𝙵𝙰𝙸𝚁 𝙲𝙴𝚃𝚁𝙰.

it had been shaping up to be another typical shift. stand around, look important, and in most cases end up doing nothing at all. nyx rebelled against that when he could, opting for patrols and interacting with civilians the same as he would off-duty. however before any of that could happen a familiar voice called out to him. oh no. he looks at her, somewhat baffled as she insists that she’ll come to him. “ aerith what are you – “ but his protest was too late as he watched the florist begin to hoist herself over the gate. only to subsequent fall to the other side. nyx could only look on with a wry smile, less surprised than he could’ve been. he walked towards her, extending a hand to help her off the ground, “ you know one of these days you’re going to get yourself hurt ” he chastised. “ and i’ll be the one who gets an earful. ”

shes taken nyx's hand and stands. sticks attach themselves to the lower tier of her dress , sewing into it's delicate white lace. they itch and scratch at her calves as a free hand reaches to pry them free , tossing them to the ground at her feet. laughter accompanies and gaze rises towards the male , shaking her head in false disapproval.     "     𝙳𝙾𝙽'𝚃 𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻 𝙼𝙴 𝚈𝙾𝚄'𝚁𝙴 𝙰𝙵𝚁𝙰𝙸𝙳 𝙾𝙵 𝙼𝚈 𝙼𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁.     "     elbow inches towards his arm , nudging him gently.     "     𝚂𝙷𝙴 𝙸𝚂𝙽'𝚃 𝚃𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝚂𝙲𝙰𝚁𝚈 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙺𝙽𝙾𝚆. 𝙿𝙻𝚄𝚂 , 𝙸'𝙻𝙻 𝙱𝙴 𝙵𝙸𝙽𝙴. 𝙸'𝚅𝙴 𝙲𝙻𝙸𝙼𝙱𝙴𝙳 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙵𝙰𝙻𝙻𝙴𝙽 𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼 𝙷𝙸𝙶𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝙿𝙾𝙸𝙽𝚃𝚂 ...     "     she winks , index finger meeting her lips.     "     ... 𝙱𝚄𝚃 𝚃𝙷𝙰𝚃'𝚂 𝙰 𝚂𝙴𝙲𝚁𝙴𝚃.     "

NOPE !

THOUGH  HIS  VISITS  ARE  FEW  AND  FAR  BETWEEN,  his mind rarely strays from leaf house.   from home.   the painted walls and vibrate flowers greeted him as cheerfully as the gaggle of children when he arrived. his heart nearly cracked at the sight. all he did was for them, for their future. a future that seemed to slip further and further away with every passing day.      he cherishes his time there and fought to switch off his ever present anxiety.   aerith aided in that, her presence a soothing balm as they gathered around the fire at nightfall.  they begged for stories of his time abroad, for gifts  ( which he gladly provided )  and every iota of his attention.  he’s already homesick, looking at the smiling faces around him.  it serves as a reminder, this deep longing, that he had a job to finish. then every night could be as this one was.

  he chuckles against her fingertips as he lowers his voice, reaching up with an ungloved hand to hold on to her wrist. the story was at its crux and his audience was enraptured.      “ –––– – mmm you’re right, an angry miss folia is much scarier than any of the monsters in this story. ”     he tells them, lowering his voice, a smile twisting his lips.  another of his beloved friends, who would likely beat him over the head if she knew he allowed their charges to stay up this late.    several of the littlest had already dozed off where they sat.   “   tell you what, if you go to bed now I’ll have time to tell you the sequel in the morning.  do we have a deal?   ”    the children look less than enthused and look to aerith with pleading eyes, begging her let them stay up for one more story. biggs simply offers her a wink, allowing her to be the bad guy that sends them on their way.

little eyes fall towards aerith for guidance. they give silent pleas , pouted lips with hands clasped together as if in prayer. she's quick to realize where bigg's has lead her , smart enough to pass through it , too. unseen is a grin from behind the child's head that rests in her arms , cradled to her neck. aerith stands , a soft sway to her step.     "     𝚆𝙴𝙻𝙻 , 𝙸 𝚂𝚄𝙿𝙿𝙾𝚂𝙴 𝚆𝙴 𝙷𝙰𝚅𝙴 𝙽𝙾 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝙲𝙷𝙾𝙸𝙲𝙴 ...     "     she pauses for effect , the group follows in         aw's and no's.     "     𝙾𝙾𝙾𝙾𝙾𝚁 !    "     aerith continues. faces come to life , light in their rising smiles.     "     ... 𝙷𝙾𝚆 𝙰𝙱𝙾𝚄𝚃 𝙸 𝙵𝙸𝙽𝙸𝚂𝙷 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈 𝙸𝙽𝚂𝚃𝙴𝙰𝙳 ?     "     arms soar to the sky , fists in the air as they jump up from their seats.     "     𝚆𝙴𝙻𝙻 , 𝚆𝙴𝙻𝙻 , 𝚆𝙴𝙻𝙻 ! 𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙴'𝚂 𝙰 𝙶𝙾𝙾𝙳 𝙰𝚃𝚃𝙸𝚃𝚄𝙳𝙴 !     "     a chuckle passes rose hued lips , emerald eyes meeting that of bigg's darker ones. words are unsaid but she's sure he can make it out ,         i win. steps follow behind her as aerith leads them towards their beds , ensures each child is tucked beneath their sheets with soft kisses upon foreheads when requested. the one in her arms was first , of course. comforter tugged , tucked beneath her smaller form. a few strands of hair are brushed behind the little ones ear ,     "     𝙶𝙾𝙾𝙳𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃.     "     but the story continues , a stool taken as aerith sits. surely , this isn't the ending. it's fabricated , based on what she'd assume would be something worth hearing. the hero wins , purposely envisioned as biggs as she speaks of him. the children's eyes have gotten heavy , hardly gives aerith a chance to say her final words before she's interrupted by snoring. a single candle disfigures the shadows of each sleeping little , snuffed as it goes dark.

THE  VIOLENT  CLAMORING  IN  HER  MIND   quiets at aerith’s kind touch, agony easing to a dull ache, present but easily ignored. she can’t recall how she received any of the wounds the other tended to. ezra’s endless hunt to find respite for herself, for gaia dragging her through alloy ruins and dead earth.  time would often blend together in a hurricane of pain and fear and screaming.      “  why can’t I find them?  ”      there’s defeat in even syllable –– painful even to her ears as she loses herself in those verdant eyes.  as an afterthought she adds    “  not that you aren’t enough…  ”

aerith cares for her as she cares for her flowers. with love and infinite tenderness. she knows her words are truth in the depth of her being, but as the planet began to dim, so did her hope. something terrible was on the horizon, something that instilled dread in her heart and demanded she return to the only other home gaia had to offer. aerith and ifalna had always been the first she’d run to when she had woken in that wicked place. there was part of her that recognized something within them. like calls to like, as they say across the stars.    “  somethings coming.  I don’t know what… and I missed you. ” 

ezra lets herself be lead from the kitchen into the bathroom,  cringing internally as the weight of the plea. she desperately wants to comply, to allow the other to keep her for as long as she can until they’re swept into the storm once more. but she would never make a promise she couldn’t keep.   “  I’ll stay as long as I’m able.  ”   ezra murmurs, sitting atop the lid of the toilet as aerith busies herself with the tub.    “  Is mother angry I left?  “

somethings coming.      hm . . . it would seem she feels it as well.       brows knit together , worry written in lips gone thin. she'll be sure to bring this back up , something they'd discuss tomorrow. the mental note was made , a silent agreement as she nods. yes ,     something was.     it's given a weight in the air , made it harder to breathe. her dreams have been plagued with nightmares , darkness and loss. they're cryptic and hard to decipher.     "     . . . 𝙸 𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙴𝙳 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙼𝙾𝚁𝙴.     "     greenery fills the room , vines overlap along the faucet and she brushes a bit of it's foilage aside as fingertips switch it on. set aside are necessary products to wash away the dirt and grime , towels on the sink as well.

          "     𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙽𝙾 . . .     "     a smiles exchanged , seat taken at the lip of the tub.     "     𝚂𝙷𝙴 𝙸𝚂𝙽'𝚃 𝚄𝙿𝚂𝙴𝚃 . . . 𝙱𝚄𝚃 𝙸 , 𝙾𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝙷𝙰𝙽𝙳 . . .     "     a subtle tease and she reaches behind herself to test the water. it's warm to the touch , a few epsom salts are tossed in as they dissolve.     "     . . . 𝚆𝙰𝚂.     "      but these words are left with more weight. aerith means them , can't make eye contact once they're said. she finds it easier this way , know's a tear will shed with the sheer thought of having to say goodbye once again.