ancientflower | 04

[He really, really hoped he did not have to do this again. Especially after he confessed one of his own biggest insecurities to Aerith. And now....Tifa was gone. Again.

But no. Aerith has to know.]

Hey. You around? We need to talk.

Oh no. Are you breaking up with me?

[Cloud can't see it of course, but Aerith is laughing. That's the line people usually say when they're breaking up with someone, right?

[....He is confused at first and.....oh, wait. She's teasing him. At first, he wants to think of some humorous comeback but then remembers why he called sent her a message in the first place. Might not be so appropriate considering.

....No, he'll go straight to the point.]

It's Tifa. She's disappeared again.

I'm sorry.

[Aerith had been laughing. But now she just stared sadly at her phone and the reply that Cloud had sent to her.

Again... She'd had a feeling.]

I'd wondered. I guess she came back so we could wish her a happy birthday.

Maybe. [She was probably trying to find humour in the situation but it was a nice thought.]

You need me to come over?

[She'd pulled her legs up to her chest and found herself leaning heavily against the back of the sofa. She was home alone today. So she thought about Clouds request... and had a better idea.]

Would you come walk with me in the gardens?

I promise I won't make you pick flowers.

Sure. [He's not willing to admit it yet but if she wanted him to pick flowers, he wouldn't mind that much. And it might be some distraction.]

I'll meet you there.

[After sending the text, Aerith unfolded herself from the couch and reached for her boots. Then her jacket. Then she left the house and made her slow way to the botanical gardens.

All the while wondering... Just where had Tifa gone?]

[It doesn't take him too long to get there. A part of him doesn't want to go but Aerith needs him, right? She's upset too. He'll be fine, right?

He makes his way there and leans against a tree while waiting for her, nothing on his face gives away his own worries and fears.

Tifa.....she's still alive, right? Aerith said she would know if she wasn't.....And Pyra.....thinks that people go back home anyway. In a sense. Although not everyone here seems to share that sentiment.]

[As she approached she caught sight of Cloud and lifted her hand in a little wave. Her smile was a bit of a sad one even though she was happy to see him.]

Thanks for coming. Lets go inside.

[She reached for his hand, taking it in hers she lead him inside and paid the free. Aerith glanced up at him.]

How're you doing, Cloud?

[In his head, Cloud was in the middle of preparing something to say, some words to make Aerith feel better. And he was still doing so when he waved back and followed her inside.

And then they all disappeared when Aerith asked him. Did his guard slip. Quickly, without thinking, he says.] Fine. [Wait, he might have said that too quickly.]

[She blinked. Then gave that same sad little smile before she looked away from Cloud and ahead to the path they were on.]

I don't know how you do it. I wish I was as strong as you...

I'm not fine. Tifa came back and then went again. It's... cruel.

Huh? [She wishes she was as strong as him? Does.....she really think that?

But.....she's wrong. Sure, Aerith feels sad and cries but she always finds a way to keep moving forward, even in terrible situations. Finds some reason to hope.

Cloud could just let her believe that, that he can handle that sort of thing. But......after what happened not long ago, her seeing that memory of his, after he made that confession, now that he thinks about it, it.....doesn't.....feel right.]

I.....don't think that's true at all. [His voice hesitant as his eyes turn to the floor, his mask slipping.]

Silly Cloud, you're so much stronger than you think you are.

[She moved to the side to hook her arms around one of Clouds and pressed her cheek against his bicep]

[Stronger than he thinks?

He'd like to believe her. But....something feels off. As if.....some of the things he thought about himself might not be true. But hang on. He's supposed to be comforting her.....he thinks, anyway. After all, she is definitely stronger than she believes.

He feels her arm around his, and her cheek pressed there too. He feels he should say something.]

You.....you gotta cut yourself some slack. Like I said before, you're no quitter.

No, I'm not. How could I be? You're still here. We can keep fighting on!

[Still... with Tifa gone, she was sad. She'd been snatched away a second time and Aerith just didn't understand why.

Sephiroth seemed to think that something shady was going on and, more and more lately, Aerith was beginning to believe him.]

Hey, Cloud? What do you think happens...? Do you think Tifa has returned home?

[That question makes Cloud pause, unease plastered over his face as he tries to think of the best answer to give. A reassuring but honest answer, which wouldn't be lying to Aerith but wouldn't make her worry either.

.....But he doesn't have one. Because he has no idea what has happened to Tifa, only theories from different people, which may or may not be true. But not knowing makes it even more frustrating.]

I.....don't know.

I don't think anyone does.

Hmm... I've heard different things. I hope she's returned home again.

[And she wasn't captured and being experimented on like Sephiroth seemed to believe. It bothered her to think about. But when Tifa came back she hadn't said anything about it... So she wondered.

If they had the power to bring people from other worlds, surely they would have the power to wipe minds?

It was a scary thought.

Aerith's arms tightened a bit around Clouds arm and she closed her eyes for just a moment.]

I hope we get to see her again.

[Different things? So she might have heard about Verstael's ideas. Or something else. And what scares him is.....what if what Verstael says really is true? What if they really are being experimented on? What if it happens to him? Or.....the others? What if it happens to Aerith? Right under his watch, too? That thought worries him - no, terrifies him.

He hopes to see Tifa again. He wants it, more than anything. To see her safe and well. And yet he can't lie to Aerith. So, he'll tighten his grip on her too, but not enough to hurt her.]

We'll do what we can. There's a lot of shit we don't know yet. But there are a lot of us trying to find out.

04 - Inbox

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