[Voice]

[digger]

O-ow... what...?

...

Aniki? Yoko? Where is-

...huh?

[There's a slow shuffling of pages for a long moment, then a sharp gasp. Finally, a quick tapping against the page.]

This... this is Luceti, right? I'm in Luceti?

Am I dreaming again...?



[Ayup, guess who's back already.]

Comments

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[He's...taller, and thinner all around. Not quite as timid and afraid, but...

But...

It's Simon. Cloud can't hide the relief on his face.]

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Simon stands awkwardly and steps forward a little, fidgeting uncertainly. What does this mean for them, what's changed? He's kind of nervous. Though Cloud looks glad to see him.]

Um...

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[Um nothing.

Cloud falls to his knees and yanks Simon into a hug.]

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[... Yeah, that does make it easier. Simon is too stunned to react at first, but he slowly relaxes and starts to return it. It's been... a really long time.]

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[Okay child is significantly taller, so after a bit Cloud stands, hands on his shoulders as he looks down at him.]

...you're a lot taller.

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Oh dear, you made him blush.]

N-no... not a lot... I'm still too short.

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

Yeah? [Cloud ruffles his hair.] ...how old are you now?

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Simon just smiles at that. The touch is so familiar, but it's been a long time since anyone but Kamina did that to him.] I'm 14 now.

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[Seven YEARS. Seven. It had been two days for him, and-...]

W...wow.

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

...Y-yeah... [He doesn't even know what to say. He never imagined he'd come back to find everyone exactly the same as before.]

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[...AWKWARD. Cloud has no idea what to say. It'd been two days, so he kind of wants to cling and just...cart Simon back home.

Wait. ...would...Simon...even want to live with him now...?]

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Seriously. Even Simon doesn't know where he belongs yet. Hasn't had a chance to even see Kamina yet either. Even though the Kamina he knew and the Kamina of Luceti and his memories were... sort of different. But he couldn't quite place it.]

Someone said all my stuff is gone...

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

Yeah. They all disappeared. ...I- [Shut up Cloud.

Instead, he manages a half-smile and ruffles Simon's hair, unable to stop himself from doing so.] Are you coming?

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[...That's all he needs to hear.] Y... yeah, I'm coming.

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[No scooping up the boy and carrying him Cloud, even if he's still small. You'd have decked someone if they'd tried it when you were fourteen.]

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Even Simon would be weirded out by that, though Kamina dragged him around all the time. Months of his big brother going "BE A MAN" had left a lasting impression.]

Hey, um... what's happening to the sky, anyway?

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

Hm? [Oh.]

A meteor shower.

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

Meteors? [He's learned about plenty of cool stuff, but this is one thing he's never seen.]

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

...rocks that burn up as they fall through the atmosphere. People call them falling stars, or shooting stars.

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

F-falling stars? Are we really safe!?

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

None of them have fallen inside the barrier yet. And usually most of the rock burns up before they hit the ground, I don't think you have to worry, Simon.

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

Oh, right, the barrier... that's why they keep exploding so high up. [He has way too much to remember, dad.]

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[Cloud's not well versed in the physics of meteorites, so he's just gonna...go with that.]

...c'mon. You're tired, right? Let's get home.

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Home?]

....Yeah... yeah, I want to go home.

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[Going home then.]

...has Kamina talked to you, yet?