The hug was returned and Cloud smiled in secret against her shoulder, letting it vanish once they pulled away. Cloud shook his head with a small sigh. "He's not well."

Turning to lead her towards the castle, it'd be obvious perhaps only to someone like Aerith that he was in a very bad way inside. Generally, today, he was in a good mood but everything was weighing him down now. It made him feel sick himself.

"Zack's staying in the castle, too. He's probably off exploring it, or the city." And no, that wasn't a hint of jealousy that sparked in his voice. Or at least he'd deny it if Aerith picked up on it.

He felt childish for wanting to keep Zack to himself but they'd been apart so long, he and his oldest friend (if you didn't count Tifa as that, considering their relationship), so Cloud was being pretty territorial.