[ She would argue she hasn't been through anything close to that, but Pinocchio would be right; has she not had herself pushed to breaking, her heart shattered a thousand times, and every time, it bring up the memory of who she was, who she should have been?
She worries now, as she has before, if this is the time that finally breaks her. What if she can't pick herself up this time? What if she doesn't want to again? She's so tired, and everything she builds gets taken away.
So that hand is like an anchor. It's real. It's warm. It's kind. If that keeps her moving right now, then she'll keep it close.
It still makes her self-conscious when he cradles her hand in both of his. It doesn't matter that it's metal; the touch is gentle and reverent.
And then he's put them on her shoulders. She blinks, startled, and for a moment is tempted to just crumple into him, let the tears come -- for Sector 7, for Shinra's bullshit, for whatever they'd done to Cloud and Aerith and Red -- and hug him.
But he's talking about fighting again. She nods. She needs to be strong for both of them. ]
Yeah. Come on.
[ She opens the door, holding it for him. Nothing but a long hall. Thick carpet, sconces on the walls. A hotel, she thinks. They pass someone else in a shirt like theirs, but she doesn't stop to ask questions, not yet. A second pair is dressed in golden tracksuits, their eyes undeniably checking out either her or P's or both their legs and assets. ]
Well, they aren't keeping us on a tight leash. No security so far.
no subject
She worries now, as she has before, if this is the time that finally breaks her. What if she can't pick herself up this time? What if she doesn't want to again? She's so tired, and everything she builds gets taken away.
So that hand is like an anchor. It's real. It's warm. It's kind. If that keeps her moving right now, then she'll keep it close.
It still makes her self-conscious when he cradles her hand in both of his. It doesn't matter that it's metal; the touch is gentle and reverent.
And then he's put them on her shoulders. She blinks, startled, and for a moment is tempted to just crumple into him, let the tears come -- for Sector 7, for Shinra's bullshit, for whatever they'd done to Cloud and Aerith and Red -- and hug him.
But he's talking about fighting again. She nods. She needs to be strong for both of them. ]
Yeah. Come on.
[ She opens the door, holding it for him. Nothing but a long hall. Thick carpet, sconces on the walls. A hotel, she thinks. They pass someone else in a shirt like theirs, but she doesn't stop to ask questions, not yet. A second pair is dressed in golden tracksuits, their eyes undeniably checking out either her or P's or both their legs and assets. ]
Well, they aren't keeping us on a tight leash. No security so far.