(Untitled)

[a_quiet_retreat]

He waited as the doctors saw to... Strife? His alternate? Either way. This place was not one he was wont to spend much time in; the sterility, even more so than the white walls and floors and ceilings, bothered him. But he must do this. He must remain strong, so that Cloud could be strong, when they allowed them together again...

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[tout_est_gris]

It was to be a while yet before Sephiroth would be allowed to see Cloud. For a short time, the young man had become something of an equivalent to some sort of odd circus attraction, his lack of pulse - yet obvious life - and various other things about him drawing the attention of first only a few doctors and nurses, but then steadily more and more as word spread; eventually, however, the people dispersed, and Cloud was left to rest in a room, hooked up to far fewer monitors than one might expect (though of course he didn't have many vital signs to record, so it wasn't all that odd in retrospect) and with needles poked unceremoniously into various portions of his body, taped down from the way he'd thrashed at the pain and unconsciously tried to pull them free.

The pain, however...it was fading, now. Slowly, the overwhelming, alternating waves of heat and cold that swept over him subsided; slowly, he could feel consciousness creeping back to him; slowly, he opened his eyes in the dream world to find himself in Sephiroth's arms, frightened eyes looking down at him and filling with relief with a rather startling suddenness upon seeing him awake. /...You are all right./

I think so. Even in the dream, it was hard to move, but he tried anyway, managed to raise a hand just slightly and thought he saw an unfamiliar sheen in Sephiroth's eyes as his fingers were captured, brought up to rest against an alarmingly damp cheek. Seph...?

/Shh./ Even obviously upset, Sephiroth retained his usual calm facade, though perhaps his gaze was a little bit softer than usual. /Rest, Cloud. Let me see to our body./

...kay... He closed his eyes again, but this time to sleep peacefully, allowing Sephiroth control.

In the real world, mako-green eyes slowly blinked open, almost-rounded pupils shrinking to snakelike slits.

[a_quiet_retreat]

"...Cloud." Sephiroth's voice was soft; the once frightening, powerful general seemed almost timid at this moment, so afraid-- both of his surroundings and for Cloud's health.

[tout_est_gris]

"He sleeps," came the reply, and those eyes fixed on Sephiroth. "He has suffered a great shock, not only physically, but mentally. For the time being, you will have to speak with me."

A pause, then the eyes turn away. "And I...should apologize, I think."

[a_quiet_retreat]

He raises an eyebrow. "For?"

[tout_est_gris]

"My..." He hesitates, unsure how to say it. "Earlier actions and words."

[a_quiet_retreat]

He looks away. "They were only the truth."

[tout_est_gris]

"For myself," he corrects softly, wincing as he shifts and the needle in his upper left arm decides to pain him a bit. "But not for you."

[a_quiet_retreat]

"Let me decide that."

[tout_est_gris]

"My own state of being is not for you to decide." The tone is gentle, hopefully cutting any bite the words may have.

[a_quiet_retreat]

"I spoke of my own." In answer, his own tone is neutral.

[tout_est_gris]

"You...are not the same as me."

[a_quiet_retreat]

"Hm. I don't need to be."

[tout_est_gris]

"You have not had my..." He again searches for the correct term. "Experiences," he finally finishes, the word seeming bitter on his tongue.

[a_quiet_retreat]

"Hmh." Apparently, someone doesn't feel like discussing his past.

[tout_est_gris]

That'd be two someones, really.

"Why have you stayed?" he finally asks, glancing around at the surroundings.

[a_quiet_retreat]

"You needed me to." It's not the whole reason, but it's part of it.