The smile goes just a little softer, and a hand goes a little higher to brush the other man's hair from his eyes, to get a better look at his face.

Cloud had done a lot of growing up in the last few years - in his time, at least. it had been shorter for Zack, as far as he knows - and... well, he's not the kid he quite was when they'd first met. When everything began and they were both young and naive. Cloud had faced constant tragedy, and was getting past it... much like himself, when he was still alive.

He's proud of him. He really is.

"I just told you. I won't be gone, not even from here. As long as we stay bonded, nothing can happen to me." A shadow crosses his eyes then, trailing down to the wings wrapped around them, which also lowered. "But as for right now... Cloud. I need to go back to sleep. It's taking a lot of my willpower to stay as solid as I am."

He glances back up.

"I want you to know something. That I'm very proud of you for getting this far. That you're taking care of so many people and doing all this good. It's exactly what I wanted, and all I could ask for from you. Just... keep that up, okay?"

One last embrace.

"And just call me if you need to talk. If you're feeling sad, or you just don't know what to do. I'll always be here for you, kid."