A Divine Story

– 𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑫𝑨𝑹𝑲𝑵𝑬𝑺𝑺. || @pulchralilium asked:

"I wish you could come with me" to Cloud

Cloud felt lost. He never knew how to say the right thing, always floundering until he fell mute. It was nothing new, but it was frustrating nonetheless. Aerith's words caused the same reaction. For a long time, he just looked at her, his hand clenching and unclenching at his side.

"Why can't I?" he finally questioned, barely stopping himself from reaching for her. She felt so far away, even though she was standing right in front of him. Their surroundings were oddly blurry, but Cloud paid no attention to it. To him, it was nothing new. The world often warped, making him question his reality. He kept that truth close to his chest, not wanting to admit that something was severely wrong with his mind.

"If I can't come with you, then stay. You don't have to go." Why did he feel so desperate? It wasn't that bad, right? Where did Aerith even need to go – for some reason Cloud couldn't remember.

His response caught her off guard, the certainty in his voice shaking something she'd thought was settled long ago. Aerith swallowed hard, grateful she'd turned away before he could see it. A sad smile touched her lips as her hands fell to her sides. "Stay?" she echoed softly, the word felt foreign and heavy in her chest. "I've never thought about staying," she admitted, almost to herself. The possibility felt strange the moment she spoke it aloud, like stepping onto unfamiliar ground. "I don't know what happens if I stay, Cloud."

And that was the truth of it. The future he was asking her to reach for was one she'd never let herself imagine. It was unwritten, uncertain, frightening in ways fate never was. "I don't know if they'll let me." Cryptic, blurred lines she wasn't sure they could cross. The thought of staying however, gave a flutter in her chest.

' Look - it's just that . . . ' He starts , one hand reaching for her own, thick gloved fingertips encasing hers. ' I -- I like you too. But if something happened to you , I don't know what I would do , Aerith. ' He squeezes her hand a bit , and sighs deeply. ' I've always just . . . been in the military. I've never . . . done this. Dated , or . . . whatever this is. And . . . it's not like it's out of the realm of possibility that something could happen to one of us. ' He feels a sting of pain , and his mind flashes to Sephiroth , but he forces himself to push it aside. '

Viridian orbs pop back to his face as his hand wraps around her. "Cloud, it's o" Her voice falters when he echos the same sentiment. Blinking up at him again with a surprised expression written on her face. There is a pang in her heart when he confides in her why he's hesitant— a thread of guilt wrapping around her heart. The future...What did it hold for them? Before she might of known, that sense of foreboding but now...the path she thought to follow felt different, altered and unsure.

"Cloud" Her voice is soft, twisting her hand until her fingers can intertwine with his. Aerith took a breath, the weight of his words settling heavy on her shoulders. She knew he had a point, that in this moment...Cloud was the rational thinking one. Her gaze fell for a brief moment before lifting to his, "I don't want to live with regrets" Aerith is surprised how softly the words leave her, how honest and raw they felt in her throat. "I don't know what tomorrow brings, I don't know if we both make it out of this—" She stumbles, the words catching in her throat.

He lets his grip on her ease , and mako eyes spent several moments looking at her , trying to understand.

"Oh" Aerith takes several seconds to simply blink at Cloud, the smile slipping from her features. "You don't want people to see us?" Her brows knit together, it dawning on her that perhaps this, hadn't been as straightforward as she had originally thought. Her shoulders dropped slightly as his hands slip away from her, the rejection stinging. Maybe Cloud didn't like her.

Her gaze dropped to the toes of her boots, the shift in the air almost tangible. Aerith moved, plopping back down onto the seat with a little shrug of her shoulders. "Well—," She hadn't meant to echo his words, but it happened naturally. "Because I like you, Cloud" Her gaze turned, her body following to look out the window and hiding her expression from him completely. The last thing Cloud needed was to be guilted by the look on her face.

Cloud finds himself easing a bit more in her proximity , and his eyes close only for a moment as she brushed delicately against him. Their whole journey was filled with so much misery and pain . . . maybe he could allow himself to relax for just this moment . . .

Aerith felt her cheeks burn, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip as the words bubbled up in her throat. "Like...the beach or on a date or....—" A tiny shrug of her shoulders, "Other places when we're alone" Her heart was thrumming steadily in her chest, wondering how Cloud would respond. She was always a little more bold, but right now it felt like figuring out how to find their new footing together.

Her mouth curved into a smile, a little breathless chuckle as she exhaled. Aerith pitched forward into his chest, steadied by his hands around her waist. "Oh" She mumbled, her head tilting the opposite way of his. "...I don't think so" She mumbled, "Don't you want to kiss me whenever?" She teased softly, leaning back to catch his gaze.

He feels her fingertips curl against him , and he can't help but look down at them. They're so close. Why did it make him feel so nervous ? He curses himself for not knowing what to do next. But thankfully Aerith acts first , and for a second he freezes -- then eases himself into it. He dares to let a hand brush gently against her hip , a deep blush forming against his pale features.

"Mm, is that so?" She chimed back, her cheeks warm as his hand brushed at her hip. Her gaze flickered briefly to his lips before returning to his eyes, mischief sparkling. "Then I guess we'll have to find somewhere besides a Ferris wheel" Although it had been perfect evening, she'd never experienced something like this...And to have Cloud next to her through it, Aerith thought her heart might burst from how full it felt.

Shirt Cut Aerith!

In fact, year long hibernations (repeatedly!) on top of his hours long power naps should be a future discussion.

"Lessee. You in a bubbly mood, there's a certain rush to make, for all we know maybe Cid is moments away of blowing our hair back with all his screaming one day. So, what's a quick flight getaway from one of the windows?" Sora adds in, an impish wink following suit.

There's a thoughtful pause as he felt the ticklish nestle of auburn hair settling against his chest, allowing her clearance to feel the abundant Heart that drums with it's own content beat. It ushers something protective within him, a desire to let her see many more of the glories of the Worlds after all she's done to brighten the damage done. His fingers drew into a more braced hold upon her scarlet coat, the adjacent arm ensuring her legs would never fall into a case of flailing.

Why not make good use of this warmth she shares? Seeing the sunlight bounce upon her being only added to that radiance.

"I know you're strong, Aerith. Never forgot that. Just don't forget I'd like to look out a little bit for you too.

Allowing his strength to serve as a guidance to his imagined eye, it led Sora to swimming descent within the skies, flowing through his namesake flawlessly as his jubilant mood only sharpened his movements. They'd soon fly directly above one of the nearby meadows, a crystal lake silently protected by a groove of trees. Another view they'd crest a circle around is one of the mountains caked with stardust, revealing mysterious caves and a touch of mountain goats seamlessly bouncing from perch to perch.

Another stunning view would be the arrival of Radiant Garden, it hosts waters so unnaturally clear that it reflects the very skies itself, offering an ethereal glow as the once battered town doubled down on regaining it's more pristine nature. Many of it's buildings are now higher, durable, feebly attempting to rival the castle that made a proud, piercing tower aim towards hints of a hidden moon above.

"Oh, so that's your plan?" Aerith laughed softly, tipping her head back just enough to look up at him. The sparkle in her eyes betrayed how much she was enjoying this. Nestled comfortably against him, she could feel the steady rhythm of his heart beneath her cheek. Her fingers curled lightly against his shirt.

"Mm. I don't know. Cid yelling sounds pretty scary. Maybe a quick escape is the smart option." She let out a thoughtful hum as the world stretched beneath them. Aerith drank it all in, her smile softening. "It's beautiful...really, it is."

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before turning back toward Radiant Garden, the city gleaming below them like a jewel reborn. "You know," she began thoughtfully, "I think sometimes people forget that looking after someone isn't the same thing as thinking they're weak.I like taking care of people too. It's kind of what I do." Her smile turned playful again. "But... I don't mind letting someone return the favor every once in a while."

She pointed dramatically toward the clouds ahead.

Holy ⚪️✨

"Well, now I'm going to deny it," she quipped, her lips puckering in feigned defiance against his teasing. The act quickly unraveled, though, a smile tugging at her mouth as he shared a bit of honesty himself. Aerith looked back at him, mischief flickering in her eyes. She could have stolen a kiss then and there but where was the fun in that?

Especially when it felt so...important that it wasn't stolen, but rather an act given between them? "Hmm. I guess we'll just have to figure out the perfect moment for it then" Aerith could feel the flutter in her chest from those words, the anticipation settling in her bones.

Life was so different for both of them now, the future. . .it held a promise in it she wasn't entirely sure how to dream of. Her gaze had unfocused slightly, snapping back to his bright sky colored gaze the moment his fingers touched her face.