Final Fantasy VII, Sephiroth/Aerith, lifestream
(There's a distinct lack of smut in this piece. It wanted to be genfic instead.)
"How long has it been since then?" Sephiroth asked. He couldn't see the flower girl, but he knew she was listening. She was always listening.
"Mmm... About a hundred years," she answered, "Or a thousand, maybe. I've lost track since Cloud died."
Cloud had died. Peacefully, in his sleep, at the not-exactly-young-but-still-younger-than-he-should-have-been age of fifty-one. And Sephiroth had been lost ever since, with hating Cloud his only purpose anymore. Mother had been destroyed, leaving him alone but still too tainted to dissolve into the lifestream.
There were only the faintest echoes of people he knew anymore. All that was left was the flower girl.
"Really, are you still keeping track of time?" she asked, "It's easier to just let it pass."
"Why haven't you dissolved like the rest of them?" Sephiroth asked.
"Because," she said. She took his hand and laced her fingers in with his, "You shouldn't have to be alone."
Her smile was warm. Sephiroth snorted and pulled his hand away from hers.
"I'd rather be alone."
She didn't leave, but leaned against him, still smiling. Sephiroth grumbled in annoyance, but she didn't move.