Drabble #18: Song
Summary:
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot. Characters and places belong to SquareEnix. "Over the Rainbow" belongs to Eva Cassidy
Cloud gave a gasp as the cold night air greeted his face and moaned to himself about how stupid he was for not wearing a jacket out. He had come outside with the intention of going for a walk to try to tire himself out and allow him to sleep as for some reason he was finding it hard.
However, it was too cold outside to walk without a jacket and Cloud was not going to risk weakening himself anymore than lack of sleep would do. Even with Mako in his body, he would still be able to catch the flu and other viruses.
He turned and walked back up the creaking wooden stairs to his bedroom, which were not exactly the best standards he had ever seen. The bed had scratchy, stained seats covering the hard mattress and the whole room had the stale sleep smell clinging to it. He sighed as he leaned against the door, trying to think of ways to tire himself out.
A knock to his door snapped him from his thoughts and with a sigh; he turned and twisted the handle to reveal Aeris. She gave a nervous smile before clasping her hands behind her back.
"I saw you coming back in, are you alright?" she asked, tilting her head to the side to examine him a little. Cloud sighed and scratched his head, giving a shrug.
"Can't sleep," he muttered, looking at her again to see she was giving him a sympathetic gaze and nod.
"Well, what have you tried?" she asked in a motherly tone.
"Everything," he answered with annoyance. "I've paced my room, lay in bed counting cracks on the ceiling, and tried to go for a walk,"
"Have you tried a lullaby?" she interrupted. Cloud blinked.
"What?"
She rolled her eyes and gently shoved his shoulders, removing him from the doorway to allow herself in. She closed the door and turned to him, giving a sigh when she saw that he was just standing there like an idiot. She pointed to the bed with mock anger.
"Lie down," she commanded but with a joking hint about her voice. Cloud raised a brow as he looked at her for a moment before doing as he was asked. She grinned when he seemed comfortable and pulled the blankets over him before sitting beside him, her hand running through his hair as she began to sing softly.
"Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I've heard of
Once in a lullaby"
Cloud lay silent, his eyes looking up at the ceiling as Aeris' angelic voice drifted into his ears. He had guessed that she would have a pretty singing voice since her normal voice was so sweet and probably the Planet would have gifted her with it anyway.
"Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true"
Cloud couldn't stifle the yawn that escaped his lips or the way that his eyes started to droop shut. Aeris hand in his hair massaged his scalp gently as she continued to sing.
"Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me"
The flower-girl smiled as she looked down to see Cloud fast asleep, his chest raising and falling gently and his face a sign of complete peace. She leaned over and kissed his forehead gently.
"Goodnight Cloud, sweet dreams," she whispered as she gently shut the door.