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The cold air of the now dark night blew into the small entrance of the cave, the rain pelting down in heavy sheets. You tighten your worn leather jacket around you to shield yourself from the cold, the crackle of the freshly lit fire sounding out in the air.
The party were forced to take shelter inside a small cave as the rain had suddenly hit with full force while on their way to Junon as they were following the hooded men in black robes. Cloud and Barret began gathering whatever they could to get a fire going for the night, while Tifa and Aerith rolled out the sleeping bags on the rocky surface, hoping to at least find a comfortable spot, and Red XIII used the flame at the end of his tail to light the fire.
Sitting down on the rocky ground, you let out a deep sigh as you looked at your left foot. Your ankle had swollen up pretty fast after the incident earlier today, which involved you tripping over a small tree root stuck in the ground and landing awkwardly on your left foot. Aerith was adamant about healing you, but you brushed her off, boldly stating you could handle it, which was a lie.
As the rain and wind intensified, you pulled out a cigarette out of the pocket on your jacket, putting a hand over the lighter as you lit it. After taking a drag, you looked out into the dark, rainy night, your thoughts on the events that had transpired over the last few days. Joining Avalanche after Barret saved you from being arrested by Shinra, tagging along with the group for the Mako Reactor 5 bombing, then both you and Tifa dressing up to audition as Corneo’s bride to interrogate him, which led to her meeting Aerith when she snuck in with a cross-dressing Cloud. You couldn’t help but grin over how he looked all dressed up with makeup on. What a sight that was.
This led to the Sector 7 plate being dropped on top of the Sector 7 Slums, Aerith being captured by Shinra, and ultimately infiltrating Shinra HQ to rescue her before making a hasty escape.
“Smoking isn’t good for you, y’know?” Aerith’s sweet voice broke through the rhythmic patter of rain against the cave's entrance. You turned your head slightly, exhaling a puff of smoke into the cold, damp air as her footsteps approached. Her tone was lighthearted, but the gentle concern beneath it was unmistakable.
“You’re starting to sound like my mom,” you replied with a smirk, though the ache in your ankle made the humor feel a little forced. Aerith crouched down beside you, her emerald eyes glowing softly in the firelight, filled with a mix of mischief and care.
“Your mom must be a very smart woman, then,” she teased, sitting down close enough that you could feel the faint warmth of her presence despite the chill. She tilted her head toward you, her chestnut braid shifting over her shoulder. “Seriously, though, Y/N. You’ve been pushing yourself way too hard lately. You didn’t even let me take care of your ankle.”
You glanced at her but quickly averted your eyes, taking another drag from your cigarette. “It’s not that bad,” you muttered. “I’ll walk it off by morning.”
Aerith’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, she didn’t say anything. The rain outside seemed to grow louder, filling the silence. Then, with a determined look, she reached out and gently took the cigarette from your fingers, extinguishing it against a nearby rock before you could protest.
“Hey!” you said, half-heartedly indignant.
“Nope, I’m putting my foot down,” she said firmly, though her tone remained playful. She leaned back slightly as she looked at you with a mixture of fondness and exasperation. “Y/N, you’re stubborn, but I'm more stubborn. So you might as well let me help you.”
Before you could argue further, she moved so she was facing you and untied the laces of your boot before gently pulling it off, followed by your sock, which had seen better days. You winced slightly, both from the pain in your swollen ankle and from the embarrassment of Aerith seeing your less-than-presentable foot.
“Aerith, you don’t have to—“ you started, but her expression silenced you. That warm, determined gaze could probably get Cloud to smile, let alone get you to stop arguing.
“Don’t worry,” she said softly, her voice a soothing balm against the storm outside. “I want to.”
Her delicate hands cradled your ankle with surprising tenderness, her touch careful but sure. She inspected the swelling with a furrowed brow. Her fingers felt soft against your skin, a slight shiver running through you. “This isn’t as bad as I thought, but it’s not nothing, either,” she murmured, her tone laced with quiet concern. “You’ve been limping all day, haven’t you?”
You didn’t answer, feeling her fingers lightly trace the edge of the bruise forming just above your ankle bone.
Out of blue, Barret let out a noticeable grumble, “Arrgh! Is Y/N smoking again? That shit stinks in here!”
Aerith giggled softly, her hand still resting lightly on your ankle. “Not anymore,” she called over her shoulder, flashing you a teasing smile. “I took care of it.”
Barret grumbled something else under his breath about bad habits, but the rest of the party seemed to settle back into their routines. Cloud was leaning against the wall, his eyes closed momentarily, Tifa leaned against the wall with a map in her hands, and Red XIII rested near the fire, his tail flickering like a comforting lantern.
“You’re lucky I’m here to look out for you,” Aerith continued, her voice dipping lower as she returned her focus to you. Her hand began to glow faintly with a soft green light, her cure spell easing the ache in your ankle almost immediately. The warmth spread through your foot, chasing away the pain and leaving only the faintest tingle behind.
“You didn’t have to do that,” you said quietly, though you couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. “I would’ve been fine.”
Aerith tilted her head, giving you a look that was equal parts amusing and exasperated. “Y/N, you’re so good at pretending you’re invincible, but you’re not fooling me. It’s okay to let someone take care of you every once in a while.”
The words hit harder than you expected, and for a moment, you just stared at her, the firelight dancing in her emerald eyes. She always seemed to know exactly what to say to make you feel seen—like you weren’t just another cog in the party’s wheel but someone who mattered.
“You’re really something, you know that?” You said finally, a faint smile tugging at your lips.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she replied with a playful grin, though her gaze softened as she studied you. “You matter to me, Y/N. So don’t go breaking yourself trying to carry everything on your own, okay?”
Your cheeks flushed slightly at her words, and you quickly glanced away, pretending to focus on the rain outside. But you couldn’t stop the small smile spreading across your face.
Aerith let out a satisfied hum, clearly pleased with herself, and leaned back before moving to your side. “Now that we’ve got your ankle sorted, maybe you can actually get some rest tonight. Unless you’re planning on starting another bad habit?” She raised an eyebrow, her playful tone back in full force.
“Don’t tempt me,” you shot back with a smirk, though the warmth in your chest had nothing to do with the fire. That smile, those eyes, and the way she spoke to you as if you were the only person in the world—it was dangerous, intoxicating in a way no cigarette could ever compare.
Aerith let out a soft giggle before leaning her head against your shoulder. You stiffened slightly at the closeness but didn’t pull away. Instead, you draped your arm around her like she was meant to be there, fitting perfectly against you like a missing piece of some grand puzzle.
The rain outside continued to pour, but with Aerith sitting beside you with her head resting on your shoulder and her presence as calming as a soft spring breeze, the storm didn’t feel quite as daunting. For the first time in days, you felt yourself beginning to relax, her words still echoing in your mind: You matter to me.
And for tonight, that was enough.