[previous] [index] [next]
Learning How To Breathe
By Faronon Star Wolf
23/?
Wordcount: 974
For a few minutes after everything stopped, we remained in a huddle where we had been standing--and then Cloud got Ideas. Well, that is, he started toward where the temple was.
Well, had been. Because, y'know, it was gone now.
And now there was a Big Freaking Hole where it had been. And by the time the rest of us had gotten to the edge, Cloud was scrambling down the side of said Big Freaking Hole. Aeris took one look at the black thing in the center of it and began scrambling down into the Big Freaking Hole, too--but she had a harder time doing it--y'know, her skirt and all.
Cloud waited until she was down at the bottom--caught her, actually, when she slipped--and then stepped towards the Black Sparkly Thing. Gee, maybe that was the Black Materia!
Okay. I'll stop with that.
Anyway. Clod went and picked it up, and talked to Aeris--I'm calling it a Big Freaking Hole for a reason, you know, so it's not like I'm not telling you what they said because I want to--and then white hair crazy dude--Sephiwaffle--showed up. Again.
He's really freaking creepy, okay? Much worse than Vincent.
And they talked. I could see Vincent aiming his gun at white hair creepy dude, but he didn't seem willing to shoot. I don't know why--I mean, he's a Turk, right? Or was. Don't they assassinate people?
I watched as they talked, and then Sephiroth made a gesture--wake up!--I flinched at the sudden voice--
--and Cloud walked forward, holding the Black Materia out in front of him.
"Cloud, what are you doing--" Tifa shrieked--good boy--stepping forward--only to be pulled back by Barret as the ground at the edge of the hole gave out--
--well done--and then Sephiroth was gone--
--and so was the Black Materia.
Cloud had collapsed, moaning, and Aeris went to kneel next to him before calling for Tifa to help her. And Tifa had gone. Red had offered to help, but the hole was Steep enough he would probably have problems going down--but Tifa didn't say that. She just smiled and said that they would be able to handle it.
And they did seem able to handle it--Cloud seemed a bit dazed, but he looked sane enough--
--at least until he started to beat the shit out of Aeris.
I was the one being held back this time--Vincent grabbed my wrist as I reached for my shuriken--
--I could hear the others shouting, but I didn't hear them--my head was full of Cloud what the HELL ARE YOU DOING--
--and Tifa pulled her arm back and hit Cloud once.
He paused, midswing--and fell.
--
We met up with Cait Sith on our way out--unconscious Cloud and all.
The robot cat's eyes took in our expressions--and his eyes grew wide. "I missed some stuff, didn't I?"
We all looked at each other--and surprisingly, it was Vinnie who answered.
"You may have missed a few events, yes," he replied, with a Turk face on. Cait whistled--how can a cat do that?--and blinked.
"What happened to make Mr. Silent the talkative one?"
"Well," Aeris said, and paused. I looked back to see her trying to get her lip to stop bleeding again, and then give up, "it's a long story."
--
After that, we traveled as quick as we could--which was slower than usual, because normally we don't have to drag along an unconscious spikehead--and then got back on the Tiny Bronco.
Cloud was starting to come around, but Tifa hit him with a sleep spell, and he went quiet again.
I got myself ready for my usual puke-a-thon.
Between--attacks--I took the chance to look around at people--Tifa was sitting by Aeris, and from the pale green glow on her hands, she was healing the bruises that Cloud had--well, given her.
I didn't want to think about it.
Looking at everyone else--Cid and Barret seemed to be playing a card game of some sort, and Red and Cait Sith were watching--Vincent was taking his turn driving, and Cloud was still asleep--I considered going to talk to someone, but my stomach convinced me that wouldn't be a good idea.
I don't think any of them would appreciate smelling like puke.
Once we hit the Western Continent again, we stopped at Gongaga--Aeris had a weird look on her face when she suggested we stop--but either the others didn't see it--how could they miss it?--they'd traveled with her longer than I had!--or they didn't want to ask about it--
--so we stopped.
--
So: Aeris said Cloud would be fine in the morning. Therefore, everyone able to cast Sleep got to keep a watch on El Clod during the night.
I wasn't one of those lucky ones. So I had a full night's sleep ahead of me.
Or would have had, if it weren't for those pesky dreams.
I don't remember much about it now, just crystal trees and Cloud and Aeris and a low threatening voice.
"She's thinking of interfering, is she? We must stop that girl soon, pet."
I woke, panting, staring up at the ceiling of the room. Staring around the room, I waited until my eyes adjusted to the light--
--I could see Tifa's dark hair against the white pillow case, but I couldn't see Aeris--
"Aeris?" I called quietly, putting my feet on the floor. She wasn't in her bed--maybe she'd just gone to get a drink of water--
--except I sat and waited for what felt like forever, and she never returned.
I went looking for her--
But I couldn't find her anywhere.
[previous] [index] [next]