wingenvy | [Ahaha belated post is belated.]

Current Mood: chipper

[Ahaha belated post is belated.]

Nice to see the sun again. Man, I thought I missed the mako before, but not being able to see a thing in the dark sucked. Good thing Seph could see or we'd have bumped into each other all week.

Hey Spike, how're you and the kids holding up? Do they miss me yet? ^_~ If you need me over there as a buffer or just some company, let me know. I'll probably come around to visit soon anyway. It's cool to hang out with Seph and all but he's not exactly good for conversation.

[Private to Cloud - unhackable]

How's the Geostigma? Were you able to find some help for it?

[/Private]

So from what I've heard, people are branching out a bit and planning some fun events. I think that's awesome! May as well kick back and tell the Malnosso to stuff it now and then. Anything less would be like cooperating, right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Cloud has a hand over his eyes, and he gives wry laugh.]

Shoot me?

[Perhaps that was a joke in poor taste.]

Sorry. Just...talk or something. How are you, really? All I ever get out of you is an "alright."

[Zack snorts. He knows better than to be offended, but it wasn't exactly the nicest thing to say to someone who'd been shot to death.]

I'd sooner shoot myself, Spike. But it's fine. And I usually say I'm alright because I am - nothing's really been happening. I've kept myself busy training, but besides that...

[He shrugs.]

[Yeah, bad joke. Of course Cloud will probably ~~angst~~ muse about it later, but later is not now, and right now he has a comment to make.]

I meant what I said. About it not being like you to hole yourself up. I'd have expected you to make a thousand friends by now.

Well it's not like I've been antisocial. I've talked to plenty of people. Things have just been kind of quiet lately. Relax, alright?

...

[Cloud's looking at Zack before he slouches back on the couch, flinging his right arm across his eyes.]

...I miss them too.

[And that was the root of the problem right there. Zack winces, scuffing a hand through his hair.]

....I know, Spike. I know. But we should be happy they're safe and away from this place, shouldn't we?

["If they are," was on the tip of his tongue before Cloud bit the words back with a nearly audible click and struggled to find something else to fill the silence with.]

...yeah. They're probably both fine...wherever and whenever they went.

[Zack shakes his head, resisting the urge to sigh. Typical Cloud.]

I bet they went home. Tifa's probably waiting for you to come home and marry her properly.

[He didn't bother mentioning his own fate once he left Luceti.]

Probably. I hope she's not too worried.

[Cloud fiddles with the sleeve-thing on his arm.]

...Although...I don't want to be sent back that way. I want to stay here until we find our own way back.

[Zack purses his lips at that.]

'We'? Cloud, normally people can't come back to life.

They have here.

[And here Cloud turns and gives Zack a determined glare.]

You are coming back.

[Zack blinks at that. Well, that was a look of pure steel if he'd ever seen one.]

Heh... I guess if anyone can find a way, it's you.

Damn straight.

[Cloud relaxes again, leaning back.]

Not to mention Simon's coming with me, so I don't really even have much of a choice.

Whoa, you're taking Simon with you? He's not from our world. You think you can manage that?

[Cloud shrugs, although it's a little stiff.]

They brought us all here, didn't they? I'll figure something out. I can't send him back to that place, Zack.

[Right, right. It hadn't sounded very pleasant from the way Simon had described it, and the way he'd marveled at every little part of the surface had been too cute to want to send him back underground.]

I'm sure he'd be way happier with you. What about that friend of his, though?

Apparently he wanted to stay on the surface, too. I haven't had a chance to ask, but...well, if he's willing to come with us, I'd be willing to take him along. Simon's attached to him, after all.

I think it'd be worth it. The kid deserves more than a life underground. He's got a lot of potential - maybe if he grows up in a better place, he'll learn to control those abilities of his. And he'd get more confident, too.

Yeah. He's a good kid...a really good kid.

[And Cloud smiles that quiet little smile that dads do when they're talking about their children. He also folds his hands over his stomach, random FYI.]

[Zack smiles faintly, watching him. He loves those little moments, when Cloud smiles like that - because above all else, his family is his life. And it's adorable.]

They both are. And they're really happy you're their dad, y'know.

[Cloud flushes and reaches up to scratch his nose in embarrassment.]

Yeah well...kids never really occurred to me. It just...happened, I guess. I attract weird situations.

Weird or normal, it doesn't matter, does it? Sounds like you were just what those kids needed in their lives. And I think you needed them, too.

[Cloud can't deny it; he'd probably have fallen apart a while ago if it weren't for those two. Speaking of, though...

Cloud glances over at Zack, serious again.]

...You'll watch them for me, right? Make sure they don't do anything stupid?

[Zack snorts faintly, gesturing vaguely.]

You don't even have to ask, Spike. Of course I will. I'm sure they'll need the support, anyway.

[Cloud's still staring at Zack.]

...and you're gonna be okay, right? You know I'll be back.

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