[ic] DEHIATUS

[herofirstclass]

[it's the middle of the night, when everything should be quiet, but suddenly the doors to the chocobo stables are being pushed open, and stumbling feet can be heard making their way inside]

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[secondhandsky]

[wakes up easy, PING]

Who is it?

[gets the fuck out of bed]

[secondhandsky]

[his hands squeeze into very, very tight fists]

[herofirstclass]

[uncrosses his arms and reaches out to rest a hand on top of Cloud's head - it's shaking just a bit]

It wasn't that bad, though. I'm okay now.

[secondhandsky]

[aaah aaaaaaaaaaah this isn't okay not okay NOT OKAY]

He can't do this.

[herofirstclass]

He won't do it again.

[secondhandsky]

No, he won't.

[herofirstclass]

[curls his fingers into Cloud's hair]

Heh . . . I don't think I've ever seen you this angry before.

[secondhandsky]

[fffrozen]

We've gone through enough at the hands of people like him.

[herofirstclass]

More than enough.

[shudders a little, then slides his hand to the back of Cloud's head, pulling him closer]

Promise me something?

[secondhandsky]

[his breathing cracks]

. . .

[herofirstclass]

Stay away from that guy. I don't want him even thinking of doing any of that to you.

[secondhandsky]

He can't just get away with it.

[herofirstclass]

[shakes his head]

He isn't. I'll . . . I'll handle it.

[secondhandsky]

. . . You've protected me so many times, why can't I help you?

[herofirstclass]

[. . . l-laughs a little]

Because I don't want anything happening to you.

[secondhandsky]

I didn't want anything to happen to you either. Not ever again.