - he tried to raise them but he was too heavy. Something was wrapped around his wrists, painful, tight, "Mother?" he whispered, his throat feeling raw and torn and bleeding.
"I'm here," his mother's voice had never been this low and sweet, so coaxing and warm. His mom had been… she was… she'd…
"I'm here," his mother cooed at him, cool fingers drifting down his sweating face, traced the inside of his arm and plucked at the needle that dripped uncomfortable warmth into his veins. It was better than the frozen green that made his blood run cold and slow.
"Mo…. ther?" he whispered again, "I don't understand…"
There was another voice, harsh, muttering, pleased, laughing just a little.
"I'm here," Mother promised, "come a little closer," She said, Her voice promising him everything he'd ever wanted, somehow.
"I wanna go home," Cloud's words were slurred, his tongue was heavy and numb in his mouth, "Mother please, I'm scared…"
"I'm here," Mother said again, soothing, "come to me, then, if you're lonely. I'll be here for you, reunite with me. Be with me. Be one with us."
"Us?" he asked, dizziness spread through his skull and the ceiling above him twisted and twirled unnaturally, "I want… yes, Mother, I… want…"
"Go?" the other voice chuckled, "go where?"
Cloud shrugged, tugging again at the bonds holding him down, "Mother… want," he shuddered again as her voice called out to him, invisible hands running through his hair and petting his cheeks as tears rolled down, "the reunion," he tried to explain, "I want reunion, please?"
He blinked, or slept, or… it didn't matter. Mother was calling him, he had to go.
His bare feet scraped on bare rock, stumbling after the voice and the promise.
Come, become one, one with us, come, oh come…
His voice stumbled as much as his feet, the word bittersweet on his tongue.
"Re… union…"