Cloud frowns, his lips pursed, his eyes staring off into the middle distance but his gaze is steel as he thinks through everything. Could he really sacrifice himself for the sake of this world? That's what he was always asking himself right? He could fight and die to save people, he'd put everything on the line for the sake of this world's future. What's one more thing? Just stepping forward and volunteering. It was easier, to be sure, and nobler too. And yet as he thought about it, it all seemed heavier. Harder.
No. He wouldn't back down. Being a Hero didn't matter. But making sure that others could live without fear of their future. That was the real thing. He looked to Kaji, ready to answer in the affirmative. And he was going to be honest. He could do this if called upon.
His mouth was already open to say so when Sephiroth preemptively voted him down he turned in shock. No matter how all of their time in Crystallis had gone, he still saw Sephiroth as his Hero. Even with everything he knew about their lives on Gaia and how things "should have been", this Cloud never lost his hold on idolizing the Silver Elite. He'd believed in him and his ability to make his own future from the beginning. He still did.
Cloud was 23 now. The Other Cloud and the Other Sephiroth would be fighting in the ruins of Midgar, destroying the buildings that still stood as their battle raged on. The Other Cloud would finally learn to forgive himself and to reach out to others for the help he needed, and the Geostigma would be cured. For a time, Sephiroth's influence would be removed from the Planet.
This Sephiroth was going the other way. Offering himself to the world and the Calamity to save it. Now, more than ever, he was the other side of the coin.
And as much as Cloud wanted to beg him not to, to tell him that he didn't have to, he could feel that this was the critical moment. This is where Sephiroth could choose to be a Hero for himself rather than following the path laid out for him since his birth.
"A-are you sure?" Either way. It could go either way. If Cloud could give himself up so that this Sephiroth could live and be happy, he'd do it for him. That Sephiroth was offering to do so in kind made him feel both weak and strong all at once. He wouldn't turn down that gift, but only if it was true.
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No. He wouldn't back down. Being a Hero didn't matter. But making sure that others could live without fear of their future. That was the real thing. He looked to Kaji, ready to answer in the affirmative. And he was going to be honest. He could do this if called upon.
His mouth was already open to say so when Sephiroth preemptively voted him down he turned in shock. No matter how all of their time in Crystallis had gone, he still saw Sephiroth as his Hero. Even with everything he knew about their lives on Gaia and how things "should have been", this Cloud never lost his hold on idolizing the Silver Elite. He'd believed in him and his ability to make his own future from the beginning. He still did.
Cloud was 23 now. The Other Cloud and the Other Sephiroth would be fighting in the ruins of Midgar, destroying the buildings that still stood as their battle raged on. The Other Cloud would finally learn to forgive himself and to reach out to others for the help he needed, and the Geostigma would be cured. For a time, Sephiroth's influence would be removed from the Planet.
This Sephiroth was going the other way. Offering himself to the world and the Calamity to save it. Now, more than ever, he was the other side of the coin.
And as much as Cloud wanted to beg him not to, to tell him that he didn't have to, he could feel that this was the critical moment. This is where Sephiroth could choose to be a Hero for himself rather than following the path laid out for him since his birth.
"A-are you sure?" Either way. It could go either way. If Cloud could give himself up so that this Sephiroth could live and be happy, he'd do it for him. That Sephiroth was offering to do so in kind made him feel both weak and strong all at once. He wouldn't turn down that gift, but only if it was true.