When the nurse suddenly appeared after the intercom's announcement, Ritsuka could only stare at her. He had a visitor? He knew that Miku had one, but to think that he would get one? He couldn't imagine who would come to see him. Seimei was gone, Soubi was here... Or so he hoped. It had been almost two shifts since he'd last seen the older man
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He eyed the nurse apparently assigned to him bustle up after the announcement and offered him a cheery smile. He made no move to stand up and simply watched her gesture enthusiastically to stand and follow her off to Shiva knew where. When gesturing only resulted in a raised eyebrow, she finally said, “come along, Mr. Smith. You have a visitor. You don’t want to make your visitor wait, would you?”
He blinked and found himself getting to his feet as his mind whirled at the thought of a visitor for him. He felt a terrible feeling to dread welling in his stomach, but he followed along as she bustled out of the cafeteria towards entranceway of the institute.
“Who… is visiting me,” he asked softly. Anyone but Aerith he thought ( ... )
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"Skye?" She asked gently. "Oh Skye, I'm so happy to see you! You're looking well." That was a safe way to begin a conversation with someone in an institution like this one, wasn't it? At least she didn't follow it up with 'and sane.'
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“…mom?”
The word jumped from his lips before he had any control over his mouth, and he rose from his seat in a remembered awkward fashion, as if he had just been caught doing something he was not supposed to. It took him a moment to regain himself as he stared at her, saw that she was exactly as he remembered her before he left for military school.
As the shock ebbed away, Cloud felt the overwhelming feeling of guilt hit him. She was just another person that he was guilty for, was he not? She had died painfully and alone, and he had been off taking survivors out as he had been unable to search for her body. He had let to fall to his delusions of grandeur, and it became so painful to look upon her ( ... )
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"They're not feeding you enough," she added, contradictory to what she'd said only moments before about him looking well. "I've asked to send baked goodies to you from home, but they told me they had plenty of food here and that it wouldn't be fair to the other patients. You are eating what they give you, aren't you?"
He was pulled into another hug as the woman became teary eyed. "Maybe... maybe you'll be better soon and they'll let you come home with me. They told me you weren't ready yet, but..."
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He kept telling himself that this was a fabricated lie, that his mother had died in Nibelheim. She seemed so real, so warm, so... alive standing over him. He did nothing as he felt her gaze roming over him, wanting to tell her that he was fine and that she knew he had some moments of success.
"They feed us just fine, mom," he said, something he seemed to remember saying in a letter home. The situation was different, but the feelings she envolved were so hauntingly the same. Despite the push of denial at the back of his brain, he found himself look away and shrugging a little. "I am not usually that hungry. They give me too much, and I do not like it here," he stated softly. "I prefer your cooking." Why had he said that ( ... )
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"And I know... I know you want to come home sweetheart. It would hurt me deep down if you didn't. I've kept your room looking just the same as it was - though I have dusted and vacuumed. It wouldn't do for you to come home to a room with cobwebs strewn about now, would it?" She laughed faintly, rubbing circles on his back with her hands. "And I'm sure they'll let you out soon. I'm sure of it. You seem so much better already!"
She pulled away only a bit, lifting one hand to his chin and smiling brightly. "Don't you worry about protecting me, son. I'm still a spry little thing. I can handle myself."
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"Oh, Skye," she sighed. "Must you ask your mother these things? You know my views will be completely biased." She took one of his hands in both of hers, giving it a squeeze. "You've always been a quiet child. Sweet, except for those occasional times where you'll go off and get yourself in trouble. Worry me sick." She laughed again, that same quiet laugh. "You wanted to join the Marines for so long..." She trailed off there, shaking her head.
"You just worry about yourself right now. I know you'll be out of here soon enough. I'm just so glad to see you."
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He stared at where she held his hand and looked up at her. He felt the need to correct her that he had wanted to join SOLDIER, not the marines. He did not though, keeping that to himself as he tried to figure out where his memories ended and this illusionary life began. She was just like his mother in every way. “I did not mean to bring anything painful back to you. I am sorry,” he whispered softly ( ... )
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If she noticed any of the other visitors having problems with those they'd come to visit she didn't say. All of her attention was focused on the young man she considered her son. "I know I've said this before, but maybe next time you'll be ready. You're making such progress! I'll ask them again before I leave." The way she said the last part, however, made it obvious that she didn't believe the answer would change.
"Just keep your chin up, okay?" She didn't ask him to be cheerful for her sake. Skye had never been the most cheerful of boys, and this place certainly wouldn't help that any.
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He was never getting out of this place ( ... )
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She hugged him again. Perhaps if she kept it up they'd go ahead and let her keep him. "I will do my best to come next time! I will! I do miss you so! The house feels so empty without you." When he did some home, she would have to cook like there was no tomorrow to make up for all the days he'd gone without her preparing his meals. He could stand to gain a few pounds anyway.
"Just hang in there for me. We'll see each other again soon."
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And then the nurse was pointing at her watch, and Cloud's mother's brows furrowed in agitation. Certainly they were allowed longer than that? She blew her son a couple final kisses, walking backwards towards the doorway. "We'll see each other again soon!" she repeated, as though the more she said it the more likely it was to come true. "Stay well, Skye! Eat your vegetables!"
And then she had turned away, following the nurse back out of the waiting room.
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