forgivemeforgetmenot

[forgivemeforgetmenot]

Unwritten

(Cloud x Aerith fanfic)

Chapter 4: Even Flowers Keep Secrets

Cloud shut his eyes again, but he was far from drowsy thanks to Barret's merciless snoring and his racing thoughts. He rolled his head to the side, scrutinizing Red XIII in the dark; he, too, was fast asleep. Everyone probably was—everyone except him.

He alternated between staring at the ceiling and the inside of his eyelids for twenty more minutes before sitting up. Cloud exhaled deeply. Thoughts of her consumed him; he could still envision the feeling of her kiss against his cheek.

She was so damn frustrating sometimes. Was everything a joke to her?

A muffled crash from downstairs tore him away from his 2 a.m. thoughts; swiftly jumping into action, Cloud seized the Buster Sword and crept stealthily down the stairs to investigate the noise.

He scanned the dimly lit area and found only Elmyra quietly grumbling to herself as she picked up shards of glass off the kitchen floor. Cloud relaxed and put away his weapon. There were no threats in sight, only an agitated Gainsborough.

Cloud quietly approached Aerith's mother; he kneeled, assisting her with the leftover mess. Startled, Elmyra jolted before chuckling, "I can see how you got your job! You're very covert, Mr. Strife."

He noticed blood on her left hand, "You're hurt."

"Perceptive too," she remarked, inspecting the wound as she rose. "I, on the other hand, am not as nimble. Clearly."

Cloud smirked briefly. Elmyra dabbed at the cut with a paper towel. "How bad is it?" he asked.

"Oh, it's nothing," she laughed, "Just a teeny cut. I'm sorry for waking you. You go on up and get back to bed."

Cloud's gaze wavered on Elmyra's hand, "You didn't. Couldn't sleep."

Elmyra tossed the used napkin in a bin, "Something on your mind?"

"No," Cloud answered quickly, "Just…not tired."

"Hm," the older woman seemed doubtful. She passed him and sat down at the table. "Well, if there is, I just happen to be a great listener who's also not tired."

Cloud folded his arms as Elmyra's words echoed in his mind. You guys made a trade—a normal life for power. It was the price of being an ex-SOLDIER.

As if mind-reading ran in the family, Elmyra's expression softened, "I was wrong to ask you to leave that day Aerith brought you home. That wasn't my call to make."

Cloud met her gaze, surprised by the sudden apology. He shook his head, "No reason to be sorry. I get it. I'm dangerous."

"You saved my little girl's life. You brought her back home to me," Elmyra smiled, but her eyes appeared sorrowful, "I'm not sure how much she's told you about her first love—he was a SOLDIER."

She hadn't divulged much; Aerith spoke briefly of an MIA SOLDIER she cared for the night she escorted Cloud back to Sector 7. Her mother frowned, "He broke her heart; whether he went AWOL, died, or abandoned her, it shattered her. I just…didn't want to see her get hurt again. I hope you can understand."

He did. Even when he wanted to defy the concerned mother's demands, he ultimately respected her wishes because Cloud knew her worries were valid. He nodded.

***

The following day, after breakfast, Cloud accompanied Tifa to the clearing to train. Barret planned to spend the day with Marlene, while Aerith and Red would assist Elmyra in the garden.

The pent-up merc was eager to blow off some steam; the sparring partners took their positions, first focusing their efforts on close-combat drills. They exchanged very few words during their practice session.

An hour passed; Tifa suggested a break as she sank to the ground. Cloud nodded, tossing her a water bottle. He felt compelled to encourage her to open up—things between them had been off for days, and he wasn't sure why.

He sat next to her, trying to formulate the proper words before attempting to speak. Tifa beat him to it and talked first, "Cloud?"

"Yeah?"

"I know you said you're not really looking for a relationship," her lips curved into a small smile, "but don't you ever think about what it would be like? To fall in love?"

Cloud pondered her question. Falling in love at this point in his life would be a hindrance. His present endeavors didn't exactly pair well with date nights and childrearing. "Not really," he answered flatly.

Tifa laughed, "Such a romantic."

"Do you?" he asked.

"Well…yeah," she confessed, blushing, "I…"

They locked eyes as Tifa hesitated, "Do you remember when we were kids, and you promised me at the water tower—"

"That I'd save you if you were ever in trouble," he finished for her. "You wanted a hero to come and rescue you."

Tifa beamed, her eyes gleaming, "You remembered." Cloud nodded.

She continued, "It's silly, but…I held onto that promise for so long. I know we were just kids back then, and you were probably pacifying me—"

"I meant it," he interjected.

As they gazed at one another, a resonant silence filled the air. Cloud didn't realize what was happening until Tifa's lips grazed his. He jerked his head back, staggered by her unexpected kiss. What the hell was that?

"Oh God," Tifa groaned, "I'm…I'm so sorry," she apologized, burying her face in her hands. "I can't believe I just did that."

"Tifa," Cloud sighed. He was at a loss for words. How had he not realized she felt this way?

"Cloud, I'm so sorry," she reiterated, "I thought…I don't know what I thought."

"Tifa, I'm not a hero," he said.

"W-what?" she asked, raising her head from her palms with bleary eyes.

"You're confused. You think I'm something I'm not. I'm not that hero you fantasized about when we were younger," he explained.

Tifa shook her head, protesting, "You're wrong. You've saved me countless times. You've kept that promise—you're exactly who I know you are. You're my hero."

"I'm your friend," he corrected, "And I can't be anything else."

Tifa winced, then swabbed at her eyes. She left him alone in the clearing without another word. The realization that he'd hurt her crushed him; he didn't want to make her cry, he didn't want their friendship to change. He hated disappointing her, but what else was he supposed to do? Feed into her fantasy? Kiss her back even though his heart and mind drifted elsewhere?

His priority was defeating Sephiroth. He was a mercenary—not a hero, boyfriend, or lover. Cloud could list a thousand reasons it could never work between them, but justifying it wouldn't take away Tifa's pain. It wouldn't ease the sting of rejection or the fact that he didn't feel the same.

***

Cloud left the clearing and wandered through the Slums. How could he face Tifa again after that? Can a friendship be salvaged after what happened? He wasn't sure.

Wholly absorbed in his thoughts, Cloud hardly assessed his surroundings. He collided with a passerby, scattering various flowers around his shoes. He looked up, locking eyes with Aerith. "Well, excuse you," she said, stooping to gather them.

"Sorry," he mumbled, aiding her.

"What's wrong?" she asked, pausing to study his face.

"Nothing."

"You look sad," she pointed out. He was, but she didn't need to know that.

"I'm fine," Cloud said, placing the last flowers back in her basket.

"Where are you headed?" she pried.

Cloud glanced around, overlooking the streets. People strolled by, shopping, laughing, and talking. "Just going for a walk."

"Mind if I join you?" Aerith asked cheerfully, "I'm dropping these tulips off to a customer."

Cloud avoided her eyes, "I don't really want company right now."

"Oh." Aerith faltered momentarily, then smiled, "Well, I do." She grabbed his hand and guided him through the slums. Why was it always so hard to deny her?

Cloud recognized their path; Aerith freed his hand as they ascended the steps to the church. She approached an older gentleman sitting alone in one of the pews. Cloud hung back, observing their exchange; the man took Aerith's hand, thanking her profusely. They chatted for some time before she returned to Cloud, smiling.

"Alrighty, all finished! Now we can go on that walk. Oh," she hesitated, "One more sec." Aerith whirled around, skipping down the aisle and over to the flowerbed blossoming in the center of the church. The patron smiled at Cloud as he passed by with the basket of tulips, leaving Aerith and him alone.

Cloud leisurely approached her; he overheard her whispering to the lilies but couldn't decipher the words. "What are they saying?" he decided to ask.

Her voice sounded melancholy, "They're sad today, too."

Cloud inspected the flourishing flowers, "They look pretty fine to me."

He kneeled beside her, studying their petals more intently. "Why are you sad?" he asked the flowers. Cloud felt Aerith's eyes on him. He waited as though one of the lilies might explain, but the church remained hushed.

"Did they say anything?" Cloud wondered, facing her.

Aerith smiled sweetly, shaking her head, "Even flowers keep secrets."

"What about flower merchants?" he fished.

"Hmm," she pursed her lips playfully, pretending to think. "Sure. Just like mercenaries, I suppose."

Cloud smirked, but his smile soon disappeared as thoughts of Tifa bombarded his mind. Did Aerith know how she felt about Cloud? Maybe she could give him advice on how to fix things. "If a friend...liked you, but you didn't feel the same way, what would you do?" he questioned as he gazed at the lilies, instantly regretting the decision.

"Oh," Aerith spoke frailly, "Well, I'd be honest and upfront; I wouldn't want to mislead anyone. Why...do you ask?"

"No reason," he replied, withdrawing.

"It's important to be gentle, too," Aerith added softly.

Cloud withered, worried he hadn't accomplished any of that in his conversation with Tifa. Aerith raised her hand to his face but stopped partway. She retracted it, clutching her wrist against her chest. Cloud's mouth parted as Aerith's eyes lowered. You can't just go around touching and kissing people like that—his remark reverberating as he observed her.

"Aerith," he murmured remorsefully. It seemed as though everywhere he went, Cloud was hurting someone's feelings.

"Are you hungry? I'm hungry," she deflected, her mouth bending into a smile, "Want to get some lunch?"

"I'm not hungry," he replied, frustrated with his inability to communicate.

"Oh, okay," she said, standing, "I guess I'll see you later, then."

Cloud stood up, "I...didn't say I wouldn't come."

His eyes darted away, "Unless you—"

A giggle escaped her, "I thought you didn't want company?"

Cloud frowned, blushing, "Do you always have to make things harder than they need to be?"

"I could ask you the same thing," she teased, gliding away from him. 

"Hey," he called after her, causing her to turn back around, "What did you say to the flowers earlier?"

Aerith laughed, then put a finger to her lips, "Shhh."

[forgivemeforgetmenot]

Unwritten

(Cloud x Aerith Fanfic)

Chapter 3: Intoxicated

"Daddy!!" cried Marlene, dashing past a beaming Elmyra. Barret chuckled as he scooped up his daughter and kissed her tiny face.

"How you doin' baby girl? You been good for Elmyra, yeah?"

"Always, Daddy!"

The gang exchanged greetings as Aerith's mother ushered them inside the cozy cottage. "Something smells delicious," chimed Aerith, bouncing to the kitchen.

"You all are back just in time; I'm making Miso Yasai Ramen for dinner," Elmyra said. "Please, please, everyone, make yourselves comfortable. Wash up, unpack your things, and decompress. There's still some time before the food's ready."

"Thank you so much for your hospitality, Ms. Gainsborough," Tifa exhaled. She ruffled Marlene's hair on her way upstairs, earning a giggle from the child clinging closely to Red XIII.

Cloud's eyes trailed after her as she vacated the room. They hadn't had the chance to talk since last night when she pelted him with Aerith-related questions and raced off. He nearly rose from his seat at the coffee table but decided to leave her be.

"Yeah," added Barret awkwardly, "Thanks again for keepin' an eye on my Marlene. I can't tell ya how much it… means to me."

Elmyra, now overlooking a pot on the stove, waved him off, "Oh, dear, I've told you repeatedly that you don't need to keep thanking me. Spending time with Marlene is a pleasure. She kind of reminds me of you when you were younger." She pointed a wooden spoon toward Aerith, spurring the brunette to smile.

"Marlene's far more well-behaved than I was," Aerith giggled, winking at her. Marlene laughed, mimicking her wink.

"Oh!" the little girl suddenly exclaimed, "Daddy, Elmyra helped me plant my first flower! Wanna see?"

Before Barret could respond, Marlene jumped up, grabbed her father's hand, and started pulling toward the door. "Come too, Red!" Marlene pleaded to the smiling beast.

Red nodded, "Aye, aye, captain," and casually followed the two outside.

"Did you plant azaleas?" Aerith asked her mother, strolling over to the table. Although all the seats were empty, she picked the spot closest to Cloud's; he swallowed.

Elmyra eyed her daughter, then smiled tenderly. "Actually, yes. I don't know why I still feel surprised after all these years."

"Surprised? About?" Aerith repeated, tilting her head.

"About your intuition," she laughed.

Aerith smiled, facing Cloud. "Azaleas represent family and unity. Planting them is a good reminder for Marlene that even though Barret can't always be here physically," Aerith placed her hand gently on his chest, "he'll always be right there."

His heart raced; he hoped she couldn't feel it pounding against her palm. Embarrassment flushed Cloud's cheeks, forcing him to avert his gaze. He hated it when she did things like this, especially in front of others."You've been awfully quiet this evening, Cloud," commented Elmyra.

"Cloud's always quiet," Aerith teased, nudging him.

"Well, you talk enough for the both of us," he retorted. Elmyra emitted a hearty laugh as Aerith feigned a hurt expression.

"Oh, you. Don't act like you aren't hanging onto every word."

He blushed, then ascended to his feet. He needed a break from all of Aerith's poking and prodding. "I'm going to wash up," Cloud announced shortly before escaping to the restroom.

After devouring Elmyra's delectable meal, the group migrated outside to relax. The Gainsborough's property was already breathtaking during the day; it appeared like a page torn out of a fairytale book Barret might read to Marlene at night.

Fireflies floated to and fro, illuminating the massive garden with an ethereal glow. The air smelled of fresh flowers and herbs; Cloud inhaled deeply, relishing in the sweet aroma; its ambiance soothed him in a way no other place could.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Marlene wordlessly slip her hand into Aerith's, guiding her out of sight. "Probably showing off her Azaleas," Red remarked, sidling beside Cloud.

"Mm," he nodded.

"Don't be jealous; I'm sure she'll show you too," he joked.

Marlene had warmed up to Cloud considerably over the last several months, but he could tell she was still somewhat leery of him. He was never a people person, but kids were the ultimate test of patience. "Don't care. Flowers aren't my thing anyway," he replied nonchalantly.

Red chuckled, "Maybe if you were more honest about the fact that you do care, she'd braid your hair and pick flowers with you too."

"And she'll treat me like a housecat like you, too? No thanks," Cloud quipped.

Red smiled, his eyes trailing after the fireflies, "It's not what you think. Caring doesn't make you weak. It's okay to be transparent about it. In fact, people tend to like it."

"I don't care what people like," the merc folded his arms.

Aerith and Marlene reemerged hand-in-hand. Cloud followed the Cetra's every movement. Marlene started bouncing beside her, urging her to "dance" with the fireflies. Aerith gleefully complied, and the two twirled around, laughing. 

"Are you sure about that?" Red smirked, sauntering past Cloud and over to the girls. After some convincing, Tifa and Barret joined the trio. Cloud observed as they pranced around each other, laughing without a care.

Aerith caught him watching and waved him over. Cloud looked away shyly; he'd rather dive headfirst into a pool full of lava than ever dance again. 

Aerith abandoned the frolicking group and advanced toward him. Before she could speak, Cloud was already shaking his head. "No, no, no," he stated firmly, backing away from her.

She sped up and seized his hand, giggling, "Yes, yes, yes!"

"Aerith," he complained as she jerked him closer.

"Cloud," she imitated his tone, swaying their arms back and forth playfully, "Come ooon! All of Midgar knows how well you can dance; you can't just squander your talent away brooding in the shadows."

Without further protest, he allowed the exuberant woman to position his hand on her waist. She placed a hand on his shoulder and interlocked her other with his. They clumsily wobbled around; Cloud nervously followed her lead as they rocked back and forth.

Aerith giggled, gazing into his eyes as they danced. Cloud worried he was blushing; he wanted to avoid her face but, for some reason, couldn't pry himself away. Her green eyes glimmered as bright as the lightning bugs encircling the pair. Mesmerized, his bottom lip dropped slightly,

"What is it?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Hm?" he replied, transfixed.

"Your face; you look thoughtful. Wistful," Aerith specified, still guiding their haphazard movements.

"I'm…not thinking anything."

It wasn't entirely dishonest. Cloud felt disoriented. Anxious? No, intoxicated. He wasn't exactly thinking anything specific, but his being was overwhelmed with feelings—sensations he wasn't sure how to convey. "Hmm," she eyed him skeptically.

Feeling overwhelmed, Cloud pulled away abruptly. He glanced at the house as Aerith whined. "We didn't even do the Moogle Dance!"

Cloud rasped, striding past her. He noticed Tifa staring glumly. Earlier, she looked so joyful with their friends. What happened? "Going to bed?" she asked softly as he walked toward the door. Barret, Marlene, and Red were still bopping around happily.

He nodded, uncertain of what to say to her. Should he ask what's wrong? Should he address last night? He feared saying something that might make her feel worse. Instead, he sat down silently beside her on the porch. "Tired of dancing?" Cloud asked while observing the others. His eyes instinctively drifted to Aerith, now gazing up at the sky.

"Kind of," Tifa laughed, then added, "How about you? You were really grooving over there."

"I was being held hostage," he muttered, lounging.

"I don't know. You looked like…you were having fun to me," Tifa reflected quietly.

Cloud studied her. She altered her sorrowful expression with a smile, "It's nice. You know, to see you loosen up."

"You just enjoy watching me make a fool of myself."

"That too," Tifa giggled.

The two friends sat in silence for a moment. Then Cloud asked, "You okay?"

The question seemingly startled Tifa, who stood almost immediately. "Yeah, of course," she smiled, "Just tired."

Cloud nodded slowly, hesitant to accept her excuse. 

"I'm gonna try to get some sleep," she decided, "Goodnight, Cloud."

"Night," he replied.

Tifa stepped to the door but paused before twisting the knob. Cloud expected her to say something else, but she finally went inside without another word.

Gradually, everyone else filed inside. First, Barret and Marlene. Shortly after, Red XIII. A half-hour later, Aerith approached the porch with a peaceful smile. "Are you stargazing too?" she asked, plopping beside him.

"Something like that." Truthfully, he'd been watching her more than anything else out there. 

"Oooor, are you avoiding sleep?"

Cloud looked at her with a curious expression and asked, "What?"

Aerith met his gaze, "You won't have any nightmares here. Promise."

He diverted his view upward to spot a patch of shimmering stars.

"Do you trust me, Cloud?"

The question caught him off guard, "W-What?"

"Do you trust me?" she reprised, leaning closer.

"Of course," he replied, to his surprise, without hesitation.

"Good!" Aerith beamed, slipping her hand into his and guiding him to his feet.

"Where are we going," he questioned. She pulled him down a path and to a cluster of pink Azaleas.

"Marlene asked me to show you. Aren't they so beautiful?"

"Yeah, they're um… pretty," Cloud awkwardly agreed.

He scanned the flowers surrounding them and settled on a patch of yellow lilies—the same flower Aerith gifted him when they first met.

"Are those your favorite?" she asked, noticing.

Cloud folded his arms, "Dunno."

"Do you remember what they symbolize?" she asked, plucking one and placing it on his chest, just as she had done a lifetime ago.

"Reunion," he answered, lifting his eyes from the flower to her.

"That's right!" she said merrily, "Now for your prize."

Before he could respond, Aerith's pursed lips were pressed to his cheek. The kiss was mere centimeters away from the corner of his mouth. For a moment, Cloud wondered if she'd intended something more intimate. Part of him was relieved she missed her potential mark; another part felt…disappointed?

Her hands lingered against his chest, careful not to crush the yellow lily she gave him. Cloud swallowed hard, voiceless. Stop doing that, he should tell her. You mess around too much. 

Cloud's eyes descended to her mouth. She placed the back of her hand on his forehead. "Are you feeling okay, Cloud? You look a little sweaty."

He grabbed her wrist, pulled it away from his face, and held it. "Stop doing that," he scolded.

"Doing what?"

"You know what," he griped, still clutching her.

Aerith's head tilted to the side with a confused expression.

Cloud scowled, clarifying, "You can't just… go around touching and kissing people like that."

Aerith laughed, "You're not people, silly."

"I'm not," Cloud paused, unsure how to express his issue, "I'm not your boyfriend."  

For the first time in a long time, Aerith broke eye contact first, her gaze plunging to the ground. Her usual warm smile vanished. Had he hurt her feelings? "I didn't realize it bothered you," she said quietly.

He lowered her arm to her side before letting go. The desire to hold her bubbled inside of him; Cloud wasn't a physically affectionate person or affectionate, at all. Comforting people wasn't his specialty; fighting was. Right now, however, he felt the impulse to at least try. Take it back. Tell her you don't mind. Hug her.

Cloud only stared at her, "Aerith…"

"I know," she said with glistening eyes, "you're not my boyfriend." Much like Tifa had done earlier that evening, Aerith disguised her sorrow with a smile and a joke, "You're my bodyguard!"

She brushed past him; he turned and recaptured her arm, suspending her. She pivoted to face him and smiled, "Bedtime, Cloud."

"Just wait," he ordered.

"For?"

"I…don't mind. Not really," The confession rolled from Cloud's mouth as though he'd been struggling to cough up a boulder.

"Jeez, Cloud," Aerith playfully pouted, "Make up your mind; now you're confusing me."

"I'm confusing you?" he scoffed. Says the woman who can't keep her lips to herself.

Cloud groaned, released Aerith, and plodded past her. He didn't get paid enough for this. Or at all, actually.

[forgivemeforgetmenot]

Unwritten

(Cloud x Aerith Fanfic)

Cloud awakened to a world tinted blue. It was early enough to slink back to camp before the others noticed his and Aerith's absence. Realizing he was holding her, he jolted his bare arm upward like a fire had seared his skin. The spasm must've stirred her awake; she sat up and stretched, her extended yawn shattering the lulling silence of the dawn.

"Mm…I slept great! How about you, Cloud?" She smiled down at him, prompting him to shift his eyes away. 

"We should head back to camp," he deflected dryly.

Aerith giggled, "Hope I didn't get any drool on you. You're super comfy…soft, actually. Like a cloud!"

He snorted, rising to his feet, before starting the hike back. "Heyy! Wait for me!" She called after him. 

Much to his dismay, the two returned to find Barret, Tifa, and Red already having breakfast. "Ohh," shouted Barret first, "Nice of y'all to join us! Bet ya worked up an appetite."

Red chuckled, "Hopefully, not too much of one. It's cup noodles. Again."

"Yum, anything sounds great right about now; I'm starving," replied Aerith, seemingly unphased by the blatant taunting. 

Cloud, on the other hand, felt his face turning rosy. There wasn't anything to be embarrassed about. Why did he suddenly feel so… self-conscious? 

Aerith sat beside Red and began slurping up her noodles. Wanting to put as much distance as possible between himself and her, Cloud chose a spot between Tifa and Barret. Tifa handed him his breakfast, which he took sheepishly, avoiding everyone's faces as he ate. "Alright, we got a long day before gettin' back to Sector 5. Hope you two didn't stay up too late," Barret chuckled while extinguishing the fire.

Cloud sighed, feeling pressured to explain their disappearance, but Aerith spoke up before he could formulate a reason. "I wanted to get a better view of the stars," she started, "y'know, away from the trees. Cloud caught me trying to sneak off, and like the dutiful bodyguard he is, he joined me to keep me safe from all the big bad monsters. Isn't that right, Cloud?"

Cloud fumbled over his words, caught off guard by Aerith's lie, "Mm."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever y'all say," Barret winked just before putting his shades on. 

Red smirked, "I think if the interrogation is finished, we best be on our way. This is the first lead on Sephiroth we've encountered in quite some time—if he is lurking around the slums, we don't want to miss him."

Tifa spoke up, "True, but…why would he be hanging around Sector 5? It could just be another dead end; I mean, it doesn't really make sense, does it?" 

"No, but it's all we have to go on as of right now," remarked Cloud, "we don't know what his endgame is or what exactly he needs to do to execute it."

"Feels like we're on a wild Chocobo chase…" Barret muttered. "At least I'll get to spend some time with my baby girl."

Tifa glowed, "That's right. And I can get a nice, hot shower in."

Aerith smiled, clasping her hands, "Okay then, let's get going!"

The group traveled well into the afternoon, exterminating dozens of Hedgehog Pies and Wererats. Barret led the lineup while Aerith, Red XIII, and Tifa chatted together. Cloud lingered a couple feet behind. 

During the day's travels, he noticed Tifa eyeing him periodically. He caught her staring again before she slowed her pace to match his. 

They walked silently beside each other for a brief period. "What's up," he eventually posed, sensing something plagued her. 

She hesitated. "...You know you can talk to me, right Cloud?"

Tifa gazed at him, sincerity softening her face. 

"What do you mean?" he asked, face forward. 

"You can talk to me about anything. I…just want you to know that."

Cloud eyed her curiously, "Same goes for you."

She blushed, looking downward. "Right."

"Is there… something you want to talk about?"

Tifa opened her mouth to answer, but before she could say anything, Barret cursed from up ahead. "Goddammit, don't these motherfuckers have anything better to do!"

A pack of snarling Wrath Hounds blocked their path. Instinctively, Cloud unsheathed the Buster Sword and rushed past Aerith, Red, and Barret. He slashed through a duo, Barret fired a barrage of bullets into one, and Red went toe-to-toe with another. Tifa blocked a bite, eager to sink its fangs into Cloud's shoulder. From afar, Aerith cast a flurry of ice spells, causing multiple hounds to stagger, which gave the rest of the party a collective opening to wipe them out. 

As Cloud sliced through what he thought was the last of them, a bloodcurdling scream seized his heart. He whipped his head around to discover a straggler clamped down on Aerith. Cloud lunged for the monster, ripping it off of her. Then Red pounced, sinking his teeth into the rabid beast's throat to finish it off. 

"Is she alright?!" Barret asked as he and Tifa sprinted over to join them. Cloud clutched Aerith tightly in his arms, studying her unconscious face.

"Oh God, Aerith," Tifa cried. 

"Check her pulse," Red urgently advised. 

Cloud did so. "She's breathing." Everyone shared a sigh of relief. 

"Cloud…" Aerith slowly opened her eyes, "You're kind of…hurting me."

He instantly loosened his grip, "Sorry."

She laughed weakly, "Aw. Were you worried about me?"

"We all were," Tifa smiled.

"Not me," Barret professed, "Girl's a badass. Ain't no dumb dog gonna take her out. I knew you'd be fine." Aerith giggled.

"Are you in any pain?" Red asked. 

"Somewhat," she answered truthfully.

"Can you walk?"

"I think so."

Cloud helped Aerith to her feet, his hand lingering beneath her elbow in case she couldn't. "You worry too much," she assured him, "I'm fine!"

She winced, stepping away from Cloud. Tifa swooped in to steady her, "I think we better set up camp for the night; you need to rest, Aerith." 

"I agree," added Red. 

"There's an inn just down the road, as a matter of fact," Barret suggested, "if Aerith can make it."

"Of course I can!" Aerith limped forward, grimacing in pain. 

Tifa wrapped an arm around her waist, "Let me help."

"We'll want to get there before it gets dark," Cloud interjected, approaching the two girls. Before Aerith could protest, Cloud swept her off her feet.

"Cloud!" She yelped in surprise.

"It'll be quicker this way," he decided, already pushing forward. 

The group soon made their way to the Quartz Inn, where they paid for two rooms—one for the guys and one for the girls. Cloud, Barret, and Red settled into their respective suite. Barret exhaled, flopping on one of the beds, while Red XIII curled beside the crackling fireplace; Cloud sat at the edge of the other bed. "Man, it does feel damn good to lay in a bed," Barret sighed.

"Speak for yourself," Red muttered.

"You can have this one," Cloud offered, "I'm going to check on Aerith and Tifa."

Barret chuckled, "When did you get so considerate, soldier boy?" 

"Cloud's quite the gentleman," Red commented, "especially regarding the girls." Uncomfortable with being the topic of conversation, Cloud grumbled and departed from his two taunting friends. 

He crossed the hall and knocked on the girls' door. Tifa answered, her face brightening at the sight of his. "Hey, everything okay?"

"Yeah. Just wanted to check on the both of you." 

The sweet smile slipped away, and her eyes dropped, "You mean Aerith."

Something about her tone felt less like an assumption and more like an accusation. There was truth in what Tifa said; Aerith had been wounded earlier, so naturally, she was more of a concern at the moment. 

Aerith wasn't feeble by any sense of the word, but there was always something more delicate about the flower merchant, something that ignited a passion to protect. His determination to do so only intensified after his vision—the one he'd been having nightmares about for months. On the other hand, Tifa was a powerhouse—he knew she could take care of herself. "I wanted to finish our conversation, too," Cloud added.

Tifa lighted up some, "Aerith took a nice shower, I helped tend to her scrapes, and now she's resting. I'm sure she'll feel a lot better after a good night's sleep." Relief washed over Cloud, easing the tension in his muscles. 

"Can I meet you outside, in front of the entrance? There's a patio where we can sit and talk. But I'm dying for a shower first," she laughed.

Cloud nodded, "See you in a bit."

20 minutes later, Tifa appeared. She greeted Cloud with a warm smile, sitting in the patio chair next to his. "Better?" he asked.

"Much."

Cloud waited for her to talk, but when she didn't, he began, "So, what is it?"

"Hm?"

"What you wanted to say earlier before the Wrath Hounds showed up."

"Oh," Tifa paused, "Well…"

"Tifa," Cloud groaned impatiently.

"Sorry...I just feel like it's not my place to ask."

"Ask what?" 

"How do you...feel about Aerith?"

"What?" he questioned, puzzled.

"Do you...have feelings for her?"

Cloud looked away. Why was she asking this all of a sudden? "What's it matter?"

Tifa's ruby-colored eyes glistened, "I guess it doesn't."

He shifted in his chair uncomfortably, "Do you not like her?" 

"What? No, no! I love Aerith," Tifa exclaimed. "She's become one of my closest friends."

"She's...my friend too," Cloud struggled to spit out.

"But...do you wish she was more than that?" Tifa pressed.

Agitation furrowed his brow, "That crap isn't for me."

"Right…" her voice cracked. 

Cloud examined her; Tifa's head was angled away from him. She slouched in her seat, wrapping her arms around herself. "You okay?" he asked, concerned by her body language and bizarre questions.

"Y-yeah," she sniveled, wiping at her face, "I think I better sleep." She started speed walking to the inn.

"Tifa," he called after her, but she didn't stop.

Cloud sighed, rolling his head back to take in the starry sky. What had he done wrong? Was it something he said? Should he follow her? Maybe she needed space. Space. 

He gazed up at it until his eyelids grew heavy.

The water was cold. He was cold. 

She was cold. 

Wake up, he tried to say. Wake up, wake up, wake up. But no sound bubbled from his throat. He shook her gently.

Wake up, wake up, wake up.

"Wake up. Cloud, wake up."

He obeyed and locked eyes with Aerith; her face seemed troubled. "Were you having another nightmare?"

Cloud sat up; she took her hand off his shoulder.

"Alright, alright, I get it. You don't want to talk about it."

He changed the subject, "What are you doing out here?" 

She beamed, raising her eyes toward the sky, "I wanted to see the stars again."

"You're supposed to be resting," he rebuked.

"It's not like I've been doing squats."

"Aerith."

"You're not my mommy. And what about you, mister? Why are you out here?" Cloud fell silent, recalling his earlier conversation with Tifa.

"Is...Tifa okay?" he asked.

"She was before I fell asleep earlier. I only woke up a little while ago, and when I did, she was resting. Did something happen?" Aerith asked, concern saturating her voice. 

"No," Cloud answered quickly. "I was just curious."

Aerith leaned in; Cloud's pulse quickened. "You're lying to me," she deduced.

He grunted, locking eyes with her, "Nothing happened."

"Cloud!"

He caved under the pressure of her emerald-colored daggers. "I don't know. I think I upset her or something."

"What did you do?"

"I told you, I don't know."

"You know more than you're telling me."

Cloud clenched his jaw, refusing to speak anymore on the matter. Aerith sighed, refocusing on the sky. Learn to talk to her, he had advised the flowers in her garden back when they first met. What a hypocrite. 

Cloud admired how the starlight from above twinkled in her eyes. 

"I've been having nightmares about Sephiroth," he whispered begrudgingly. Aerith faced him and offered a small smile. She slid her dainty hand into his.

"Whatever the future holds, we'll get through it together."

Her touch soothed him; the idea of defeating Sephiroth once and for all seemed utterly believable at this moment. But the sense of comfort was swiftly plowed aside by the recollection of the other nightmare plaguing him—the gruesome vision of Aerith's murder. He pulled his hand away from hers. "I've been having ones about you, too."

"They're just bad dreams, but they aren't real. And they're not premonitions," Aerith reassured.

"This one was, at one point."

She shook her head, "Not anymore."

He stayed silent, absorbing her words. "Is that why you've been acting so weird with me?" she questioned.

He gave her a slight nod. "Oh, Cloud," she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. 

"What?"

"You should talk more. I like listening to you."

His hands felt hot; he considered slipping his gloves off. "I talk when it's necessary." 

"Actually, you don't," she argued, "you spent months bottling that up. You shouldn't live life like that."

"I talked. Big whoop. Nothing's changed."

"That's not true either," she contested, lifting her head to gaze into his eyes. 

He stared back, briefly glancing at her mouth as she spoke. 

"I feel closer to you." 

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Chapter 2 repost with revisions!

[forgivemeforgetmenot]

Unwritten

( A Cloud x Aerith Fanfic)

Chapter 1: The Future Is Unwritten

Smoke congested the air; far-reaching flames confined Cloud to the center of Nibelheim. Wailing, crumbling, crackling—the soundtrack to a horror movie he couldn't turn off. Frantically, he searched the chaos for the culprit. "Sephiroth!" he yelled, gripping his Buster Sword.

Amidst the fumes and the fire, a pair of familiar eyes emerged, as sinister as green. Cloud attempted to charge forward but found his limbs paralyzed as the silver-haired monster slowly approached. Fear mushroomed in his chest. 

Then, in the blink of an eye, Nibelheim, Sephiroth—everything—dissolved. 

"Hellooo?" whispered a soft voice, "Cloud, are you okay?"

The mercenary grunted, rubbing the sleep from his blurry eyes as he sat up. Aerith observed, waiting patiently for a response. "Cloud?" she repeated, scooting closer. 

"I'm fine."

"You didn't look fine," she pointed out, "you were flinching and talking in your sleep."

"What did I say?" he asked curiously, hoping he hadn't divulged too much. 

"Sephiroth," Aerith replied quietly. 

Cloud's hands clenched; the name stirred an immediate sense of discomfort in the pit of his stomach. "Do you…want to talk about it?" Aerith asked cautiously. 

"I said I'm fine," he spoke sternly, instantly regretting the tone.

It had been months since his last confrontation with the Whispers and Sephiroth. Cloud still wasn't sure what to make of everything the group had experienced, and the knowledge that Sephiroth was still out there was unsettling, to say the least. 

He glanced at Aerith, who still sat beside him, though her eyes were fixed on her lap. Some of the visions he'd seen during the confrontation still haunted him; although those futures were no longer set in stone, their potential disturbed Cloud. "You've been pushing me away," Aerith stated suddenly.

"What do you mean?" he asked dumbly. She was right. Since their battle against Fate, Cloud had kept Aerith at arm's length. He struggled to cleanse the image of her lifeless body from his brain. Each time he looked at Aerith, the alternate memory flickered before his eyes. It made him sick. 

"Everything that happened... it was crazy, wasn't it?" she asked.

"Yeah," he nodded, wanting to articulate more but struggling to find the words. 

"Whatever you're afraid of, whatever you think might happen, you have to remember—nothing is certain anymore. The future is unwritten." 

Sometimes, it seemed like she could read his mind; sometimes, it felt like Cloud didn't even need to utter a single word; Aerith could simply study his face or gaze into his eyes and discern precisely what was on his mind. 

She was both comforting and unnerving, simultaneously familiar yet strange.

A hand as delicate as silk cupped his cheek, tenderly turning his face in her direction. Tongue-tied at her touch, Cloud's lips parted. He suddenly became hyper-aware of their friends; thankfully, Tifa, Barret, and Red XIII were fast asleep. "Are you hearing me?" she asked, peering into his eyes. Even in the dark, they glowed. 

He grabbed her wrist and removed her hand from his face, "You were the one who told me to back off in the first place, remember?" The memory left a bitter taste in his mouth; his gaze contorted into a glare, but Aerith's remained gentle.

She stifled a giggle, "Aw, don't be petty. I told you not to fall in love with me, silly, not that you couldn't be within 15 feet of me. You've been acting like I have rabies or something."

"I'm not petty," Cloud grumbled, "and I'm clearly within 15 feet of you."

Aerith leaned in closer, so close Cloud could feel the warmth of her breath against his ear. Chills prowled down his spine; if he so much as turned his head, he might accidentally brush his lips against hers. "But I can tell you want to make a run for it," she teased. 

"I'm not afraid of you," he lied. 

"Oh?"

Before Cloud could speak, her lips pressed against his cheek. Startled, he jolted away. "Wha-what are you doing?" he faltered, embarrassment heating his face. Aerith laughed into her hands, trying hard not to disturb their slumbering friends. "Ugh," Cloud rose, ditching the impish flower girl by the campfire. 

He desperately needed space. "Oh, don't be so grumpy!" Aerith goaded, trailing closely behind. Clearly, she had not gotten the hint. Cloud lay down a short distance from the campsite, resting his hands beneath his head and ignoring Aerith as she continued talking. He gazed up at the night sky, a vast black canvas painted with sparkling stars. 

"Stop ignoring me," she pouted, lying in the grassy area beside him. 

"Stop talking," he sighed, pointing upwards. 

"Wow," she gasped, "there's so many! It's beautiful."

They lay together for quite some time, a comfortable silence between them. Eventually, Cloud noticed a change in Aerith's breathing. He angled his head and realized she'd fallen asleep. A cool breeze lightly tugged at her hair, and her long, dark lashes twitched ever so slightly. Aerith looked porcelain, peaceful, and unearthly beside him. 

He grazed his cheek, recalling the peck she'd left there earlier. Why did she do that? She was always messing with him, making him feel…

What, exactly?

He gazed at her, realizing he couldn't pinpoint it.

Aerith's eyes fluttered open; instantly, they targeted Cloud. Nervously, his eyes darted away. "I thought this was a dream," she said sleepily, shifting onto her side, "and if I looked, you'd be gone…"

"Still here," he answered softly. 

"Mhm," she sighed, snuggling up to his body. 

Now, Cloud wondered if he was dreaming; that same feeling of paralysis overcame his body. His senses told him to roll away from her, to retreat back to camp, but something within him refused. Aerith wasn't Sephiroth. No, this was a different kind of panic. 

Frozen, Cloud peered into the galaxy as Aerith clung to him. She had swiftly fallen back to sleep. Could he even get up without waking her? He didn't want to risk it—it'd be rude, after all. 

…Since when did he care about being rude? 

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Repost with revisions!