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[Open musings, no hacking needed]

So many people have changed again... and a lot of them have gone back to normal. I guess it was expected, considering most Malnosso experiments last about a week, but--

...why... am I still here?

Or more importantly, why am I still this age?

I thought I'd be sent back for sure. Is... this how I'll be from now on?

~~Should I be happy or what...?~~

[ooc: Simon's still 28 of course! Strikes hackable. Computer geek Simon is not.]

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In the backyard. I was thinking about trying to fix the drill, actually, if you want to be there when I do it.

Yeah. Probably a good idea in case it breaks again.

... Well, I don't think you could fix it using my method, but it would still be good for you to see it...

Oh. Damn.

Yeah, I'll be out there in a second. Hold on.

[And Simon's sitting on a little stool near the house in the yard, drill-staff propped against his shoulder, spinning the little hand-held drill - child-sized, of course - between his fingers, studying the damage carefully. He still wasn't sure how strong his Spiral power was in Luceti, but he did know one thing - he had the power to repair damaged Ganmen, so why not this, too?]

[Cloud hops down the steps of the back porch, wandering over and folding his arms, leaning over to peer curiously at the drill. He didn't see any tools.]

How're you going to fix it?

[Simon's answer is simple and to the point, though he knows it likely won't make much sense to Cloud until he starts.]

Spiral power. It's an ability that I have.

[He says no more on the matter, giving the drill another once over, then narrows his visible eye, focusing intently on the drill in his hands. There's a quick flare of green light, traveling from his hands to the handle of the drill, and before their eyes the broken handle mends itself out of nothing. He doesn't stop there, moving his hands very gently towards the ground-down tip, wincing almost imperceptibly, but showing nowhere near the amount of pain he had when Cloud had first discovered the damage. As his hand passes over the missing point, it phases back into view, clean and sharp as if nothing had ever happened.

Simon finishes with a soft, slightly tired sigh, leaning back a bit - and if Cloud is paying attention, he might spot an unusual green glow behind the eyepatch.]

[...well that's new. Cloud straightens, giving Simon an appraising once-over, definitely not missing the glow behind his eyepatch nor the vaguely weary expression he now sports.]

Spiral power, huh...? Can it do anything else?

Just about anything or so I've heard.

[Simon offers Cloud a wry smile.]

That's what makes it so dangerous.

[He lifts up the newly repaired drill, offering it out to Cloud.]

All done. If it gets broken again, ah... get Kamina to give my younger self a pep talk or something. That usually boosts my Spiral power like nothing else.

[Cloud takes the drill, fingers tracing the groves and marveling. It looked even better than it did when Simon had found it. His next words come out quietly though, but no less firm.]

...Can it change the weather?

[Simon blinks at that, surprised for a moment, then lowers his eyes, nodding slowly.]

When I was fourteen I made it rain for seven days.

[Cloud murmurs, still running his hands over the drill.]

I see. So he was right.

[Another blink, another curious look from Simon.]

What? Who was right...?

Just...someone who pointed something out to me. [Cloud shakes his head and hands the drill back to Simon, squeezing his shoulder.] I know it's kind of weird to say, but thanks for fixing it.

[Simon shrugs his shoulders, setting the drill down in the grass.]

It may sound a little selfish, but... anything I can do to make my former self's life here a bit better, I'm willing to do. There's a lot to take comfort from, here, but plenty to fear, as well. I guess I just don't want to put all the burden on you to make me happy, here.

It's not selfish. [Cloud leans, one arm bracing himself across Simon's shoulders as he looks down at the drill.]

And it's not a burden.

[Simon can't help but blush a little at that. As awkward as Cloud was with words - they were rather alike in that way - he always seemed to find ways to make Simon feel better. This is no different, and he lifts a hand to touch Cloud's, smiling gratefully.]

Thanks, Papa. I'm... really glad I was able to make it back here, even for just a little while.

[Cloud's arm loops around Simon's neck and gives him a little hug, bumping their temples before pulling back and moving to colleect the drill.]

And I'm glad you came, however long you end up staying.

[Simon keeps on smiling at that, holding on to Cloud for as long as they're close together. It's not long, but it's a moment of physical contact that Simon obviously treasures.]

Me too. I... yeah. Definitely... me too.

[Now, Cloud is no social genuis. In fact, he is fairly far from it, but it doesn't take a genius so much as a living, breathing organism to tell that Simon was just as starved for love, physical contact and attention at twenty-eight as he was at seven. Cloud generally wasn't very touchy. The four years in Nibelheim had ingrained in him somehow that touch was bad, so he usually shirked away. But this was Simon.

And that made all the difference. So Cloud just looks down at Simon there on his stool before setting the drill back down and pulling him into a hug, Simon's face against his chest as he stands. It was easier at this height -if he'd hugged Simon while he was still standing, Cloud would have felt like such a girl- but this way, it was okay. It made him feel like Papa again.]

[Simon goes still at the touch, visible eye wide and astonished. He doesn't move at first, then without warning, his arms lift and be grasps Cloud back, in something akin to a bear hug. He tries not to cling, but this is something he's both wanted and needed for a very long time. He hadn't been held since before Nia... left him.]

S... sorry... I'm being such a kid about all of this...

No you're not. [Cloud strokes Simon's hair, and remembers the nights he read the boy to sleep, only to sit there at the edge of the bed and watch him for nearly an hour afterwards, hand on his head.] You missed me, right? If it had been twenty-one years for me, I'd be exactly the same way. Probably worse.

I've... missed a lot of people, to be honest.

[Simon buries his face a little, shaking almost imperceptibly. God, he'd kept a lot inside for so long... why was it so hard, now, to keep it hidden...?]

[Cloud's arms tighten a bit when he feels Simon shaking, and he drags his hand through his hair again.]

All the more reason not to beat yourself up over it.

[Simon feels a half amused, half bitter smile cross his lips.]

It's been so long, you'd think I would be used to it by now. It's just...

[He tries to suppress another shudder, failing miserably.]

You're here, and he's here, and... she was here, and I didn't even know it...

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