Cloud was already starting to think of his strategic retreat, much like a wounded cat trying to slink away and hide...
...But the raw, genuine emotions that he sees and hears on Sephiroth from his expression of thanks knock the breath out of him momentarily. For a time, Cloud cannot tear his eyes from Sephiroth's- this is perhaps the first time the merc holds prolonged eye contact with him since they started interacting in this strange new world. His lips part in an expression of shock, but also almost wonder.
Cloud Strife is left to just take that in for a few silent beats. To let it sink in just how much helping him truly means to his hero. To someone he thought long dead.
...Clearly, he's compromised. Clearly, he needs to slink off and process all of this. Alone. Where the silver cannot continue to see the gentle, vague pink that dusts his warm cheeks.
"It's fine," Cloud manages, in a voice much smaller than he would have liked. It's soft, clearly the blonde's gentleness coming through. Always when he tries to stifle it with a stone-cold mask. He takes a step back, and turns away, regarding Sephiroth over his shoulder once that magnetic eye contact finally breaks.
"...See you around. Got jobs to hit."
He departs rather immediately after, mind alight with thoughts both shocked...and a little flustered.
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...But the raw, genuine emotions that he sees and hears on Sephiroth from his expression of thanks knock the breath out of him momentarily. For a time, Cloud cannot tear his eyes from Sephiroth's- this is perhaps the first time the merc holds prolonged eye contact with him since they started interacting in this strange new world. His lips part in an expression of shock, but also almost wonder.
Cloud Strife is left to just take that in for a few silent beats. To let it sink in just how much helping him truly means to his hero. To someone he thought long dead.
...Clearly, he's compromised. Clearly, he needs to slink off and process all of this. Alone. Where the silver cannot continue to see the gentle, vague pink that dusts his warm cheeks.
"It's fine," Cloud manages, in a voice much smaller than he would have liked. It's soft, clearly the blonde's gentleness coming through. Always when he tries to stifle it with a stone-cold mask. He takes a step back, and turns away, regarding Sephiroth over his shoulder once that magnetic eye contact finally breaks.
"...See you around. Got jobs to hit."
He departs rather immediately after, mind alight with thoughts both shocked...and a little flustered.