Trigger Warnings: Suicidal ideation, themes on toxic relationships that includes sex, references to past torture, and character death

A/N: I'm really going to try updating weekly. Aiming for Saturday but most likely Sundays. I do have a rough draft of this fic completed and am currently cleaning up the chapters to post.

Chapter 4: The Memory of a Ghost

With only three squares in the town-world, Leon found the kid crouched into a ball, hiding between two barrels in the narrowest dead-end alley. Streetlights still buzzed, glowing a softer orange in this square, but the light didn't reach the alley where shadows of the surrounding walls formed one. Sora's face was buried under his arms and pressed into his knees as he sniffled and shook.

Sora looked up and wiped his cheeks with the back of his hands. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you," Leon said.

"Well, you can just go back."

"I'm supposed to make sure you don't run off and do something stupid again."

"Again? But Cloud… he…he's dark."

"Why? Because he pissed you off or because of his wing?"

"Whose side are you on? His?"

"I try not to take sides. You said all hearts have darkness."

"Some probably have a whole lot more than others. Cloud's sure does."

"And your key tells you how dark someone's heart is?"

"No, I… guess not."

"Let's go back. How long have you been up?"

"I can't go back. I can't see Cloud. Not yet."

"Look, he wasn't mad about-"

"No, I got to prove it to him, that I'm not just some kid first. Goofy and Donald, or their king told them to find me since I'm the Keyblade Master and all. They're ready for me to go off this world with them. I can show Cloud. I can show all of you that I'm ready for anything."

"The duck and dog? You just met them. Didn't they get here the same way you did?"

"I don't know how they got here. They said they were looking for this key and not much else. The duck said something about a ship, but they won't let me see it until we're ready to go."

"Do they actually have a way out?"

"If they do, do you think I should go with them?"

"No, don't trust anyone you just met. You shouldn't even trust me."

"But you're so cool, Leon. I got to trust you, at least."

"Don't trust people just because you think they're cool."

Sora laughed. "So I should trust Goofy and Donald?"

"No."

"How else am I going to get out of here?"

"I don't know. I've been asking myself how for a long time."

"Well, then maybe you should be the one trusting people or uh, animals who say they have a way out when they land here, huh?"

"No."

"Would you go if Goofy and Donald asked you, instead of me? If you knew that your friends, the most important people in your life, were out there and you could find them? Would you go?"

"Do you keep asking me questions hoping I'll eventually say yes?"

"I don't know." Sora shrugged. "Maybe?"

"I would."

"You would go?"

"Yeah, but you shouldn't trust them. They don't know you, but they want something from you. It sounds like it doesn't even have to be you, it's that key. You have to be careful about that. Tell one of the rest of us when you're about to go with them, alright? Let us know if they really do have a way out of here."

"Sure thing, Leon."

"You want to go back now?"

"Yeah, let's go back." Sora stood up. "You said Cloud wasn't mad. He…He's alright, isn't he?"

"He said he was. I don't have to tell you to be more careful with your key, do I?"

"No," Sora said, scampering into the dim light. "I didn't mean to hurt him. I'm really sorry."

"Tell Cloud. We can check on him together." Leon stopped walking. "Sora, you… did something happen to your mom?"

"My mom? She's… not here." Tears spilled from Sora's eyes. He sniffled and bit his lip, but he didn't look away. Leon waited for Sora to settle down and speak.

"She's on higher ground," Sora said. "I have to find Riku. He…Kairi, too. We have to find each other. We're lost. We got lost in the dark."

"Higher ground?" Leon said. From smoldering, growing black mist, three heartless appeared, shaking, clattering and jumping in turn.

Tears still forming, Sora wiped them away before he grinned. "I feel a whole lot better thanks to you, Leon. I'm going to go beat up more Heartless now. I'll catch you guys later."

"Wait, Sora." Leon reached out to him, but Sora was running away, leaving the heartless behind. A woman, a fake one, stared out into the middle of the square as Sora ran by her. Damn it, Leon knew better than to ask kids about their parents. At least Sora seemed alright for now.

Because of the fake people and creatures milling around within it, Leon avoided this square. Even if its gingerbread-brown brick and beige stucco contrasted with the gray and blue shadows of the other two squares. In the middle of the square, two dead trees that had been converted into two streetlights stood in separate patches of green grass not large enough for children to play on. The grass looked real, like the people, but it had to be fake in a world without a sun. As Leon approached a set of locked doors twice his height, they loomed overhead like they were growing, overwhelming the shadows. As he walked into the streetlight, the doors receded, blending into the wall. It seemed like yesterday when he had first arrived and tried countless times to smash those doors in. Candles that lit spontaneously after being extinguished sat on empty wooden tables surrounded by empty wooden chairs.

The eerie quaintness of the square didn't change the fact that Yuffie was mad at Leon, and he was going back empty-handed. Retrieving the kid wouldn't have resolved things between them anyway, but what would? The shops in this square sold jewelry and restoring liquids. Leon would not be buying any jewelry for Yuffie. That left him with ether or potion. Could he offer to help her friend?

Leon climbed two flights of stone stairs and walked through an opened set of arched wooden doors to return to the square of the hotel. Once inside, he headed to the room that he and Yuffie had been sharing. He knocked on the door, listened, and cracked it open. Everything was still and dark. Without turning on the light, Leon ran in, grabbed a bottle of potion from a drawer in one of the nightstands, and ran out before Aerith had a chance to appear. And back through the fluorescent lighting he went to find Yuffie or Cloud or someone who would talk to him like a normal person.

"Where'd he go?" Leon said, as soon as he walked into the conference room. The words 'stab a good man' and 'ninja's absolute murderous intent' were written under 'masturbate' on the blackboard. Yuffie was sitting at the table.

"The crazy key kid?" she said. "Didn't you find him? Did he go all heartless?"

"Not the kid. He feels bad, but he's still fighting those things. Where's your friend Cloud? How is he?"

"He got clobbered by a giant magical key. " Yuffie stiffened. "How do you think he is?"

Leaving a chair between them, Leon sat next to Yuffie. He placed his Gunblade on the table. Was there a good way to offer help? He hadn't planned on what to do next. He traced the edges of the barrel with his thumb. Maybe he should have bought the jewelry. At least, for backup.

"Look, Squall, we need to talk… No more bullshoot. Ugh, you know what I'm trying to say. You're cute and all, but you're being weird. You and me, we're weird now. There's like five people here so I don't want us to be weird anymore."

"Okay." Leon looked for marks on his Gunblade. "We won't be weird."

"Is your face alright?" Yuffie said.

"It's not that bad."

"Um, yeah so about that. Sorry I socked you in the face. But well…I just…I…"

Leon wasn't expecting an apology. He looked up at Yuffie, but she looked away. Apparently, he hadn't done anything to warrant getting hit in the face. He was off the hook. He felt the muscle memory, the inclination from this habit to say 'whatever' right at the tip of his tongue but something about the way that Yuffie was looking all over the room stopped him.

Squall took a deep breath. "I didn't want to be someone to make you feel like that, I don't want you to feel bad, I wouldn't have tried anything if I knew you wouldn't like it…"

"Whoa, relax, slow down, I'm not mad… I don't know that I actually was. It's just…in my world… Fine, you got me, the Great Ninja Yuffie got scared, alright? But if you're blubbering on like that, maybe I didn't need to be, with you."

And they looked at each other, not smiling or laughing or anything really, just looked at each other to look.

"You know, funny thing about this, no, the stupid thing is that I don't even like you like that," Squall said.

"What? You're lying. I'm a total hot babe. No one can resist my ninja charms."

"Ninja charm. You're strong, I'll give you that much. No. Wait. You aren't…not cute, I guess."

"Keep on digging that hole even deeper, Squall." Yuffie laughed. "It's fun to watch."

"Whatever. That Cloud guy's stronger than you, isn't he?"

"Oh yeah, you have no idea. See, you are jealous. I can tell."

"I'm not jealous about how strong he is. I cared about that when I was younger. But I think… I am jealous."

"Ha, you are jealous of Cloud." Yuffie pointed at Squall. "But… you don't like me. Why'd you kiss me then? I don't get it."

"You're going to think it's stupid."

"Depending on what comes out of your mouth, I might. But why not just say it? Who cares what I think?"

"... you guys seem… close. You and me… we're not. Or maybe it had something to do with my sleep."

"Well, I haven't known you long, silly. Close to Cloud? I mean, we fought together, we almost died together, but I never thought that someone would feel like that about me and Cloud. Hey, you want to know a secret that Cloud doesn't know? Would that make you feel better? Come here so you can hear." Yuffie moved the chair between them out of the way and used her feet to move her chair close to Leon. She cupped her hand close to her mouth and leaned towards Leon as he leaned down to listen. "I've been set up."

"Set up? Like framed?"

"No." Yuffie rolled her eyes and pushed away. She put her hands on the back of her head and leaned back. "Like going to get hitched. Some day. One day. Far away. Maybe."

"Marriage?"

"Shhh, what was the point of me whispering that if you were going to blab about it? My dad set me up."

"Do you get to meet the guy?"

"I've met him plenty of times. He's cute, too. Cuter than you, even."

"Why'd you try to kiss me then?"

"Why not? I'm not married yet. Not even close. And for the record, you kissed me."

Squall snorted. "Whatever."

And they fell into a comfortable lull. How long had it been since Squall fell into a lull where it didn't matter that he had nothing left to say? Where he wasn't fighting to catch his thoughts to say something, but not just anything. He had to say whatever they wanted to hear, whatever would make them stop, and they never believed him when he said it with a smile. And still, their expectations of him drilled and rooted and festered and grew, until that was all they saw.

But this was different. He could be giddy and no one would question it. When would the window to be giddy close in this world, with these people, with her?

"How do you feel," Squall said, "about being with one person for the rest of your life?"

"Hm, how do I feel?" Yuffie said. "There's not much else to think about other than that one person, I guess."

"Do you believe in being fated to be with someone?"

"You mean like soulmates? No, that's stupid."

"So it might not work out in the end?"

"Well, you don't have to be soulmates, but you just got to make sure you pick the right one to be with, at least I'm trying to. Like someone really cute and nice, I guess."

"But what if things end up with you not liking him as much as you thought you would?"

"What do you want me to say, Squall? If he sucks, I guess I'm miserable for the rest of his life or mine. But what are you going on and on about one person for? You're a guy. You must go around kissing all the girls in your world and breaking their hearts."

"No, you're the second person I kissed."

"Really? No way," Yuffie said. "I don't believe you. Who's your first?"

"My girlfriend."

"You mean your ex?"

"I guess, I've been stuck here for years."

"Oh." Yuffie pursed her lips. "Wait, how old are you?"

(Oh shit.)

"How old are you?" Squall had only kissed her. Nothing more. How could he be so stupid?

"Eighteen," Yuffie said, which was better than what Squall had thought, but still. "You're not like thirty, are you?"

"No, I'm twenty-five."

"How is that possible? You said nine years, Squall. That means you kissed a girl when you were sixteen and you've been pining for her since then."

"No, I met my girlfriend right as I was joining the military. I was a normal functioning adult."

"So you haven't been here for nine years?"

"I have," Squall said.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"I'm just tired," Leon said. "Can we still sleep in the same room?"

"Nope, no-can-do buckaroo, but you can share a room with Cloud. I'll ask him for you if you want, but he won't mind, I'm sure of it."

"Which room is he in?" Leon took out a bottle of green potion from the inside of his jacket pocket. "I have something for him."

"Is that what I think it is, weirdo?" Yuffie wrinkled her nose. "Never mind, don't go anywhere near Cloud's room."

"It's for healing quicker," Leon said.

"Oh yeah, we have those in our world, too. You're still a weirdo, but I don't know if I'm supposed to feel warm and fuzzy or more weirded out about this. Can I be both?"

"He thinks I'm weird, too."

"Well, you are." Yuffie shrugged. "But really Squall, who isn't?"

"Thanks," Leon said.

"Don't thank me for something like that. He's next door. He stood straight up, acted like he was alright and stomped away for some dumb reason. He really can be a pain in the butt."

"Do you want to give this to him?"

"Uhh, no, Squall. I do not. Good luck, bud. I'll be in my room in a few."

"Alright." Leon stood up. "Can I leave my Gunblade with you?"

"You're going to just leave me with a gun? I've been around them, but shouldn't you ask what I know about them or something? Uh, how do I keep this one from going off? Wait, how does this thing work?"

"It won't go off. Not like a gun."

"It's not a gun? That's a sword that looks like a gun? Not a gun that looks like a sword? Oh no… Why?"

"Could you just take it to your room? It won't go off."

"Sure, I'll keep it safe."

Leon reached the door. "I'm… glad we talked."

"Sure, sure. Hey Squall, could you try to be nice to Cloud? He's had a rough day."

Leon closed the door behind him. As he walked down the hall under its fluorescent lights once again, he wondered what to do if Cloud didn't answer him. Leon wouldn't check on the guy, but should he drop the potion off somewhere in the room? Cloud had moved fast to disarm the kid, but the act itself wasn't impressive. Yuffie could've done that. An old, familiar excitement flared up when Leon realized that she could teach him new methods of fighting. But Cloud? Other than being able to move quickly with a massive sword stuck to his back, what he did was sloppy. Still, Leon wondered if he should've brought his Gunblade just in case. Ignoring his worry, he stopped in front of the door to the next room and knocked. He heard scuffling from the other side.

"Cloud? Are you in there?" Leon said.

No one answered. Leon thought of going back to Yuffie, but he still had to ask Cloud if he'd be willing to share his room, and it was better to ask for a favor when offering something in return. He knocked on the door again, listened, and cracked it open. Everything was dark and still except for two teal-colored floating lights. Cloud's eyes were glowing. At least Leon knew that he was up.

"Hey, It's Leon," he said, closing the door behind him.

"Thought all hotels had to have doors that locked," Cloud said.

"I have something that you might want."

"What're you doing in my room?"

"These rooms aren't any one person's. They're hotel rooms that we sleep in."

"Okay. Thanks."

"I brought some potion, for your injury."

"Oh," Cloud said. "Could you leave it on the nightstand?"

"I can't see. Mind if I turn on the light?"

"Nope. I mean, yeah, I mind."

"How am I supposed to put this somewhere if I can't see?"

"Throw it over here."

"I'm not throwing this at you. I'm turning on the light."

"No. Don't do that."

Leon flipped on the lights to look for the nightstand. Cloud sat on the only bed with pillows propping him up. He sat up straighter, but his face was pale. He was breathing through his mouth. His black wing had been tucked under his cape, which was now frayed in spots. Leon didn't know how Cloud hid his wing so well.

"Are you alright?" Leon said.

"I'm fine," Cloud said.

"You don't look fine. Do you think you need more than one bottle?"

"How many of those you got? I…" Cloud nodded off.

"Shoot, you're not fine. Let me get Yuffie."

Cloud's head jerked up. "Don't get her. Just stay put. Buy all the potion and hand them over."

"Why don't you want me to get Yuffie?"

"What she going to do? There's no use calling her over here just for her to get all pissed off. I'll be fine in a day or two, potions or not."

"I'm trying to help."

"I didn't ask for it."

"Fine. But I tried being nice to you."

"Nope. You were a jerk."

"You're no fun either."

"I just got my butt kicked by a ten-year-old kid running around with a big key. What's your excuse, huh?"

Leon blinked. Then he laughed.

"It's not funny. You," Cloud said, "are the jerk."

"Sorry, you're right, you being hurt isn't funny. Here." Leon put the bottle of potion on the nightstand nearest Cloud.

"Uh, thanks."

"Are you sure you don't need any help?"

"Nope."

"So, I have a favor to ask."

"…"

"…"

"What's this favor you want done?" Cloud said.

"I was wondering if I could sleep in this room."

"I'm sleeping here."

"I know, I don't want you to leave."

"What?"

"I'll sleep in one of the chairs or on the floor. Once you feel better, we could switch to a room with two beds."

"Oh."

"What do you mean 'oh'?"

"Don't think I can help you out with your favor."

"Why can't I sleep here? I have trouble sleeping when I'm alone."

"I like sleeping alone. Need space. Sucks." Cloud nodded off again.

"Sucks? Whatever," Leon said, but Cloud didn't perk back up. "Are you alright?"

Leon tapped Cloud cheek, hard enough to make soft slaps. When Cloud didn't respond, Leon hit a little quicker and harder. "Wake up. Hey."

"I'm up," Cloud mumbled, but he didn't open his eyes. "Give me a few more minutes."

"Stay with me. I'm going to use some of this potion on you, alright?"

"Move."

"I'm really just trying to help."

"Think I'm going to be sick. So move."

"Just hold still." Leon lifted the covers off of Cloud to reveal a gash through his shirt and torn black cloth under the gash. "The potion was supposed to go on before you wrapped the wound. Did Yuffie do this?"

"Just throw it all over me."

"That can't be as effective. I'll pour it over this… bandaging, alright?"

"Right."

"Here." Leon popped open the lid of the potion, lifted Cloud's shirt, and poured it over the cloth. "Want me to press into it? It might hurt."

"It's different from what we use back home. Feels… nice. Wait. That's a new bottle, right?"

"Yeah. Sure," Leon said. "You look less pale."

"I need space." Cloud stared at Leon. "Now."

"Whatever." Leon stood up.

"Wait," Cloud said. "Leon, uh, thanks. I'm feeling better. I'm just…"

"Don't mention it."

"Right."

Leon put the potion on the nightstand. "Get some rest."

Feeling a mix of irritation and a stupid, swelling sense of accomplishment, Leon opened the door trying to sort out what happened, why it happened, and what he would do next to get some sleep. Aerith stood in the middle of the doorway.

"Goodnight, Leon," she said. "It's a strange greeting, isn't it? But what else do you say when it's always night?"

"Aerith?" Cloud said.

"Cloud, just the person I wanted to see," Aerith said.

"He's hurt," Leon said.

"I'm fine," Cloud said. "Night, Leon. Thanks."

"Light and dark are opposite sides of the same coin. Don't you think so?" Aerith stepped into the room, causing Leon to step out of her way. "You can illuminate your path or darken the way. It's your choice. Goodnight, Leon."

"Bullshoot, you're full of it," Leon said.

"Don't talk to her like that," Cloud said.

"It's alright, Cloud," Aerith said. "Leon's world doesn't have a Lifestream. He doesn't understand."

"What would you know about my world?" Leon said.

"No Lifestream, is that right?" Aerith smiled. "Your planet is dark, so it's the people who must carry on the light. Leon's not ready to do that yet."

"What would you know about me?" Leon said.

"The Heartless are after-" Aerith said.

"Cloud. Have fun with your space. Feel better, see you around," Leon said.

He let the door close behind him. First the black wing and now the creepy girlfriend was undeniable proof that Cloud was broodier than Leon. He walked down the hall under its fluorescent lights once again and jogged to get to Yuffie's door.

"What are you doing back here?" Yuffie said, after she opened her door.

"Are you sure I can't sleep here? Cloud won't let me sleep in his room."

"He won't? Seriously, are you two the same dumb person in two different bodies?"

"We're not alike. He said he needs space."

"Go see Cid. Now I need space, too."

"Is Cid even real?"

"Yes, Cid is real. Why do you think he's not real? He's just stuck."

"Stuck?"

"How do you not know this? He's stuck in that jewelry shop. He can't leave. Go sleep there. He has a couch he doesn't use."

"Sleep? We woke up a couple hours ago."

"Look, Squall. You slept all day. It's nighttime now. I told you the last time this happened I can't just flip my sleep. Cloud's been up, too, and he's hurt. Don't bother him. Bother Cid, if you want. He'll yell at you if what you're doing actually bothers him."

"It's nighttime all the time here."

"I know, it sucks, but I can't sleep whenever you decide you need sleep. We'll try something else to get on a better schedule, alright? Cloud has a couple ideas that I didn't think of."

"You talked to him about my sleep?"

"You were sleeping in the hallway all day. He had some questions about you."

"Whatever, I have a question about him. Why does he hang around Aerith? Why would anyone want her around? If she gets into his head, he's going to spout off the same shoot as that kid. I've heard enough about 'darkness'."

"Wait, wait, wait, Squall. What are you talking about?"

"Darkness. You did it, too. This morning, no earlier. Does Cid talk like her? You don't buy into this, do you?"

"What? No. Wait, what about Aerith and Cloud? I mean, she grabbed him when he first got here, but I don't think they talked for that long."

"She's in Cloud's room now."

"How long has Aerith been in Cloud's room?"

"However long we've been talking. He's into her. I get that, but there's something off about her. You think so, too, right?"

"Maybe she's helping him with the potion."

"No, I helped him with that."

"You did?"

"You told me to be nice. He wasn't feeling well."

"And he keeps saying he's fine. Why does he always do that?"

"He seems better after the potion."

"Did Aerith say anything to you?"

"None of it made sense. What's with her?"

"She…she's from my world. We, we all saw her…" Yuffie looked at the ground. "I haven't talked to her without you around. She…talks about this world a lot. How long has she been here in this world?"

"I met her a couple days after I met you, but she might have been wandering around before we met. She's off, and she's talking to your friend. Is he going to buy into all her talk about darkness and heroes?"

"Heroes? When did she say anything about heroes? She better not be messing with Cloud. He… he's been through a lot. We all have, but he…"

The door creaked open down the hallway, and Aerith stepped out of Cloud's room.

"Let's go see what she's up to." Yuffie hopped out of the room. She exaggerated the swinging of her arms and the height of her knees as she walked towards Aerith, and Leon followed.

"Yuffie," Aerith said. "I'm so glad that you're here."

"Cut the crap," Yuffie said. "What were you doing with Cloud? He got sliced up by some stupid kid with a stupid key. He needs to rest."

"Did Leon say anything to you about me, Yuffie? I'm afraid that I said something that upset him."

"He thinks… No, we both think you're acting weird."

"Did he tell you how he ended up here in this world?" Aerith said. "It's struggling between light and dark, you know."

"I already told you that I don't remember how I got here," Leon said.

"Oh I do wish I could believe you," Aerith said. "Do you believe him, Yuffie?"

"I believe him more than I believe you, A-Aerith."

"Why would someone like him fight so hard against being a hero unless he's done something terrible in his world? What did he do? What is his darkness?"

"Who are you?" Yuffie said. "You're not Aerith."

"Leon," Aerith said. "You should-"

"Don't even think about it," Yuffie said. "You've got some nerve, blaming Leon for… I don't even know what. How'd you get here? Do you remember? Hm?"

"I'm disappointed, Yuffie," Aerith said. "I thought we were friends."

Yuffie glared. "Not going to answer my question, huh? If you want him to be a hero so bad, why aren't you signing up for that? Why do you care what he does here anyway?"

"Yuffie, there are things you don't understand about our world," Aerith said. "Things that Cloud didn't tell you. The Lifestream works in ways that are outside of our understanding. I…came here through the Lifestream to help."

"Help? Help who?" Yuffie said.

"Sora, who else?" Aerith said. "And I guess, Leon as well, to some extent. But Cloud's here, so he doesn't have to worry about that anymore."

"Worry about what?" Leon said.

"Being a hero," Aerith said.

"What does any of that actually mean?" Yuffie said.

Aerith looked at Leon. "A fierce battle against darkness."

"That's it," Yuffie said. "Stay away from Cloud, you…you…fake. You ugly fake. And me. And Cid. And stay the heck away from Leon."

"Yuffie," Aerith said.

"No," Yuffie pulled out her boomerang and waved it around. "Scram."

"You've grown up so much, but in some ways you haven't changed, have you? You were always quick to anger."

"Leave," Yuffie said. "Please just leave."

Aerith clutched her chest. "I only want-"

"She wants you to leave," Squall said.

"I've upset you. I'm so sorry. We'll talk when you calm down, Yuffie." Aerith turned and walked away soundlessly. Leon watched her to see if she would disappear, but she gave one last look at Yuffie, tilted her head, and opened one of the exit doors.

"Squall, she." Yuffie sunk to the ground. "She's supposed to be dead. We all saw her die. What kind of place brings people back to life like that? She's not Sephiroth. She couldn't have wanted this. Where are we? Really? Are we… are we dead? Did he…finally…"

"We're not dead," Leon said, squatting next to her. "I've felt my pulse. Feel yours."

"Then is she really alive? I was supposed to be happy to see her again. But it's not her, she's nothing like that thing, and all this does is make me miss her more. I…I didn't know that I could do that. She was… she was so nice to me. Even…even when I didn't deserve it."

Yuffie threw herself onto Leon and cried into his chest. Leon stayed in place, resisting the urge to stand up and throw her off.

"It'll be alright," Leon said, patting her back twice.

"No," Yuffie said. "None of this is alright."

"I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" Yuffie yelled, standing. "What am I doing here? Why is Cloud here? Why did he follow us? He shouldn't have followed us. And Cid…he…he was only visiting me. He never visits me. We shouldn't be here."

"I don't know." Leon stayed seated on the ground.

"Aerith," Yuffie said, eyes brimming with tears. "Oh, Aerith. Aerith… Why did it have to be her? Why did she…"

Leon stood. "Look at me, Yuffie. Breathe. Count backwards from five."

"What are you doing?"

"Sometimes it helps to think about breathing. I was trying to help."

"It helped. Maybe. Not really. It's… the thought that counts. I could really use a hug right now, Squall."

"I don't like hugs."

"But hugs are the best. You really are…weird."

"I'll give you one if you want."

"What? No. It's alright. I'm not… freaking out anymore."

Leon didn't know what else to say or do to comfort her. The lull was uncomfortable again. She already had expectations for him.

"Squall?" Yuffie finally said. "I… don't want to sleep alone tonight either. Could we sleep in the same room, just this last time? Maybe we can hang out for a little while first."

"Sure. Yeah…" Leon said. "Thanks."

"Don't thank me, dummy. You're the one doing me a favor."

A/N: Maya Angelou wrote/said: "Light and shadow are opposite sides of the same coin. We can illuminate our paths or darken the way." I will be quoting fancy quotes about light and darkness in this fic. Hopefully, I remember where I got them and site them. (It will be an accident if I don't.) I own zero neat sounding quips about light or darkness here.