Chapter Text
Aerith cried out as she fell, her limbs flailing, hands reaching for something...someone to come save her.
“Aerith!” Cloud yelled furiously.
Without a second to spare, Cloud leapt from the cracked piece of concrete he stood safely on. Not for a moment did he think about the “what ifs.” They didn’t matter. His own life never crossed his mind as he flew threw the air, reaching, pushing for the girl hurdling towards imminent death. She would not hit the pavement gravity yanked her towards. She wouldn’t. She couldn’t.
She reached out frantically for the spiky blonde’s hands as they reached just as ferociously for hers. He was closing the distance, gaining speed enough that a flicker of hope lit her panicked green orbs. His fingertips were so close, and Aerith felt like everything around her, including herself, was suddenly going in slow motion. The ground was closing in on her, getting larger as she fell faster. She envisioned the place she would hit, felt the pain of impact creeping up on her.
Cloud’s fingertips brushed hers and she reached desperately, giving it everything she had. A loud grunt sounded from Cloud’s lips as he determinedly willed himself faster, closer...
“Cloud!” Aerith shouted, giving one final reach so long that the muscles around her rib cage shot shrill streaks of pain up and down its length.
Cloud’s gloved hand caught hers and he clasped his fingers around hers in an iron lock. Using every muscle wrapped around his arm, he ground his teeth as he yanked her back into his body with everything he had. Her thin body collided into his, jolting them both. Hastily chaining his arm around her, his other followed, wrapping around her like a protective shell and holding the back of her head tight against his chest.
Aerith kept her arms tucked into her body as Cloud’s nearly crushed her, desperately shielding her from the immanent force of impact. She squeezed her eyes shut, readying her healing abilities. Cloud rolled them so that his body would take the brunt of the hit and shut his eyes tight, bracing for collision. His bare arm made contact with the concrete floor and his skin ripped instantaneously. He never cried out in pain as he sustained each injury. They bounced and twirled in the air, Cloud tightened his grip impossibly around Aerith as the force of their spin threatened to rip her from his arms. They landed again, the ground pounding into the arm cradling Aerith’s head against him, and his fingers tensed protectively around her skull. The ground would not touch her, it would not hurt her, he would not lose her.
They tumbled across the ground and Cloud’s bare skin took the hardest hit as it skidded across the sand-paper pavement. Each muscle in his body was taut and on high alert as they crunched beneath every weighted roll across broken rock and dirt. His bones cracked and ached as they slid rapidly across the pavement, coming to a stop painfully slowly. He felt the tiny shards of gravel scraping and stabbing every point of his body. But Aerith was safely encased in the shell of his arms. That was all that mattered.
Almost as fast as they had hit the ground, they were slowing, and then they stopped. Dust and dirt flew up into the air around them, making the air hazy as it entered their lungs. Cloud let out a huff and groaned in pain as he buried his head in Aerith’s mussed hair. Her heart was pattering hard in his ear, he could feel each pump vibrate through her body and into his. She coughed once as the debris from their impact began to settle.
“Cloud?” Came her soft voice, wavering through her lips and breathy from her overworked lungs.
Cloud grunted again, the searing pain of their fall coursing through every inch of his body. He pushed himself up, shaking heavily as his tired and wounded arms struggled to hold his weight. With a small cry, he fell back into the girl he had managed to save from harm. She let out a small “oomph” at his weight pushing suddenly into her chest.
“Are you ok?” Cloud rasped as his breathing began to slow.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. You saved me!” Aerith cried, enthusiastically wrapping her arms around him.
Cloud winced, another moan of pain falling from his lips, and Aerith loosened her grip. Peaking down at him, it was impossible to miss the blood trailing from various injuries across his bare skin. Unable to let another moment of his pain pass, Aerith shut her eyes and concentrated until a green glow engulfed the agonized blonde on top of her. She felt an ounce of his pain and bit her tongue to keep from screaming. It was unbearable. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye and she tightened her arms around him just the slightest. Cloud sighed into her ear, calming from the singeing lacerations shredded across his skin.
“Feel better?” Aerith breathed.
“Yes actually.” He paused a moment, thinking over his next sentence far too long for it to be so short, “Thank you.”
The green glow dissipated and Cloud was all healed aside from some small cuts and scratches left over from the bigger wounds. The pain had eased dramatically. It was almost like a bad dream now. His stoic face was all serenity as he pulled back to get a good look at her. Her face lit up, mouth lifting in a tender smile.
“Thanks for catching me.” Her fingers reached up and cupped his cheek with all the gentleness of her heart.
“Wasn’t really an option.” Cloud said in his typical level tone.
Aerith didn’t mind, she was too busy looking into the greenish blue of his icy eyes, where the details of his past life as a SOLDIER left permanent stains. Though he wore a cold exterior, she knew his heart was warm. And in his case, actions definitely spoke louder than words. Her thumb carefully glided across his skin in a back and forth motion. Aerith was delighted at its smoothness. Cloud leaned into her hand just slightly, and she would’ve sworn it was an accident until his head dropped down and his forehead rested gently against hers. Their noses aligned as Aerith’s fingers sunk into the blonde locks in a constant state of disarray. Cloud shivered behind closed eyes as her fingertips raked softly along his scalp.
“I’m glad you’re ok.” She breathed, reveling in the softness of his hair.
“Of course I am.” She noted the slight tremble in his voice.
Cloud’s chin angled downward as his lips inched closer to hers. Aerith’s eyes fluttered, becoming heavy-lidded as he inched closer. Nearly brushing her lips with his, he shot his eyes open and grimaced as pushed off the ground with his sore arms. Aerith’s green gems faltered only for a second before she took his outstretched hand and let him pull her upright.
The complicated blonde helped her stand up as brushed some dirt from her arm while she dusted her pink maxi dress off. He tilted his head side to side and stretched, his face scrunching at the twinge his beaten muscles gave in response. He groaned softly as he stepped back from Aerith and looked her over once. She was all there, just how she should be, no gaping wounds or broken bones, only sweetness and beauty.
“Good to go!” Aerith chimed, a pretty smile gracing her lips.
Cloud nodded at her and turned his attention back to the mission at hand. Ridding them of Sephiroth. He took a few steps forward, boots crunching against the gravel beneath his rubber soles; and then his hand was grabbed from behind. He stumbled as the girl yanked him to a stop and turned his mako-stained eyes back to her.
Holding his arm as if it were a precious jewel, one hand at his upper arm and the other around his wrist, she scooted in close to his side. Cloud’s eyes widened at her proximity and he tried to pull away only to be reminded of her grip on his arm. Aerith paid no mind to his distress and continued on. Her eyes locked on his and he stilled, unable to tear his gaze away as he studied the endless emerald of her irises.
Popping up onto her tip-toes, she pressed her lips against his smooth cheek. Cloud sucked in a breath, his eyes expanding into enormous rings as he stiffened. Her lips were soft and warm as they pursed against his skin. And then they were gone as fast as they were there, leaving the place of her peck burning. The burning spread, igniting his cheeks into a light red hue.
Cloud turned, finally becoming responsive to Aerith’s musical giggle jingling in his ears. Her smile reached up to her eyes, crinkling their edges, as she stared at his face. His blue-green irises softened as her infectious smile penetrated his guarded surface.
“Just a small portion of my debt to you repaid.” She winked.
Cloud looked over her features and a hint of a smile pulled at a singular corner of his lips. She was here. She was safe. After the panic of watching her fall away from him; after watching her life hang in the balance for those agonizing seconds of time that he would never erase from memory…he couldn’t bring himself to get annoyed with her. Her teasing brought him to life every day. She challenged him in ways no one else had. He needed her smiles, her voice, her touch, because they had become highlights to his day…and he was dependent on them. And here she stood before him in perfect condition. He watched her smile pull back over her straight teeth, her leafy eyes sparkle in pure happiness, and the way she swayed slightly, becoming a beacon of light, of hope, of joy for all to bask in if they pleased.
As his mind preoccupied itself with her image, his body acted on instinct. His fingers itched as they awakened to her hold on his wrist, slowly sliding down to his palm. Her slender fingers held tight to his gloved hand, nestled gently around the black material. Cloud’s fingers twitched as they shared silent gazes of admiration, and he shifted his hand, winding his fingers through hers. He felt the warmth of her radiate through his glove and settle in his chest as her smile brightened tenfold.
Aerith gave his hand a squeeze as she laced her fingers with his, feeling each ridge of his knuckles as they slid in between her delicate digits. A tiny smirk tugged at Cloud’s lips and flutters burst in her stomach. Small tingles of excitement scattered among her body as he pulled her along beside him, keeping his hand entwined with hers all the way.
Aerith felt like she might explode from happiness as she glanced up at Cloud’s stern profile. Daydreams filled her head despite their grim surroundings wrought with unknowns. The sky was cast with hues of pinks, greens, and purples against a deathly black background. It was an aurora borealis of omens. Objects defied gravity, floating in mid-air as if they were in space, yet—their feet stayed firmly flattened against the ground. No one among their party was sure where they were, or if time was even an aspect of this unfamiliar atmosphere. She knew she should be terrified, especially after the hallowed tones of the whispers’ prophecies. But here, right here, with Cloud at her side, his hand in hers—nothing could take the exhilaration of him from her heart.
“Hello Cloud.” Sephiroth’s devilishly low voice sounded.
Cloud halted and immediately hardened the arm Aerith was attached to, stopping her where she stood. Her green orbs landed on Sephiroth’s towering build and she glared at the smirk that appeared across his face. Slowly, he reached for his razor blade of a sword and held it firm and steady in front of him. The elongated sword gleamed against the strange firings going off above head. The silver blade was thin as paper and pointed at them like a deadly shard of ice ready to plunge deep into their hearts.
All the softness in Cloud’s eyes disappeared, replaced with rage, hatred, vengeance…
With his free hand, he grabbed his sword, and with the one she held, he guided her behind him. Aerith watched him carefully as she called her staff to hand and braced for impact once more. This time, by the man creating chaos for all of them, for the world they lived in.
“Ahhhh!” They heard a loud, gravely voice scream from overhead and they watched as Barret came crashing down in front of them.
The rest came after, landing in front of them protectively just the same. Tifa and Red XIIV stood in battle stance at either side of Barret, weapons raised and prepared for attack.
Aerith smiled again, seeing all her friends fighting for her, for themselves, for the planet. Something strengthened her. Maybe it was the support around her, maybe it was the blonde man looking powerful as he held his tall weapon in front of him…whatever it was, she was able to hold onto her optimism, knowing that fate would not be deciding for them again.