"So... I guess that's it." A dazed silence filled the room when my little story was over. Cloud was blinking, almost in shock, when he started laughing. It wasn't amused, it wasn't nervous, it was... malicious.
"I shoulda known..." he said, head in hands. "I shoulda! Why else would you try to keep me safe? No one ever has..."
"That's not true!" Aerith protested, but Cloud continued.
"It's all logical... I mean, I always thought that my Nobody was Sephiroth, but then you came along and bashed his face in... for me! And I still felt the satisfaction as if I did it myself... because, technically, I had!"
We let him keep ranting as we turned toward the computer.
"Are you sure that was the best idea?" Leon asked quietly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Well... he would've had to figure out sometime." I whispered. "But at least now his vendetta against Sephiroth has reason."
Cid grunted. "Move!" It turns out that, in the confusion, I had sat in his uncomfortable little stool. I widen my eyes, stood up, and gestured toward the seat. He nodded in thanks.
Cloud had finally finished his rave as he turned toward me and said, "So, partner, whatcha wanna do now that we're, like, connected?"
He was much happier now that Sephiroth was gone, and now that he knew I wasn't going to let him die. It was kind of hard to believe someone like me, as Leon put it, "postured, precise, and mature" could've come out of someone like the "happy Cloud", who was normally confused, ranting, and jumpy.
"Well... I've always wanted to travel the worlds!" I suggested. "Being part of the Organization really kept me out of it. So... why not go where I'm welcome?" Cloud looked sceptical.
"What worlds did you have in mind..." Leon asked, cautious.
"Halloweentown, Beast's Castle, Port Royal, Twilight Town, Atlantis..." I was counting off on my fingers, jubilant.
"Well..." Leon and Cloud said together, tapping their chins with their hands. I made a begging expression as they laughed.
"Alright." Leon agreed. "But I'm driving." He thrust a finger at his chest. Cloud clapped his hands together once.
"ALRIGHT! ROOOOOOAAAADDDD TTTTTRRRRRIIIIIPPPPPP!!!!!" Cloud yelled, running outside, screaming and whooping with joy.
Leon and I took one look at each other and laughed again. I had a feeling this was going to be a long trip...
