Heart of a Child~ {Loz}

[ThePaleGhost]

"Miss Kyrie! Come play!"

Today was quite peaceful, it wasn't raining, the sun appeared to be out. Edge never did look so peaceful, couples holding hands, others helping each other, even the orphaned children... they seemed so happy...

As her name was called out, Kyrie just chuckled softly, turning to face the young ones, there was sadness glinting in her silver eyes, gazing at the children before her. Some couldn't even take care of themselves due to disabilities, the stigma had caused one child to lose her leg and now be pushed around in a wheelchair, one young boy had lost his eye, another became a mute, then there was one who was blind, the others were somewhat infantile, whilst the eldest ones... yeah, consisting of ten year olds... they took it upon themselves to be strong for the younger ones...

"Miss Kyrie?" a little five year old holding a chocobo plushie said innocently as she grabbed the elder woman's hand. Kyrie broke out of her thoughts and looked down at the girl, smiling softly at her.

"Yes? What is it, Yuki?" she smiled, kneeling to the girls height. She wasn't wearing her usual attire, just a pair of thigh length grey denim shorts, a white and silver strapless handkerchief dress, but with the front hem cut so her shorts and stomach could be seen, followed by flat grey ankle boots with a white trim and laces. Simple, yet elegant.

The young girl, Yuki, pointed to the stone on the left corner of Kyrie's forehead. "What's that?" she asked quietly, seeming quite shy, Kyrie placed her hand gently on this stone. "This? I'm not quite sure what it is..." she replied softly, Yuki merely giggled. "It's pretty!" she beamed cheerfully, Kyrie just chuckled lightly, though with pity, she gazed at the scarring on Yuki's cheek, all due to her abusive father.

"It is..." she murmured, placing her hand gently on the girl's face, stroking it lightly "but not as pretty as you are, Yuki, don't let anyone tell you otherwise." With those words, Yuki's eyes lit up as she smiled brightly, hugging her chocobo before Kyrie. The young Heavuanavei smiled softly and hugged back before releasing her, letting the young girl play with her friends.

She then sat by a bench near all the playing children, taking something out of the basket she had brought along with her. She took out a flask containing some beef soup, her attention turned to the boy sitting next to her, who sadly couldn't move his weakened arms. "It's alright, Luke..." she soothed, taking out a spoon and poured some soup onto it, feeding the young boy, despite his ill demeanour, he still remained happy. That's what Kyrie admired about all these innocent children, they were so happy and carefree... just like she once was.

A warm smiled plastered her features as she continued to help the young boy eat, occasionally keeping her eye on the other children.

The heart of a child... was so innocent.

[Deleted]

Sceams erupted as Loz entered the play area. Some insanity glinted in his mako green eyes. The remnant chuckled. Orders had to be followed to retrieve Mother. He felt a child tug at his clothing. Loz looked down and a small boy was shakily offering him a game to play without any words. "Come on then." said Loz and found a bench for them both to sit at. The boy set up the game and insisted that he made a move first. Loz smiled and did so.

[ThePaleGhost]

"There... good boy, Luke..." Kyrie smiled, wiping his mouth with a cloth, it was then a woman came from inside the orphanage, carefully taking the young boy inside, she just smiled warmly. It was then her attention turned to numerous screams, her eyes immediately widened as she rose to her feet, scanning the area in case of enemies.

But... bizarrely... at what she saw didn't worry her, in fact, a warm feeling rose in her heart, a light smile appeared on her lips. "The last one..." she whispered, taking in the stranger's appearance, silver hair and green slitted eyes with a brawny build yet his eyes... despite their insanity, they portrayed a look of childishness also.

As she walked over, two children clung to her legs, obviously scared of him, she immediately soothed them, reassuring them that he wouldn't hurt them. "It's alright," she spoke softly to them, patting their heads as they let go "he's just a big silly giant with a good heart," she didn't really mean he was a giant, and she didn't really know if he had a good heart right this moment, but at least it calmed the children.

"Josh... you're sharing your game?" she asked the mute boy who was playing with the brawny silver haired man, the little boy looked up at her and nodded, continuing with the game and took his turn, waiting for Loz to take his again. A light chuckled escaped Kyrie as she sat on the side of the bench Loz was sitting at, but not too close to him.

"Oh, looks like you might have met your match, Josh," Kyrie smiled warmly at the young boy, much like a mother would, she would always come to help at the orphanage, often seen as a mother-like figure to the children, but Kyrie couldn't deny it, she absolutely adored children.

The little boy smiled brightly as he watched his game, smiling at Kyrie, then at Loz. Kyrie could see the happiness that this stranger brought the boy, though strangely, despite his looks and tough build, Kyrie felt a slight childishness emit from him. I was clear who he was affiliated with, but she didn't want to think of that right now.

"Josh never plays his games with strangers," she spoke to him, though didn't look at him, a soft smile formed on her pale thin lips "he must trust you... it makes happy to see him like this..."

[Deleted]

Loz smiled. "He must know that Mother is close. But I'm jealous of my brother, Yazoo." he said. He took off his Dual Hound and tightened the holster of his Velvet Nightmare around his waist. A little girl came up to him so he picked her up and set her down on his lap. Out of all his brothers he was the one who connected with children the most.

[ThePaleGhost]

It was strange how much it warmed her heart to see the children so happy... just because of one man. With a smile, she scooted closer to him as the little girl sat on his lap, the mute boy had smiled and took off with his game to go inside. Her fingers delicately brushed against the bandage over the girls eye... something she had lost due to...

Jenova.

Kyrie hated that name, the children here no longer possessed the stigma, all that was over and done with, but it had caused them so much pain and misery, costing them lives of family and friends... she held her tongue though, what she had said to Yazoo had almost gotten her killed. None the less, Kyrie stood by her beliefs, though chose not to make the Remnants she so deeply cared about suffer...

"So... you must be the last one," she said to him, referring to him being the last remnant to find "I know your brothers... Kadaj, Yazoo... and..." she shook her head, it still hurt to say or hear that name, she looked over at the happy young girl bouncing on his lap. However, something caught her attention, Loz's words... what did he mean that he was jealous?

"I don't understand, why would you say that?" she asked softly, sitting more comfortably "I mean... what is there to be jealous of? I'm not saying Yazoo lacks skill, he's a truly great marksman, but each of you have your own qualities, right?"

It was strange, really. Despite his tough demeanour, she was surprisingly comfortable around him, she felt herself slowly connecting to each remnant... Yazoo she could talk to because of his cool temperament, as for Loz... he seemed gentle, almost as if he were...

Sensitive...

[Deleted]

Loz grinned. "I'm jealous because he's settled down and I haven't." he said the young girl reached out to him and he held her gently. "I'm Loz." he said. He put the girl down and crossed his legs and folded his arms. Loz closed his eyes and thought of his brothers. He missed them but each had to go their own way. Even when it came to JENOVA. Why can't you find a decent girl, Loz? he damed himself. He opened his eyes again then stood up.

[ThePaleGhost]

Kyrie smiled as Loz grinned, he truly was rather characteristic, just like a child, she couldn't help but sit there and smile at him. Her silver eyes widened, however, as Loz mentioned about settling down, did he mean that Yazoo was with someone?

Standing up alongside him, she tilt her head in his direction. Was that what he really wanted? What they all wanted? To be just like every other person, leading every day lives... to be... complete? Kyrie smiled softly as she began to laugh quite jovially, placing a hand to her mouth as she did so.

"Silly..." she smiled, looking at him, standing directly opposite him "you don't need a girl for you to settle down, Loz" a giggle escaped her, when you looked passed the toughness, all you really can see in him is a sensitive side "but if you want something, eventually it'll come to you, don't feel you need to pursue it."

It was then she blinked as something dripped on her face, she looked up to see that it was beginning to rain. "On such a nice day...?" she sighed before gathering up the children up and taking them inside, she went back over to Loz, unafraid as she took his hand in hers "come, no good standing out here on your own," she smiled warmly, her eyes softened as she slowly pulled him towards the orphanage, hoping he'd follow.

"You can come stay here for a while if you want... the children seem to like you," she chuckled, stopping briefly to look at him "oh, my name's Kyrie, by the way... Kyrie Fallen, it's nice to meet you."

[Deleted]

Loz nodded but didn't say a word. Yazoo was lucky. He was after all the better looking out of the three of them. At this thought, jealousy surged through every fiber of his being. He calmed down then went back inside and reattached his Dual Hound back onto his left arm. Maybe he could just work with kids. He felt a unique connection with each of them which brought a smile on his face. Plus, due to his childish personality he could easily tell which child wanted what.

[ThePaleGhost]

Kyrie smiled as she led Loz inside, for some reason, it felt nice to be around him, just like it felt nice for her to be around Yazoo, but Loz... he was different, he was special. There was something about him that just made her heart warm, the kind of warmth a mother shared for their child. She had always loved children, being around them and helping them, she felt the same when it came to Loz.

"It would be nice if you could stay with us for a while," she spoke softly, leading him through the halls where happy children ran about and spoke cheerfully to each other. Not yet had the man she loved crossed her mind, if he did... she would surely break, but being around the children prevented that, they kept her occupied.

Kyrie hadn't been working here for long, but the children seemed to like her, she seemed to act much like a mother or older sister to most of them, in a way, she saw them as her children, ones that she would care for, love and protect for as long as she could, they held a very special place in her heart. She felt like a lioness protecting her cubs, stopping anyone who dare hurt them.

"I can give you a room of your own... if you want," she murmured, turning to Loz and smiling before leading him upstairs to the bedrooms, he was more than welcome to stay for as long as he wanted.Yet a part of her didn't understand something... why did she seem to trust him to much? Was it due to his ties with Yazoo? Or just because he was like a child himself? Still... he would never hurt the children... right?

Once she reached a door to an empty bedroom, she carefully pushed it open, revealing a rather nice room. There was a ready made bed, a bedside table, some drawers for clothes and underwear, a wardrobe, a chair and desk followed by a window where light peeked into the room, but she made sure to turn on the light so he could get a better look at the room. There was another door within the single bedroom that led to the bathroom, she made sure to point it out to him.

Turning to him, she smiled. "I hope it's alright for you," her silver eyes softened, giving him a look that was similar to a caring mother, if not that, an elder sister. Hm... maybe that might've been why she cared, she was older than the three remnants, already she was treating Loz like he was her little brother... a soft chuckle escaped her as stepped into the room, walking over to the window to look out it.

She wondered if Loz resented her in any way...

[Deleted]

He smiled as he entered the room. "Ok I'll stay. But I'm saying this my temper is short so I may have to go out for a while that includes late at night. Thanks" he said. He walked more into the room then sat on the bed.