001 || dream a dream of me.
[Some dreams have some fluidity. They remain constant, with an overlaying theme - much like a storybook of the consciousness. Others can be sporadic, having no meaning, and easily shifting from one thing to the next. They can be serious, or strange. They can be hopeful, or heartbreaking
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Zack's dead.
It hits him like a hammer blow and his brows come down against it. He can make sense of the snow and the mountain and even the fact that he's walking. Obviously he's got a delivery of some sort - no package - or just finished a delivery - why is he going uphill then? - and had to walk because Fenrir's no good in deep snow - but...
Zack?
He really is losing his mind.
...
Tifa's going to be pissed.
Doggedly, he shakes his head but the spiky headed apparition stays put and looks just as solid as ever.
He wants to see Zack again. Of course he does! There are days he'd give almost anything to be able to see that smile or hear that voice or - Planet help him, even put up with a hair ruffle - but he's not sure he wants to go back to being crazy just to do it.
... He's not sure it isn't worth going crazy to do...]
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Something... wasn't right. He looked as though he'd seen a ghost.]
Cloud?
[His tone is quieter now - concerned.]
Hey... you okay? You don't look too good, buddy.
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The guilt hits hard but the sheer shock he's still in is enough to mute it. It takes second place to the fact that there's a dead man standing in front of him.
A dead man that's expecting an answer from the worried look Zack is starting to give him.
It pulls Cloud a bit back to himself and he shakes his head again, a slow move, as if it would clear voices that aren't there anymore out of his head. He doesn't want to worry his friend.]
I - Zack. What are you doing here?
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[Now he's *really* confused - did Cloud forget about their mission already? Busting up AVALANCHE heads? Saving prisoners? Ring any bells there?]
If you mean out here, I said I'd be nearby. You're not gettin' that old, Cloud. Your memory's just fine!
[Maybe he's sick from the old. In which case, he would need to bring the other back to camp and see if any of the other infantry could do something.]
It's a little late, maybe you're not gettin' enough sleep. I'll walk you back if y'want?
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I'm twenty three.
[he's not sure why it comes out. It's certainly not the most relevant fact in this entire confusing situation. And twenty three isn't exactly old enough to start losing your memory either. Maybe he fastens on it for just those reasons.
Until he realizes how stupid the comment is and there's a third shake of his head and he lifts a hand to rub at it but when he opens his eyes again, Zack's still there.
He's not even sure why he's fighting seeing Zack again. It's not as if it's a bad thing. The sigh is silent but his shoulders sink the smallest bit and the vulnerability moves into his face.]
Walk me back where?
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'I'm twenty three'.
'I'm twenty three.'
He was barely older than Cloud. He knew that, he *knew*. There was no way...!]
Cloud.
...could you repeat that.
[Because he needs confirmation it wasn't just a trick of the cold on his mind. Because he wants to be sure Cloud is *fifteen* like he had been this morning, and a few months ago. Because there was no way Cloud was older than him in the matter of a few hours.]
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He's spent far too long being the only one sharing his own reality. He doesn't trust it anymore when he's the only one that sees something differently.
So his brows come down and he takes those last few steps, wind tugging at the straps on his clothing.]
I said 'walk me back where?'.
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[He's stern, and a little concerned right now, though the latter bleeds more in his tone than the former.]
You said you were twenty-three years old, Cloud.
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Hm. I am twenty three. Just this month.
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You actually got Zack to shut up.
Damn.]
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Instead it ends up being a poke to the shoulder and he's a little surprised when his finger doesn't go through. It's a strong enough poke though to really be real. It still seems utterly incongruous when Cloud's the one asking:]
Zack? You okay?
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Cloud is suddenly an adult. He was... dreaming. He had to be.]
Y-yeah, okay, you're... comin' back to camp.
[Because... Cloud's delirious. That's it. He wasn't feeling well and Zack had to take care of him until he was.
He walks forward, one hand on his friend's shoulder and trying to guide them both back down the mountain.]
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the realization hits him like a dolphin blow to the stomach and all the color slips out of his face. Dumb founded he stares at his friend, horrified by the thought that - ]
Zack - how old do you think I am?
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Cloud, you're fifteen. You're part of ShinRa's militia, in the infantry, but you're trainin' to be a SOLDIER.
You don't remember any of this?
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And he has to fight the urge to smile. Zack's so serious about this. And he really is worried. And it's not funny. It's just - something in him, for no logical reason, finally relaxes. ]
Zack -
[before it occurs to him that it might be kinder to just play along with this, he's pointing. To his own mako infused blue eyes.]
Do I look fifteen?
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This wasn't a joke.]
Cloud... I...
What happened to you?
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