Silmeria - Happy reading.
Disclaimer - I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII
Chapter Fifteen : An Odd Proposal
"Do you think he's dead, Mr. Dolphin?"
Cloud twitched when what felt like a stick press against his wet cheek. When the stick pressed against cheek again, Cloud opened his eyes to find a little girl staring down at him with a frown and worried brown eyes. He couldn't help but smile when a blush covered her cheeks and she squirmed away, the stick falling from her hand and into the white sand of the beach he laid he could even start to inquire who the little girl was or where he was, the girl appeared in his eyesight again and this time she was less frightened and more curious-a look that Cloud was relieved to see-the last thing he wanted to see was a little girl frightened of him.
"Are-are you alive?"
Cloud swallowed, and all of a sudden, his senses rushed back and the pain in his back, legs and arms was agonizing and he bit his lip viciously to stop the scream that wanted to escape his sore and burned throat.
"Mr...?" the girl bent down, poking at his cheek when she noticed the pained look on his face. "Are you okay? Do you need help?"
"Y-Yes." Cloud croaked out, a burst of pain flowing over his body as he moved his head and was quite surprised to find a set stairs that led up to a house and hopefully a village. "Can you-" he began, coughing up a mouthful of water. "Can you go get help? Get an adult, sweetheart?"
"Okay! Be right back, okay? Stay with him, Mr. Dolphin!"
It was only when the little girl ran towards the steps to get help did Cloud realize that one: he was in the water and two: Mr. Dolphin really was a dolphin.
"Huh?" Cloud lifted his head, his vision blurring with the movement, giving the brief thought on whether or not he had a head injury, before seeing the long nose of a dolphin dive back into the water with a small squeak. Cloud could do nothing but lay his head back down into the sand and wonder where in the hell he was at the moment, and more importantly, where was Zack?
He remembered falling from the balcony with Zack and hitting the cold waters with his hand wrapped around his Sentinel's. After that, everything faded to black and he woke up here exhausted, drenched and wondering if he had a head wound that was in danger of turning into a concussion. He tried lifting himself off the ground only to fall back with a small, pained grunt that quickly turned into a shiver when the water rushed over his bruised legs again. It was cold, despite the sun shining down on him, but the thought of moving caused a rush of anxiety to flow over him. The last thing he need was to feel the burst of pain flowing over his limbs again.
"Grandpa! He's over here!"
The shuffle of sand was heard before the sun was blocked temporarily by hunched form of an elderly man with wary black eyes and a pinched frown. The man huffed and stomped his cane on the sand.
"Who are you?" the rough voice of the elderly man asked. "How did you get here?"
"Cloud. My name is Cloud Strife." Cloud swallowed, wincing at the dryness of the throat. "I'm from Midgar and I fell from above."
"Above?" the man repeated warily, lifting his head before a hum of surprise emerged from his wrinkled throat. "You fell from the city? It must have been from one of the outer balconies on the upper levels. It gives you a view of the village and the entire city." the elderly man bent down and placed a gentle hand on his bruised arm. "I called one of the doctors from town to come and get you. You're going to be just fine, alright?"
"Wait." Cloud murmured, already hearing another set of footsteps from the stone stairs. "What about him? What about Zack?"
"Ah. We found another man a couple of hours ago. He's still unconscious. I don't know if it's who you're looking for, but you're more than welcome to take a gander once you're up and about."
Cloud didn't have the time to respond, the doctor and another man appearing and suddenly in his face, asking questions: can he move? where did it hurt? how long did he think he was out. He didn't want to answer any of these questions. The only thing he wanted to know was where was Zack. Was he okay? Was he hurt? Was he zoned out? So many questions ran through his mind that he no longer noticed the pain as he was lifted onto the cloth stretcher and taken to the house that he had briefly spotted when he regained consciousness.
"You have to calm down." the doctor ordered swiftly as they placed the stretcher down. "You're emotions are running wild and you're going to force yourself into a comatose state." the doctor leaned over, murmuring a small apology as he flashed a light into Cloud's eyes. "You're lucky that Priscilla found you or else you wouldn't have woken up." the doctor reached out his hand towards his assistant who passed him a green materia and Cloud couldn't tell whether it was a Cure or a Sleep. His question was answered when the doctor gave him a soothing smile - too soothing not to be a Guide.
"You're wounds are extensive enough to place you into shock." the doctor murmured, the light from the materia a soothing yellow that lit up the room. "I'm going to put you out for a little bit and see about your wounds. It's mastered so you're going to be out for a little while." the doctor held out the materia over Cloud's head and he felt the doctor hold his hand with a gentle smile.
"Are you ready?"
"Not really." Cloud murmured, already feeling the effects of the materia coming over him, calming the panic that he felt over the fact that he still haven't found Zack. "My Sentinel-"
"Will be found." the doctor finished, watching as his patient succumbed to the sleeping spell. "I promise."
"...see him!"
"...remain calm...disturb him...!"
"...care!...him...!"
Cloud opened his eyes, carefully turning his head to see Zack and the doctor arguing from the doorway. He watched as Zack's broad shoulders tensed and looked all but ready to jump on the doctor when a cough emerged from Cloud's throat forcing the two men to stop bickering and turn their full attention to him.
"Cloud!" Zack rushed in, lowering to his knees and placing his hands on his Guide's shoulders to stop the smaller man from arching off the bed. "You're alright. You're alright." Zack reached over, grabbing the glass of water, and forcing Cloud to take small sips when the man's tremors died down. "Good?" Zack asked, placing the water back on the table when he got a small nod.
"Here." Zack forced Cloud back down on the bed, his hands still firmly on his shoulders. "You're still injured."
"Zack." Cloud croaked out, reaching up and wrapping a hand around the Sentinel's wrist. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Zack gave him a flinty smile. "Rosso got enthusiastic and destroyed the balcony we were standing on and we fell to the village below. I'm actually surprised that we survived the drop to be honest."
"Why would she do such a thing?" Cloud asked, shaken at the thought of the anger the woman displayed. "How can a Guide be so full of anger?"
"She has her own scars and demons and being a Guide doesn't change things at all." Zack took a seat at the edge of the bed as the doctor entered the room to check him over. "The war changed everyone and Rosso was one of the few people that it effected greatly. So, as you can see, she's not fond of me or anyone that's connected to me." Zack, for a moment, looked regretful at the information and Cloud coolly cut him off from apologizing.
"It's not your fault." Cloud rationalized. "She's the one that allowed her anger to control her and rule her actions. It'll destroy her in the end. It's only a matter of time."
"I know that." Zack whispered, but the look he bore spoke otherwise and Cloud wanted nothing more than to place his arms around him, comfort his Sentinel, but there was nothing that he could do to convince Zack that things would be alright.
Not after this.
"Well." the doctor spoke up, breaking the silence between the two abruptly. "It's seems that your injuries are closing up well and that you'll be on your feet in a day or two. Just take an easy until then, alright?"
"He will." Zack responded. "I apologize for my behavior earlier. I'm sure you can understand?"
"Of course." the doctor responded with a tight smile. "A bond between a Guide and Sentinel is strong and I don't blame you for your actions so I accept your apology, Alpha Fair."
"Thank you." Cloud reached up, twining his fingers with Zack gently. "You saved both of our lives, but I'm afraid I didn't get your name?"
"Grimoire." the doctor spoke with a genuine smile. "Grimoire Valentine."
"The scientist?" Cloud blurted out in shock. "You're the one that discovered the Forgotten Capital. What in the world are you doing in this village? This isn't even in your territory."
"Ah." Grimoire's red eyes gleamed with amusement. "That, I'm afraid, is a rather long story and I don't think that neither one of you have the time to listen to an old man's prattling."
"We don't mind-" Cloud clamped his mouth shut, a flush rising to his cheeks when Zack and Grimoire shot him an amused look. So what if he was interested in the story? There was nothing wrong with that at all.
"I'm sure you don't, Guide Strife, but another time I'm afraid. I have another patient to attend to whose a lot more sicker than you are, I'm afraid." Grimoire gathered his pack, placing a hand on Zack's shoulder, staring him in the eye. "Take care of him?"
"Of course."
"Good. Good." Grimoire turned on his heel, and left the room, muttering a quiet good-bye as he did so, only to grunt when an excited giggle erupted from the living area followed by an excited "Excuse me!" that was followed by a shut door.
"You're awake!" Priscilla appeared in the doorway, dressed more moderately in a pair of jeans and t-shirt along with a pair of salmon colored flip flops. "I'm glad!" the small girl stepped further into the room, and Cloud noticed a necklace dangling in the girl's hand.
"What have you got there?" Cloud questioned curiously, blinking when felt a rush of cool air caress his skin again, but this time he knew it wasn't from the open window, but from the amulet that was dangling in Priscilla's hand.
"You've got a little powerhouse on your hands don't you, little one?" Zack called out, his tone a touch wary. "Where did you get it from?"
"My mother gave it to me before she died." Priscilla responded, turning to Cloud and holding up the necklace with a bright smile. "It's a wedding gift."
"A...wedding gift?" Cloud repeated, a swift wariness flowing over him. "It's...beautiful."
"Thank you." Priscilla blushed. "I could use it to protect you from the bad people." Priscilla stepped closer, merely brushing Zack aside and placing the amulet in Cloud's closed hand. "But, first, we have to marry each other."
"W-What?" Cloud blurted out, his cheeks flushing when he heard Zack's quiet snort of surprise. "Excuse me?"
"Cloud." Priscilla proclaimed boldly. "Will you marry me?"