[ The soft sound of amusement leaves his lips at Cloud still refusing him as family. Doesn't mean he's going to ever stop. Sorry not sorry, brother! ]

You care for him, don't you.

[ He doesn't frame it as a question but more as an observation. Almost like fact. ]

Some part of you does... or did... that's why you're helping me, isn't it? Because I'm part of him. Even if that part is not so nice.

[ Words fall softly from his lips and a hand lifts to blindly brush at the side of Cloud's face in an uncharacteristically gentle way. Really, he expects a jerk of his head away but what does he care? ]

The only time you show me kindness is when I'm falling apart at the seams. Like before. When I died in your arms. You held me then and you carry me now. Deep within you, brother, you have a heart like I could never have and it makes me sad. I see why they love you. Why they fight alongside you.

[ He drops his hand back to the blond's chest and lets his eyes fall shut again. ]

I wish I could feel, too. Just once. Something other than all of this.