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Cloud plucks out a long yellow feather from his hair where he had felt it poking out from for a while now. One last remnant of their afternoon catching chocobos. He examines it closely, curious at its vibrant color and delicate texture. He could see the resemblance to his hair… sort of, maybe something about its bright color, even so… the girls had surely been exaggerating over him being similar to the bird, he muses.
As he twirls the feather between his fingers, a sudden gust of wind whisks it away from his grasp.
His eyes follow its swirling trajectory as it disappears into the vast expanse of golden barley stalks, a tiny glimmer of color in the sea of gold, until his attention is diverted by swift light-padded footsteps behind him.
“Cute.” Aerith’s cheerful voice chirps in a playful lilt as she approaches him quietly. Hands clasped behind her back, she peers over Cloud's shoulder with a grin.
“You said that before.” Cloud says, turning to face her. He crosses his arms to his chest and shifts on his feet, a mannerism he does out of habit. His posture tends to stiffen whenever she’s close. He becomes a little more Soldier and a little less small town boy who’s used to the valley’s hug and quiet solitude.
It’s not because he’s uncomfortable around her, but because he’s too self-aware. The constant need to look reliable, the constant wariness of being rejected over his closed nature again, perhaps. It had clung onto him unwillingly… leaving him always on guard. And it gets especially worse when she's nearby. She sparks up his every nerve and the lingering feeling is an addictive mix of excitement and vulnerability he doesn’t quite know how to handle yet.
Cloud takes a moment to compose himself, perfectly aware that no matter how hard he tries to look indifferent, his walls can waver right under her gaze any second.
“I know.” She says. “But last time I meant the chocobo.” She chuckles, the sound is melodic and infectious, bringing a pleasant lightness to his thoughts despite his internal turmoil.
“And now?” He asks, his voice clear as he navigates through the sudden spike of enthusiasm coursing through his veins.
“Now I mean you.” She smiles, tilting her head to the side, proud gleam in her eyes, cheeks the soft color of blushing petals. Cloud feels his heart skip a beat, a warmth spreading from his chest to the tips of his fingers.
“Oh…” he breathes out, rather taken aback by her declaration. He stares at her through wide eyes that reflect something close to surprise and elation. “Do you?” Is what comes out of his mouth.
He curses himself inwardly for it.
For not being able to articulate enough words to express emotions.
She giggles and pats him in the shoulder. “You’re quite something, Cloud.”
And she starts walking, slowly glancing back at him, prompting him to follow her.
How can he not?
They walk side by side, silently first, with a slow paced flow in their steps. The landscape around them pulsing with life - shaking leaves, swaying branches, the distant whisper of busy wildlife.
Tendrils of barley brush against her skirt and he watches as she glides her fingers softly through their golden plumes while the sun glistens off the water of a nearby stream, casting shimmering reflections onto her skin and hair.
The image is ethereal, like a scene out of a dream.
The outside suits her, with its raw beauty and unpredictable grace. Every step she takes appears effortless, as if she's in perfect harmony with the natural life around her. A free spirit shining bright and untamed like the untrodden paths they tread.
She draws closer, shoulder to shoulder to him until she nudges him with hers.
“I wanted to thank you.” She starts. “For helping me catch a chocobo.” A stray beam of sunlight catches in her hair, illuminating her bangs into a radiant halo that frames her face, he notices, it accentuates the freckles dusting her cheeks. “I never thought I’d see one up close, let alone ride it!”
“Well…” he says, quietly, looking away, he has probably been staring at her too long. “…anytime.”
“Say, what shall we name mine?” She asks, he feels her shift beside him, leaning forward so he meets her gaze again. The gentle breeze rustles her skirt as they come to a pause.
“I… I really don’t know.” He says over a shrug. “Maybe based on something you like.”
“Let’s see…” she hums. “I like flowers!”
“There you go.” He says, and he can feel the muscles on his face easing up into a soft expression at her tiny bounce of enthusiasm.
“But I also like something adventurous and fierce,” she adds, her eyes gleaming in effervescent tenacity, she even lifts a fist up in the air for emphasis. “Like loud music and you know, jumping over rooftops, breaking a few rules. Oh! Did you know I once stole a street sign just for fun?" She chuckles mischievously, her eyes shining with a glimmer of secrets and wild experiences.
“A… street sign?”
She nods enthusiastically. “Up the plate! I waited until night so the street would be empty.” She says. “Clever, right?”
There’s an urge to laugh along her innocent display of rebellion, but his lips curl into a fond smile instead. “That’s right…”
“Perhaps I should examine my chocobo some more, get to know her a little bit better before I come up with a name.” She scratches her chin with a finger, eyebrows frowning in thought. She hums again. “Chocobos can be difficult to reach but I’ve noticed how sweet and gentle they become once you’ve gained their trust.” She continues.
“Plus, they look intimidating on the outside, rather cold even, but in truth they’re just kind-hearted and soft on the inside, would do anything to protect me though they most likely wouldn’t show it.” She says.
“Yeah…” he nods, but comes to realize that those are a lot of qualities, too deep and meaningful to attribute to a big clueless bird. “Are we still talking about the chocobo?” He asks, slightly confused. It’s times like these he wishes he’d be more… forward. Fast in thought, faster in coming up with a clever response.
“Who else would I be talking about?” She says, but her eyes sparkle mischievously, a wide smile spreading on her lips.
He stares at her wordlessly and she stares back expectantly, for a good long moment.
“Maybe I should call her Cloud.” She says then.
He freezes, chest clenching and mind clogging.
“Cloud?” He repeats.
“Something I like, right?” She says winking, and with that she leans in, closing the gap between them slightly. All he sees is the emerald of her eyes, the faint freckles on her nose, the way her lashes brush against the soft canvas of her skin.
He clears his throat, swallows thickly.
Has she just told him…?
Again, fast thoughts, clever responses that never cross his mind. “That’s… that’s a good name.” He says, unable to move an inch from where he stands, unable to tear his gaze away from hers.
She finally pulls back, straightening up and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her smile widens. It’s as distracting as it is mesmerizing to look at her.
“See? Cute.” She says.
And a thought does indeed come across. Maybe he could risk complimenting her back, saying something nice and spirited.
He opens his mouth to reply, but a suspicious movement catches his eyes behind her shoulders, a few feet away from them.
Something glints under the sunlight, dark and shiny and big. It lurks from the foliage close by, with several crab-like legs and huge tongs that ram onto the ground, shackling the earth beneath its weight. Instantly, Cloud’s focus shifts from her to the terrifying creature scuttling towards them.
Alarm runs him whole. No time to think about anything else other than her safety.
He reaches for her with a hand that rests on the small of her back and pulls her to his chest just in time before one of the monster’s tongs could latch onto her, shell plier-like arm cutting through the air, whistling as it narrowly misses her.
Adrenaline and a rush of mako diffuses in his blood system as he twirls on his feet with Aerith cradled close against his chest. He holds her small body as gently as he can while his other hand reaches for the hilt of his sword.
Heart to heart they move, and he feels hers drumming a little faster than his usually steeled grit. Their eyes meet briefly as they both share a silent understanding. Determination flashes in her green eyes, reflecting his unwavering resolve.
She clutches the back of his shirt in their emergency embrace as he leaps a few steps back, sword hoisted up high covering her body.
The monster hisses, its beady eyes fixated on them, a hunger burning within its grotesque form.
Cloud narrows his glowing blue eyes and takes a deep breath, tightening the grip on his sword as he gets them to a safe enough distance.
They break apart, she readies her staff and he stances his legs, feet bearing onto the ground, preparing for impact.
It doesn’t last long, the fight. Not with Aerith’s magic damage. He keeps close to her, sheltering her from any potential harm while delivering swift and precise strikes against the creature.
“To your left!” She calls out.
“On it.” He reassures.
A most unusual team, - ex-Soldier turned bodyguard and Cetra florist - one wouldn’t think it would work though he’s always heard about opposites attracting. Truth is they’re a great team nonetheless.
Cloud finishes the battle with one final, powerful swing of his sword, cleaving through the creature with a satisfying crunch.
And it’s over.
Bolting his sword to its place on his back, he watches attentively as she dusts away her skirt - unhurt, intact, safe.
He breathes out a sigh of relief.
“Half a million gil secured.” She sings and he can’t help himself but to exhale something close to a chuckle, finally letting go of the clench around his chest. The weight of the mission, the looming danger, that certain nervousness of being around her, all evaporating into thin air.
“Oh… what’s so funny?” She asks, a wide smile on her lips.
“Nothing…” he shakes his head. “Just…” he thinks on it for a second. “…you keep surprising me.”
“Glad to hear that.” She replies, her eyes gleam with the brightness of a thousand stars. "Keeps things interesting, don't you think?”
“Definitely.” He agrees, there really isn’t a dull moment. “But we should probably go. Hadn’t realized these fields were crawling with monsters.”
“Not so fast, mister.” She says, small hand lifting to grab him, her voice breathy. Her eyes search his arm thoroughly, fingertips brushing muscle and skin. “You’re hurt.”
“Huh?” He looks down, his arm feels warm and sticky and there’s a pressuring pain near his elbow. He notices blood seeping through the tear in his right bicep, a stark contrast against the vibrant hues of the wildflowers. He hadn’t really felt it in the heat of battle. More important things to think about than the pain of it.
He looks back up meeting her worried gaze. Bright eyes darkening as she stares down at his wound.
“I’ll just bandage it.” He shakes his head, resting his free hand over hers where it still clung to his injury. "It's nothing," he murmurs, attempting to comfort her.
“It’s not nothing.” She replies, her expression had turned suddenly stoic, her lips pressed into a firm line. “This will only take a second.”
And with that, a green light emanates from her palm, encompassing both his hand and the wound. It seals the open flesh, taking the prickling ache away and leaving behind a smudge of dry blood she cleans with a small end of the hem of her skirt.
“I’ll wash it later.” She whispers, dropping the fabric of her dress and running her thumb lightly over the newly healed skin. “Better?”
“Thank you.” He whispers with a grateful nod.
She shakes her head. “It’s what I do.” She pauses for a moment, her gaze distant as she breathes out a long sigh. “It has been busy since we left Midgar, huh?”
“You mean the city life wasn’t hectic?” His voice is soft.
“You’d be surprised.” She smiles. “In between evading Turks and selling flowers, it could get pretty boring.”
A blond eyebrow lifts, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “I guess traveling to different places and catching chocobos was a shocking change of pace, then.”
“Not shocking… more like exhilarating.”
It dawns on him that a whole wide world had opened up for someone who had lived a good part of her childhood in captivity, stranded inside Shinra’s walls, alone and isolated.
A pang of sympathy resonates within him as he realizes how much she had missed out on…
same as him when he—
A bright light flashes in his vision, followed by a sharp headache that causes his body to jerk instinctively. He clutches his head, trying to alleviate the pain, but it only intensifies.
“Hey!” Aerith’s voice echoes in the distance. “Are you okay? Cloud?”
He blinks away the brightness, slowly focusing his eyes on her silhouette as it became clearer and clearer until he could see her warm, concerned expression. He rubs his temples, trying to ease the ache in his head, and nods weakly.
She had dropped down to the floor in front of him and he realizes he had kneeled down without even knowing it. He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself as the pain starts to recede gradually.
Her hands supported his shoulders as she helped him sit upright. "What just happened? Are you in pain?”
“I’m fine.” He says. “Just… remembered something…” dark room, cage bars, the fluorescent green of a mako confinement. “…not really sure what…” there’s a burn in his chest as he speaks, the words catch in his throat. His mind feels foggy, memories playing hide and seek beyond his reach.
“Well, whatever it was, it must have been unpleasant.” She says, the worry in her gaze clearly visible. She gently brushes a lock of hair away from his eyes and states, “we should go back to the farm, it’s been a long day.”
She tries to help him up but an impulse has him reaching for her wrist, holding her into a stop. Her hand feels solid and warm, as real as his. He has been on edge ever since that night she wasn’t. “Wait… please.” He says, urgency in his voice. As much as he agrees with her, he’s not yet ready to return. To be around people.
“Ten more minutes.” He asks. Ten more minutes alone with her, with her soothing presence, with her balming touch. “And then we’ll go.”
She stares wide-eyed at him for a moment, but then her lips break into the most warming of her smiles. “Deal.”
Time runs slow in the fields around Kalm. Like it holds its breath, letting every second stretch out into infinity. The feeling is nostalgic, a strained tranquility he hasn’t experienced in a long time.
They sit for a while, far past those ten minutes, watching as the sun slowly sinks below the horizon, casting an explosion of violet hues across the sky and golden fields.
“Hey Cloud…” she calls. “Probably best not to give your name to my chocobo.”
“Why?” He asks, a hint of curiosity lacing his words. He turns to face her, mako blue eyes sparkle in amusement.
There’s a mischievous smile on her lips that matches the cheeky pink blush on her face. “Might get confusing…” she only shrugs.
He remains silent, gaze fixed on her, studying her playful expression. He had taken a certain liking to the idea, he admits to himself.
“What,” she asks. “Disappointed?”
He laughs softly, a shy sound that floats through the calm of dusk. “Maybe.” He leans in closer, bumps her shoulder. Something about spending time with her makes him feel like he's stepping beyond the confines of his usual cautious self, venturing into a world of spontaneity and excitement.
His heart flutters, a quiet quick stutter that catches him off guard.
It’s like jumping rooftops with her or stealing street signs… the thrill is rather scary, unknown, probably a bit reckless, to allow himself to feel like this, he thinks, whatever this is. But at that moment, he realizes that he's willing to take that irresistible risk for her.