Familiar Faces [Yazoo]

[Marlene Wallace]

Marlene hummed to herself as she made her way through the streets with a smile on her face. It had taken her a while, but she finally had enough money to buy Tifa a present to thank her for taking care of her. Of course, she only had enough money for the pair of gloves she had been looking at the other day, but she figured Tifa could use the gloves, anyway. She carried the money in a little white bag she had made herself, and she had her phone, too. She knew how much they insisted she take it along with her in case she got into any danger. But, today just seemed like one of those days she didn't need to bring her phone. She had a good feeling that today was going to be a good day, even if it didn't start out nice.

The floor had been there to greet her when she had woken up. Apparently, she had rolled over and tumbled out of her bed. Fortunately, no one had seen her fall out of the bed, so Marlene was spared the embarrassment. Afterwards, she had quickly gotten up and moved so that, in case anyone had heard her, no one would be able to walk up here and ask her what she was doing on the floor. After getting dressed, she grabbed the little white purse she had made herself and put it on so that it wouldn't get stolen easily. She doubted there would be anyone to steal her money using the ways she had to getting to that store. And, so, she set off for the store after telling Tifa that she would be back soon, but not giving the older, motherly figure a chance to reply.

She walked down three streets before taking a detour through an alley. It smelled band and so, when she walked into it, her nose crinkled up just slightly. She quickly shook her head, though she didn't know how much that would help. But, she heard a noise behind her. Her eyes widened slightly as she whirled around, checking to make sure no one was behind her. Oddly, there wasn't anyone behind her. Marlene bit her lip and turned back around, hurrying to get out of the alley. While doing so, she wasn't paying attention to where she was going, and that was possibly the worst thing she could have done. Because the figure she had run into practically towered over her-but who didn't? She was small.-she fell over sideways and landed on the ground with a slight thud.

She pouted and stared upwards, ready to give the person she had run into an apology, but who she saw froze the words in her mouth. The same mouth that dried up the moment her eyes landed on him. "I...know you..." Marlene said, finally, after staring at him for the last couple of seconds. Maybe she had been wrong about this being a good day after all.

[yazoo]

After that meeting with Repa. Yazoo had to be a lone and think by himself. What was he doing with a human? She was nothing to him. But she was. She was the first human that seemed to understand him. His mind was so confused right now. He was so worried now about running into his older brother. Sephiroth. Yes, Yazoo learned that he was back. He had walked into a dark alley. To try and block all the out side de stractions from his mind and just think. Reflect on the recent events that took over his life…

He had to make a choice though. Repa or his brothers. That was a tough choice. He told Repa that he would leave her for a while and try and clear his head before this sorta ‘relationship’ went any further between them…But, she was no ordinary human that was positive….She was a princess of another world…And covered her identity very well…When he first met her, he had not known that she was a princess….To him she was just another human to use….

And swallow and spit back out when he was done with her…But that didn’t happen between them…She saved him….She actually saved his life….He owed her some thing…Could it be a ‘relationship’ with her? Maybe….Yazoo paced back and forth in the dark alley….He chose the dark place because he liked the dark. Just when he was about to make up his mind about Repa some thing hit low from behind him….Or some one for that matter…."I...know you..."Yazoo blinked as he looked down towards her….And just stared at the little human with a blank expression….

[Marlene Wallace]

She gulped once she realized his attention was on her, now. But, it didn’t seem like she held his full attention. Marlene pushed herself to her feet and placed her hands on her hips. “Don’t you remember me? The last time we met, you and your brothers kidnapped me!” How could he not remember the one thing that haunted her dreams? Sure, this man-she forgot his name-was not usually the star of her nightmares, but he was in it! With his other two brothers. The biggest one-who’s name she also didn’t remember-and the smaller one who was the leader, and the one she remembered the most.

Fortunately, she managed to make herself pay attention instead of thinking back to that time. She glared at the man, knowing it didn’t have that much affect. The adults...always laughed at her when she glared at them. She supposed she was just too young for her glare to have an effect on them, but she put all her energy into it. She also crossed her arms across her chest and frowned. “Why are you here? I remember you. You didn’t talk as much...but you were there. The other one...the one with the hair that fell to his shoulders, and some over his eye.” She bit her lip. “Cloud killed you!”

She took a couple of steps back and gave him her best angry stare down. If he was here to kidnap her again, he had another thing coming! Or, better yet, if he was here to hurt Cloud, Tifa, or Denzel, then she would stop him! She didn’t know how yet, especially since she wasn’t much of a fighter. Actually, she wasn’t a fighter at all. Tifa and her dad always made sure she didn’t fight-she was too young. “Hey.” She said softly, looking up at him with a curious expression. He didn’t look like he was going to attack her, or anyone close to her. He just looked...confused and lost. “Are you okay?” She asked. Marlene hated it, sometimes, when her motherly nature got the best of her.

[yazoo]

“Don’t you remember me? The last time we met, you and your brothers kidnapped me!” “Why are you here? I remember you. You didn’t talk as much...but you were there. The other one...the one with the hair that fell to his shoulders, and some over his eye.” “Cloud killed you!” “Are you okay?” Yazoo at once raised his eye brow at her. He did remember everything. Sadly enough he did. But then she asked him if he was alright…..Was he really alright? He didn’t feel like a million gil but he was as okay as they got. Besides that little cute human that never leaves his mind….But he didn’t want to tell a little about that. She would probably not understand love any way…LOVE?! Was he actually thinking the love word? He was! This was crazy! He couldn’t be in love! Even though he mentioned a lot of things with Repa that night….And expressed more feelings to her than he knew he even had…..

So Yeah, it was possibly a strong factor, love….Through out his past life. He’s done things he’s no longer proud of. Like kidnapping this little girl in front of her. Yazoo let his expression soften more then. So he was not looking lost & confused….”I know I did some thing bad to you in the past….I’m sorry…And no your wrong….Cloud didn’t kill me….I killed myself….Along with my brother….We used a forced so powerful that the three of us could not contain….And it destroyed me and my brother….It was my fault…My fault that I tried to hurt brother…I just…I’m going through some thing right now that you may not understand….I don’t even understand it….” It was true though. He did not know what he was doing….What if his brothers were to come around and found out about this….? That’s what Yazoo feared the most….He was most likely positive that ‘Mother’ already knew everything and was telling his eldest brother Sephiroth….And it would be a matter of time before Yazoo would run into Sephiroth…..

[Marlene Wallace]

Hearing he was sorry for kidnapping made all her anger at him instantly vanish. Instead, she smiled up at him with a bright grin. Yet, his earlier, sadder, face was still in her mind. What could have happened to him to make him that sad? Or...confused? She half wanted to extend her hand outwards and take his in her own so that she could say words that would help him feel better, kind of what she did with the other orphans whenever they would stop by and were sad. But, then she noticed he had raised an eyebrow at her, and her smile faltered a little. She had forgotten, for a brief second, that she had been mad at him whenever she had asked that, and, again, she blamed it on the fact that she was so motherly. Then again, Marlene knew that was to be expected, especially since she spent most of her time trailing after Tifa.

It probably wasn’t any of her business to ask him if he was alright, either. But, Marlene didn’t really care. He looked lost, and she wanted to help him feel better. “If you’re sorry, then I forgive you for it.” She smiled. “Just don’t do it again.” She warned before blinking in confusion. He had gone on to say that Cloud hadn’t been the one to kill him, but, rather, that it was himself and his brothers. She wanted to ask why he had done a silly thing like that when he had a lot to live for, but she was afraid that the question would just make him sad again. And, his expression had soften, so she had thought that whatever was making him upset wasn’t making him so sad anymore. Marlene had to take that as a good sign, and tilted her head up at him. It was starting to hurt her neck, looking up at him. She hated that she always had to look up to everyone because she was so small, even Denzel! But, she shook that out of her thoughts before reaching out and taking one of his hands in the two of hers.

“If there is one thing I know, is that you should never put all the blame on yourself.” She stated in a rather grown up voice. “Because, you know, it wasn’t just you doing all the fighting. And, I know that I could be wrong, but I don’t think that it was your plan to hurt you, uhm, brother.” She nodded her head once before smiling at him. “So, you shouldn’t be so sad!” But, she was still confused as to how the force could be so powerful that it would destroy both him and his two brothers. Because, from what she had seen, he and his brothers were incredibly strong. Almost frighteningly strong. And, for something to be so powerful that it destroyed the three of them, it was scary to think about it.

She pouted a little whenever he said that she wouldn’t understand what he was going through. She heard that a lot, but she also watched what happened a lot. If she could say so, Marlene would insist that she was really mature for her age. “Sometimes, to be able to realize something, all you really have to do is talk about it sometimes. At least, that’s what I think. If you have a problem or something, you shouldn’t keep it inside because then it only builds up and up and up, and you get more worried about it then you should.” She tried to reason. Marlene patted his hand with hers before dropping it. “I’m not saying that you should tell me, because you might not trust me enough, but you should find someone you do trust and tell them what’s been bugging you.”

[yazoo]

“If you’re sorry, then I forgive you for it.” . “Just don’t do it again “Because, you know, it wasn’t just you doing all the fighting. And, I know that I could be wrong, but I don’t think that it was your plan to hurt you, uhm, brother.” “If there is one thing I know, is that you should never put all the blame on yourself.” “So, you shouldn’t be so sad!”

“Sometimes, to be able to realize something, all you really have to do is talk about it sometimes. At least, that’s what I think. If you have a problem or something, you shouldn’t keep it inside because then it only builds up and up and up, and you get more worried about it then you should.” “I’m not saying that you should tell me, because you might not trust me enough, but you should find someone you do trust and tell them what’s been bugging you.”

There was no way in hell he was going to talk to his brothers about his problems....Even if they were the last ones alive on this planet....So maybe the she did know more than it looked like she did after all...."Alright...There is this girl...." He began....And stopped then...Maybe she would get the clue and not understand love....He was hoping that she would be dumb struck about this subject...She was young....So she was obviously too young to know about love....Right? At least he thought so....

Yazoo had no where else to go now, and leaned against the wall and just sighed as he looked down. He had a big problem here...All day long he was thinking about Repa....Was she okay and not getting into trouble...? He told her not to get into trouble while they were apart....She had his cell too...And she would call him if any thing came up to her that she could not handle....This world was not exactly the perfect one...It had its monsters under the bed....And big ones at that....But then Yazoo pulled out his cell to check and nothing.....Another sigh escaped his lips....

[Marlene Wallace]

Marlene worried, for a brief moment, that her words would be too childish for him to take seriously. But, she always worried about that. After all, she was young. And, although, she was very observant and responsible, people often didn’t take her seriously enough. And, while that often annoyed her, she could understand where that was coming from. If she were in their position, she probably wouldn’t listen to her, either. But, she shook her head and smiled at the way he chose to start talking. She didn’t know a thing about boys, although she liked to think she did because she often watched Tifa and Cloud when they were together, and because she spent most of her time with Denzel. But, either way, she couldn’t help but let a giggle out. So he had problems with his girlfriend or something. It never occurred to her to wonder why he would have a girlfriend in the first place. “Oh, is she never around, or something? That’s why Aunty Tifa gets upset with Cloud.” Admittedly, she always got upset because Cloud wasn’t around, too.

She nearly scolded herself out loud when she realized that not everyone had problems like Cloud and Tifa, although sometimes she wondered. “You know, I can’t really help you, not like I can do much but listen anyway, if you don’t tell me anything.” She pointed out in a slight teasing tone. Marlene was already shocked, anyway, that he had decided to tell her what his problem was in the first place. She had expected him to laugh at her advice, and tell her that she should run off instead of getting involved with people like him, or something like that. Stuff like that usually happened when she tried to help. She blamed it on being so young.

She did tilt her head in confusion when he got his phone out before laughing to herself a little. Even the bad guys had phones nowadays, not that she still considered him a bad guy. After all, from what she knew, bad guys rarely apologized for their bad deeds, and he had apologized, so that made him a good guy in her book. “By the way...I kinda forgot your name. And, in case you forgot mine, it’s Marlene. Marlene Wallace.” She smiled as she stuck her hand out for him to shake. She didn’t want to keep referencing him as, well, just that, him, in her mind. She wanted to be able to call him something. If anything, Marlene wanted to be just a little polite to the reformed sad bad guy.

[yazoo]

“Oh, is she never around, or something? That’s why Aunty Tifa gets upset with Cloud.” “You know, I can’t really help you, not like I can do much but listen anyway, if you don’t tell me anything.” “By the way...I kinda forgot your name. And, in case you forgot mine, it’s Marlene. Marlene Wallace.”

"Yazoo....My name's Yazoo....Look, Cloud might not like it if he saw you with me....You better get out of here...In case he's comes around...."

Yazoo was not afraid of Cloud....But he didn't want to fight any more....He was gonna have to be careful for now on as to who he talked to....This was getting out of hand....And of Sephiroth found out about this....He would be furious.....And Yazoo really didn't wanna fight his eldest brother.....The one that was the best swordsman on the planet....Yazoo would most likely not last a minute against Sephiroth...Since Yazoo has no sword fighting ability....All he can do is fire his gun.....And a few martial art moves...Well, he kicked Reno's ass a few years ago.....But in the end Reno got him back for that....

So this would be a bad idea if he was caught here with Marlene.....There would be two people on his tail if she said any thing about their meeting now...."You can't tell any one we met again....If you do.....You'll regret it...." Yes, that was a threat! He meant it. He would not stop hurting her because she was just a little kid....There was still a bit of villain in himself.....And he would do what ever it took to protect his life from another death trip....

[Marlene Wallace]

Marlene felt her bottom lip slide out a little in what she knew was the beginning of a pout. He was right about that. Cloud would probably get mad if he saw that Yazoo was around her, but she didn’t very much care at the moment. For a moment, that moment, she had forgotten about Cloud, Tifa, and Denzel because she was concentrating on helping him, but to have him wave her off like that, it hurt her a little, but she shook it off and placed her hands on her hips, ready to tease him.

“Cloud doesn’t have a delivery by here today.” She said, nodding her head a little. At least, she thought he didn’t have a delivery by here. Really, she didn’t know, but she hopped she had said that with enough certainty that he believed her. She didn’t want him to go away, not when she was actually helping someone. Being so young, she never got to help everyone, and people often left her out of conversation when they were confused about something, opting, instead, to go to Tifa instead of her. Marlene understood that, really. She knew she was young and didn’t have a lot of experience in a lot of things, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t’ try to help the best of her ability. “Are you scared of what Cloud will do to you if you sees you near me? If he does come around, but I really don’t think he will, I’ll make sure he’ll leave you alone...”

When he told her that she couldn’t tell anyone they had met again, she almost gave him a look. It was the kind of look Tifa gave whenever someone said something dumb. Of course she couldn’t tell anyone that they had met! They would get mad at her-at least, she thought they would get mad at her-for not running away and telling them immediately, but staying there, instead, and talking to him. But, then she noticed that he had threatened her, and the way he said it that was so familiar it made her flinch and take some steps back, her eyes widening a little. “The way you said that...please don’t say anything like...that...again.” She said, her bottom lip trembling a little.

[yazoo]

“Cloud doesn’t have a delivery by here today.” “Are you scared of what Cloud will do to you if you sees you near me? If he does come around, but I really don’t think he will, I’ll make sure he’ll leave you alone...” “The way you said that...please don’t say anything like...that...again.”

Yazoo raised an eye brow....She was a touch little cookie after all....Who could blame her? Considering who she was living with....Cloud....Cloud was practically one the most powerful beings of all of Gaia....Well, besides Sephiroth....But Yazoo's brother was not here at the moment. So Yazoo could be who he wanted to be with out his brother's influences....

"I'm sorry Marlene...." Wait! Did he just apologize to her?! That would surprise Marlene possibly....But since Yazoo's been around Repa, he's softened up a bit....He was really sorry too....There was no faking it. "So, maybe you can have secret friendship with me....But you can't tell any one....Look Marlene...I've been going through some thing tough....I've tried to live out on my decisions....And it's not working...I just know I failed my brothers....But, maybe you can help me...."

Yazoo looked back down at the little pony tailed girl.....That looked so much like Aerith....Maybe she could get Cloud to help....Nah that would be a bad idea.....Yazoo knew what would happen the moment he saw Cloud....Cloud would not pass up an opportunity to torture Yazoo....But for some reason now, Yazoo wanted nothing more than to ask Cloud for forgiveness....But again maybe Cloud would not accept and he could just continue on his road of destruction...But as Repa said once....First time for everything....

[Marlene Wallace]

She felt her mouth drop when he apologized to her. Except for when they were apologizing for not letting her do any fighting---not that she really wantedfight in the first place---or making others apologize for doing something to her, she had never had someone, especially an adult, apologize to her. She flushed slightly in happiness before closing her mouth and smiling at him. When he suggested a friendship, her smile brightened and she nodded her head, joyfully. She liked having friends, and, particularly, liked having friends that needed her. Marlene wasn't exactly sure if Yazoo needed her to be around or not, but she liked to think that he did. Everyone liked being needed, even if they weren't exactly needed.

"You don't have to apologize for everything." She giggled, extending her hand out for him to shake. "And, even if we have to have a secret friendship, I don't mind. Anyone can be a friend, but only important, nice people can have secret friends." She sighed a little, and looked off the the side, biting her lip. Marlene didn't like to keep things from Tifa and Cloud, let alone Denzel who she spent most of her time with. It would be hard keeping it a secret, too, but it wouldn't be impossible. Especially if it meant that her new friend would stay her new friend.

Marlene frowned and gave him a very serious look. She didn't know anyone who hadn't gone through, or was currently going through, a hard time. It seemed like, to her, everyone was having a hard time, but she felt specially bad about her new friend's problems. At the very least, everyone else had someone to help them through their bad times, and, even if Yazoo had hinted that he had someone, it still seemed like he wouldn't let anyone else help. In that way, he was kind of like Cloud. "Your brothers were mean." She pointed out, frowning. "I don't like them, but I do like you, and, if you need my help, then I'll help you."

[yazoo]

"You don't have to apologize for everything." "And, even if we have to have a secret friendship, I don't mind. Anyone can be a friend, but only important, nice people can have secret friends."

"Thanks Marlene...."

"Your brothers were mean." Yazoo looked down....But she was right. They were mean.....But they would never ever take a chance like he was doing right this moment....."I don't like them, but I do like you, and, if you need my help, then I'll help you."

Was that a yes? Would she actually be there for him when he spoke to Cloud....? He needed her to be....He hoped she would be. This was very difficult for him...."I'm not sure how Cloud'll react when I do this. But, would you be there with me....? I need to tell him I was sorry...." Yazoo was still looking down...But he looked back up at the little girl. She was obviously very brave to still even be here with him...

He could snap at any given moment and let his killer instincts take over....But he was trying so hard not to let that happen. It then donged on him....Sephiroth....Sephiroth had told him once that Remnants could never ever have feelings....But now, Yazoo was questioning his own brother. What if Sephiroth had had feelings in the first place? And was some how able to hide them all with a type of dark magic or some thing....This was the exact same thing that happened to him when he met Repa....And Yazoo was extremely confused....He felt a sort of love towards Repa....That was his first emotion....

And with Marlene it is simple caring....What the hell?! Caring?! What was wrong with him? Now he wanted Cloud's forgiveness....? This was totally crazy! He would have to have word with Sephiroth about this feeling thing later....But right now, all he wanted was to see Cloud....And ask for forgiveness.....This was totally draining him he was getting really tired with all this stress he was under right now. He knew too that he probably looked scary to Marlene as well....But he tried not to let her get scared. He didn't wanna harm her....He really didn't....And if she refused to let him see Cloud who knew what would take place then.....

[Marlene Wallace]

Marlene beamed up at him, smiling childishly. She knew that it was a good thing to help people out, and that, sometimes, you even got a fuzzy feeling for helping people. That was why she was always willing to forgive people and be nice to them---befriend them and have them stick around. Because, without friends, the world was a lonely place. She may not know what Yazoo was going through, especially if he thought he had killed himself and his brother. Thinking about that, she wondered what he was doing here if he had 'killed himself.' If that had happened, then why was he here? She wanted to ask him, for curiousity's sake, but she didn't dare. What if he thought she was rude for asking him that, and didn't want to be secret friends anymore? No, she thought it would be best if she just kept her mouth shut on that subject. "Think nothing about it." After all, they had moved on to a different topic.

"Cloud can hold a grudge..." She trailed off, thinking. He wanted to apologize to Cloud? She had never heard of that happening. Sure, if people---that were friends---made Cloud mad, they would usually go and apologize. But, this was different. Yazoo was an ex-bad guy. Ex-bad guys didn't apologize, did they? If they were bad guys, of course they wouldn't apologize. Marlene had a hard time imagining Yazoo's brothers apologizing for what they had done. But, Yazoo wasn't like them, not anymore. "But, yes! I will be there for my friend if he needs me to be there. I promise that I won't let anything bad happen to you, really!" She nodded to herself, several times. She didn't want to think about what Cloud would do when she protected him, but she doubted he would be too angry with her. He would probably just tell her to move out of the way.

But he could tell her a million times to move away. She would never leave him alone with Yazoo, unless he forgived him. After all, if she could forgive him, couldn't Cloud? "I think that, if you're going to apologize to Cloud, you should apologize to other people first. Like Tifa and Denzel! Well, maybe not Denzel. He might still be a little mad at you, and Tifa, too. But, they'll forgive you, I hope." She shrugged and gave him what she hoped to be a comforting smile. "And, even if they don't forgive you, the point is that you made an effort to make things right. Besides, I'll still be your friend if they don't forgive you." Even though she acted like it didn't matter what they thought about him, it mattered to Marlene a lot. Tifa and Cloud were like her foster parents, and Barret was her dad, even if it wasn't biologically. Denzel was her best friend, too. Of course she worried about they thought, but she wouldn't let them keep her from staying friends with Yazoo. "I just hope they forgive you..." She muttered, quietly.

[yazoo]

"Think nothing about it."

"Cloud can hold a grudge..."That was so true....Yazoo wouldn't be surprised if Cloud sliced his throat the minute he saw him....Yazoo gave Cloud a lot of misery in his past life.....And with that Yazoo looked down again and sighed....

"But, yes! I will be there for my friend if he needs me to be there. I promise that I won't let anything bad happen to you, really!" That made him look back up at the little girl...This was really amazing for Yazoo's part...He's not yet attempted to harm her.....And he knew he could. But every time those old feelings came back he thought about Repa....."I think that, if you're going to apologize to Cloud, you should apologize to other people first. Like Tifa and Denzel! Well, maybe not Denzel. He might still be a little mad at you, and Tifa, too. But, they'll forgive you, I hope." Well, that was not what he excepting her to say. How could he ask them for forgiveness? He was so lost right now. But he wanted to do this more than any thing....

"And, even if they don't forgive you, the point is that you made an effort to make things right. Besides, I'll still be your friend if they don't forgive you." Yeah that was so right! He wasn't going to not don this at all...He was at least going to try....And if it all failed he still has Repa and Marlene....That's more than enough to help him.....

"I just hope they forgive you..."

"Like you said....I wanna try....And if it doesn't work, then at least I know you will be there still....Thanks Marlene...You owe this to Repa really....She opened my eyes to what I need to really see....And that's all that all humans are not that bad....She made me see that...She's the one I tried to talk about earlier....But you can't help me with that problem....Besides, I don't even think it's a problem any more....I know what I feel for her is real...It has to be...I...I'm not one to show emotion....Everyone would know that...But you and Repa, have changed my life...."

It was so true......They both played a part in his life now.....And he would do what ever it took to keep them both away from Sephiroth and his other two nasty brothers....Loz & Kadaj.....

[Marlene Wallace]

Marlene laced her fingers together whenever she heard him sigh. That wasn't what she was expecting, and certainly not what she wanted. She'd have to be careful whenever she was referring to the past, or even about Cloud. It seemed to her that Yazoo was saddened, or annoyed, everytime she brought it up. And, as far as she was concerned, he had a reason to be sad or annoyed. He was an ex-villan in a world that hated him. He was just a man trying to make amends for what he had done because he felt bad about it. Tifa would understand that and forgive him, wouldn't she? Denzel might not forgive him as easily since he tended to act like Cloud. When he talked, she couldn't help but smile a little. She couldn't really help it, and she wouldn't have supressed it if she had wanted to. She was glad that he had someone to help him out. Everyone needed someone to help them cope with life.

"Yeah, you're right." She admitted, beaming up at him before biting the inside of her cheek, nervously. "Except that, if it doesn't work, we will have to continue our friendship in secrecy, like that matters. But, I know Tifa and Cloud won't let me go anywhere, then." She frowned and stared down at her shoes. "They'll be afraid of me running into you, which would be the point, and keep me at the bar." Marlene shook her head before smiling at what he said. "Repa?" She repeated to herself. She giggled. "She sounds like a nice person, especially if she's the reason you're like this. She must be pretty important for you to talk about her like that, too. I think it's sweet!" She giggled again, bringing her hands up a little to muffle the sound so it wouldn't be too loud.

She frowned whenever he mentioned a problem. She shouldn't have been too surprised, but she had to admit that she was a little surprised. She found it hard to think that he had a problem with her from the way his face looked when he talked about her. It kind of reminded her of the looks Cloud would get when he was talking to, or about, Tifa. "I think it's real." She stated in a firm voice, smiling a little. "I don't even know her, but I know how you feel about her. I can tell from the look you get on your face." Marlene giggled, poking his arm. "It's not bad to show emotions, you know. Like, if you're happy, it's great to show that because happiness is contageous. If you smile at someone, they can't help but smile back." She flushed when she realized what he said. Her smile widened and she began pushing the dirt on the floor around with her foot. "I'm glad that I could help, even a little."