#aervin

This was the ruthless destruction he had caused. All of it, while she had lain there unconscious and helpless. Completely at his mercy. How easy it would have been for him to just…

She immediately pushed the thought away; the weight in her chest was too much to bear. Instead, she forced herself forward, as if halting for even a moment meant having to face it all over again. 

It felt like she had been walking for a long time.

By the time she reached the outskirts of town, the buildings behind her, the air had grown cooler. Her breath drifted in pale clouds. She pulled the hood of her cape over her head, adjusting it for warmth. 

Ahead, she could see the faint silhouette of the train station under construction, its skeletal frame almost entirely swallowed by the fog. She recognized the scene, but the last time she’d been here, it had all been a blur. Her chest tightened at the sight. 

Beyond the station stretched rough terrain, cut through by a steep, winding dirt road that disappeared into the valley below.

That must be the way out of Corel, she thought.

She came to a sudden halt. A very strange feeling overcame her.

At first it was just a faint, subtle sensation, but she couldn’t quite place it. It was an inexplicable ‘pull’; steady and insistent, drawing her attention in a single direction.

No… not just a pull. It was also a sound. But… not really. It wasn’t something she heard with her ears, but something she felt inside. Like a distant song carried through her chest, threading through her thoughts in a way she couldn’t quite understand or put into words.

She turned, trying to discern the source, until she was facing the tallest mountains at the far edge of town.

North, she realized. 

The feeling sharpened then. Something inside her urged her forward. It was quiet, but impossible to ignore. 

Then, she heard another sound. 

Not distant this time, but coming from somewhere nearby. Someone’s voice. Low and indistinct at first, the words blending into a quiet murmur. And most of all, it was familiar. Very familiar.

She listened more carefully, straining her senses to find the source, her sight greatly limited by the mist. The sound drifted toward her, and as it came into focus, she found herself moving toward it without thinking. Until the words reached her clearly: 

“…Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me…”

Through the fog, the outline of a man gradually came into view. 

She stopped in her tracks when she saw him.

A short distance away, the man sat hunched forward. His head bowed, and his hands were clasped together in what looked like prayer. What struck her most was his white hair. 

Davoren.

Aeris didn’t move. She stood rooted to the spot, watching him, trying to reconcile the man in front of her with the one she remembered, almost transfixed by his presence. For a moment, she thought the fog was playing tricks on her. 

No. It was him. 

Just like that, he was there.

Of all places, of all times.

A strange mix of relief and unease washed over her at the sight.

Should she say something? Or was it better to keep walking before he had a chance to see her? She hesitated. But her feet wouldn’t move.

After a moment, his words trailed off. He remained still for a few seconds longer, before finally lifting his head. She held her breath.

His gaze found her immediately, as if he had known all along that she was there.

Upon seeing her, he rose to his feet, his eyes never leaving hers.

“Aeris.”

“Davoren.”

An uncertain, tense silence followed. It stretched just long enough to become uncomfortable.

Then they both spoke at once.

“I heard–”

They stopped, giving way to another awkward pause.

“Sorry,” Davoren said, gesturing slightly. “Go ahead.”

“I heard you might be here,” Aeris said. “I just wasn’t expecting…” She exhaled a breath when she didn’t know how to continue, and managed a small smile. “I’m glad to see you’re okay.”

He gave a nod, his gaze dropping briefly to her bandages.

“Yeah,” he said, and gestured to her injured arm. “I heard what happened. Already ran into Vincent.”

“Oh.”

The silence stretched again.

Then, Davoren tried more deliberately, “How have you been?”

Aeris let out a slow breath and paused before she replied.

“I wish I had an easy answer to that,” she admitted, a faint, uncertain smile touching her lips. 

He nodded once, his face softening in what she read as understanding. “That’s fair.” 

Another awkward pause settled between them. Aeris fidgeted and looked down at her boots, unsure how to reply.

Where would she even begin? What would she even say?

There was a lot she could have said. A lot she had wanted to say, for so long. And yet, for some reason, the words just wouldn't come.

Thankfully, Davoren seemed to have sensed her discomfort, and broke the silence first. 

“Look,” he began, more quietly. “We don’t have to do this.” 

The seriousness in his tone got her attention. She immediately looked up at him and found any trace of humor gone from his expression. 

“You read my letter.”

Aeris nodded once. “I did.”

“I meant every word.”

“I know.”

“Seeing me again… might bring some of it back,” he said. “I don’t expect otherwise.” He exhaled slowly through his nose, before adding, “I’m sorry, Aeris. And if keeping my distance makes things easier for you, I will.” 

A long pause followed. 

Neither of them looked away.

“Thank you for saying that,” Aeris finally said. “I’ll admit, when I heard you might be here… I felt conflicted,” she confessed. “But the truth is… I’m not holding it against you anymore, Davoren. I haven’t for a while.” She pressed a hand lightly against her heart as she concluded, “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. And I’m so glad you’re here now, so I can finally say thank you… for saving my life.”

Silence settled between them once more.

Aeris felt the weight in her chest finally easing. The words she had carried for so long had found their way out, and with them, the tension that had quietly lingered between them. 

“…That’s more than I deserve,” Davoren said at length.

A faint breath escaped him. He glanced at her, something softer in his expression now.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “Truth be told, I wasn’t expecting anything half so generous.” 

She held his gaze, but didn’t say anything more. There was no suspicion and no distance left, only a quiet understanding that settled there without either of them naming it. 

“So…” she began tentatively, trying gently to steer the conversation, “you talked to Vincent?”

“Yeah,” he admitted with a wry smile. “Someone had to bail him out. Wouldn’t be Vincent otherwise.” “I see. So you got him out.”

He nodded once. “The mayor and the WRO were a little… on edge after what happened. Turns out when a man shape-shifts into a monster in the middle of town, people start asking questions. So I vouched for him.” 

Aeris was puzzled. “Then, are you… with the WRO?”

“In a manner of speaking,” he said, a faint grin touching his lips. “It’s a complicated arrangement. Mostly rescue work, crisis response... that sort of thing. I’m usually the one they call after everything’s already gone sideways.” 

He glanced past her, toward the town.

“Corel’s sitting on a knife’s edge as it is. The last thing they need is panic on top of everything else.” His tone flattened slightly. “People here are scared, and it doesn't take much for fear to turn ugly.” 

She nodded and looked back toward the town, her gaze settled there thoughtfully for a moment. 

“Some day, huh?” He said, almost to himself. “Not quite how I imagined us crossing paths again. Though I suppose not much turned out the way I thought it would.”

Aeris didn’t say anything, only nodded absentmindedly without looking at him. Things rarely turned out the way she expected them to. 

A small silence settled between them. 

Davoren’s eyes then flicked to Aeris’ hand, and a smile touched his lips. He looked away a moment later, a faint chuckle escaping him.

“What is it?” Aeris asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Heh. I heard something the other day I still haven’t quite wrapped my head around,” he said.

That piqued Aeris’ curiosity, and she looked at him. “What’s that?”

“Something about you and Vincent… being married?”

She hesitated, just slightly, her gaze dropping for a moment before returning to him. She realized he’d seen her ring.

“Oh… you know about it.”

His smile widened, a triumphant glint in his eyes. “So it’s true, then.”

Aeris smiled and nodded once, warmth rushing to her cheeks. 

“Wow.”

That was all Davoren managed. He studied her for a moment, quiet amusement softening his expression. 

“Well. He certainly didn’t waste any time, did he?” A low laugh escaped him. “I knew he was in deep… but marriage?” He shook his head faintly. “That’s a hell of a move for Vincent Valentine.” 

Aeris huffed softly, the color in her cheeks deepening.

“I disappear for a few months, and he goes and sorts his whole life out.” He chuckled. “And here I thought I knew how he worked.” 

Sorted his whole life out.

As if it were that simple. As if they could just leave everything behind and begin again like ordinary people.

But the past still followed them everywhere…

“Then again, I shouldn’t be too surprised,” Davoren went on, a knowing look in his eyes. “Once Vincent makes up his mind, the rest of the world is expected to adjust.” 

A faint, bitter sting caught in her chest. She pushed it down before it could surface, forcing a small smile.

He looked at her again, his expression warmer now. “Well, I’m glad it turned out the way it did,” he admitted. “You two went through hell… and still built something real.” His gaze lifted to the sky. “Feels like something went right, for once.” 

The words caught on something raw. Her mind went to the night before, and the suffocating distance between them, Vincent turning away from her touch like he didn’t trust himself to stay. No one else ever saw that part. 

The fog had cleared enough to reveal a gathering crowd in the village.

“What’s going on over there?” asked Aeris.

They started toward the crowd, the murmur of voices growing louder as they approached.

“Heard you’re heading for Cosmo Canyon,” Davoren said after a moment.

Aeris glanced at him. “Vincent told you?”

“Barret,” he said. “Mentioned it the other day. Said he might know someone who can get you there.”

That caught her attention. “Really? Who?”

Davoren gave a small shrug. “He didn’t give details.” He nodded ahead. “We can ask him.”

By now, it had grown noticeably brighter, though the fog still clung stubbornly to the mountains and rooftops.

A long line had formed outside the inn. Villagers stood close together in the cold, their voices low and restless as they waited.

At the front, a young man stood over a large iron kettle, ladling steaming porridge into waiting bowls before passing each one off with a slice of bread and a boiled egg. Steam curled into the morning air.

Aeris spotted Yuffie in the crowd and made her way toward her.

“Aeris! Hey, over here,” she called, smiling and waving eagerly.

Aeris smiled back, but Yuffie’s grin faltered when she noticed Davoren beside her, and she folded her arms with visible irritation. 

“What’s he doing here?” she grumbled.

Davoren didn’t take offense. If anything, he looked pleased to see her. 

“Well, what do you know? It’s my favorite runaway.”

Yuffie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, keep calling me that, and I’m robbing you again.”

“‘Again’?” Davoren repeated. “I remember you limping away empty-handed.”

She shot him a murderous glare. “Shut up,” she hissed.

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction. “Glad you’re okay, kid,” he said, his tone warm. He looked between her and Aeris. “Didn’t realize you two knew each other.”

Yuffie immediately straightened and gave him a smug smile. “Oh, we do. And Vincent too! Yeah, we go way back, me and him. Like saved-the-world-together kind of back.” 

Davoren shook his head faintly, a smile tugging at his mouth. But before he could reply, an angry voice cut through the murmur from behind.

“This is all because of you.”

Aeris and the other two turned to see what was happening.

A short distance off to the side stood Joe, speaking with Kieran, who lingered behind him, arms crossed. One of the villagers, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a red, weathered face, approached Joe aggressively, and jabbed an accusatory finger at the old man. 

“You bring that cursed rock into town, and now look at us!” he growled, gesturing at the townsfolk. “Folks are getting hurt. Monsters crawling out of nowhere. We’re losing our homes… everything we rebuilt! For what?” 

He towered over Joe, standing so close he was practically spitting in his face. 

Kieran moved at once, stepping between them. “Back off,” he warned, his voice low but firm.

The man barely glanced at him. “This doesn’t concern you, boy.”

“It concerns me when you’re yelling at him.”

The crowd shifted uneasily, voices rising in agreement and frustration, fear bleeding into anger. Aeris caught the words “it’s the curse” and “ever since that rock showed up…” in the mutters.

“Listen to me,” Joe said calmly. “No one here wants trouble. Let’s not get–”

Then came a shove, hard enough to make Joe lose his balance. He slipped and hit the packed dirt with a grunt of pain.

Aeris felt her stomach drop. Instinctively, she stepped forward, wanting to help, but stopped herself, clenching her fists.

That did it for Kieran. He stooped to help Joe carefully to his feet, steadying him by the arm when the older man wavered. His eyes swept quickly over him, searching for injury, but Joe merely shook his head and muttered that he was fine. 

When Kieran looked up again, something dangerous had settled into his expression. 

He grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and shoved him back. “Don’t you touch him!”

The man’s fist connected clean across Kieran’s mouth with a dull crack. His head snapped to the side, and he staggered, his lip splitting open as blood trailed down his chin.

“Kieran…” Joe muttered, but the boy didn’t hear him.

Every instinct in Aeris told her to step in. To stop this before…

But she had no time to move. Kieran’s hand flew to his belt, and in one smooth motion, he drew a dagger. The blade wasn’t a dagger so much as a short sword, and he placed himself between Joe and the crowd.

That was when Aeris noticed something about him she hadn’t before: his rolled up sleeves exposed curious dark markings along his arm, just above the elbows. The foreign symbols looked arranged, like they carried some meaning she couldn’t place.

“Go on,” Kieran challenged, spitting blood into the dirt. “Try that again and see what happens.”

The man let out a short, humorless laugh and drew his own knife.

Aeris watched in horror. A few people gasped. Others backed away, the crowd recoiling with them. But no one dared interfere.

“Kieran,” Joe said more firmly, putting a hand out. “Please… it’s not worth it.”

Kieran didn’t obey. His eyes stayed fixed on the villager.

“Kieran!” Barret roared as he hurried toward them. “The hell’re you doin’?!”

“Me?” he shot back. “Protecting my grandpa! What kind of coward goes after a frail old man?”

“I’m just fine, son,” Joe tried again. “Don’t worry about me.”

But Kieran’s grip only tightened on the dagger. He spat venomously, “I can see why my father left this backwards shithole…”

“That’s enough!” Barret barked.

He pushed through the crowd, his presence alone enough to force space between people. “The hell is wrong with you people?! You’ve lost your damn minds?”

No one answered him.

“What’s all this talk about a curse?” Barret demanded. “If it’s ‘that rock’ again, it’s gone now. Whatever it was doin’, it ain’t here no more. So stop takin’ it out on the old man.” 

His furious gaze snapped to Kieran, then to the blade. “And you. Put that damn thing away.”

The man across from Kieran didn’t lower his weapon, and neither did Kieran.

Until Davoren came forward.

“You’ve made your point,” he said evenly, his eyes settling on the villager with the knife. “Now put it away.”

He didn’t raise his voice or threaten anyone, but there was a steady authority in him that made defying him feel like a mistake. Aeris watched as the man’s confidence faltered, his knife wavering in his hand.

Davoren didn’t look away. “No one here is your enemy.”

Seconds passed.

Then, with a muttered curse, the man lowered his blade.

Davoren then looked at Kieran. “Kid.”

Kieran wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, then reluctantly sheathed his sword. 

Around them, the line tried to return to normal, voices dropping back into murmurs, though people remained visibly uneasy.

Joe exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face before placing the other gently on Kieran’s shoulder. “I told you, son. I’m alright. I don’t want you getting in trouble because of me.”

Kieran scoffed, but didn’t answer. His jaw remained set, his eyes still dark with something that hadn’t settled yet.

Aeris watched him with a quiet unease in her chest.

It had taken almost nothing. A few words and a shove, and it had nearly ended in bloodshed.

Aeris could still feel the tension lingering in the way people stood and the wary looks they threw their group’s way, as though everyone expected something else to snap at any moment.

Gradually, the villagers drifted back toward the line, though the unease still clung stubbornly to the air. People kept their distance now, speaking in lower voices and avoiding eye contact.

Yuffie fell into step beside her and muttered, “Sheesh…”

Aeris barely heard her.

That strange sensation from earlier had returned.

Quiet… insistent.

Without thinking, she turned toward the mountains again. The pull sharpened slightly, threading through her chest with that same impossible familiarity-

“Vincent!”

The sound broke her concentration in an instant.

“We’ve looked all over for you!” Yuffie exclaimed. “Where’ve you been?”

Aeris looked up, and her heart lurched at the sight of him. 

He looked haggard. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, his features drawn and worn in a way that told her he hadn’t slept at all. 

For a moment, his gaze shifted in her direction, but not quite toward her, as though he were deliberately avoiding her eyes.

The realization settled coldly in her chest.

“Where the heck were you?” Yuffie asked, trying to sound casual despite the worry underneath. “You disappeared yesterday and never came back.” 

“I needed air,” Vincent answered coolly without looking at her.

Yuffie stared at him for a few seconds like she wanted to argue, then thought better of it.

“…Okay. Well, next time maybe tell somebody before disappearing into the wilderness like some kinda drifter.”

Davoren glanced away, rubbing a hand thoughtfully across his jaw.

Vincent only gave a low grunt in response.

Aeris wanted to say something - but a strange hush spread through the crowd. A few people had started staring in their direction, whispering to one another. Others fell abruptly silent. 

It took her a moment to realize they were looking at Vincent. 

“It’s him,” a man nearby said to another in a hushed tone. “Heard he turned into a damn demon. Swear it.” The other narrowed his eyes at Vincent, and muttered, “Think he’s even human?” 

Aeris frowned, but said nothing. “Dunno. Reckon he’s one of ShinRa’s freaks that got loose,” the other said under his breath. “Should’ve finished him off when we had the chance.”

Her gaze flicked toward Vincent. He didn’t look at her or the villagers, but she knew he heard every word.

One of the men finally worked up the nerve to approach him, anger written all over his face. 

“I’ve heard ‘bout freaks like you,” he said, pointing an accusatory finger. “ShinRa made your kind, didn’t they? In some damn lab.” 

Vincent said nothing. He didn’t even lift his eyes; he ignored the man completely.

“Still out here, huh? Roamin’ free, doin’ God knows what. Outta be six feet under.” The man snatched up a rock and hurled it. The stone struck Vincent in the shoulder before dropping uselessly to the dirt.

He didn’t so much as flinch.

“An abomination,” the man spat. “That’s what you are.”

That was the final straw for Aeris. 

“Stop it!” she burst out, stepping protectively in front of Vincent before she even realized she was moving. “Just stop!” 

Her voice trembled violently now. 

“You don’t know what you’re talking about! You don’t know anything about him!” She stared at the man, appalled. “How can you stand there and treat someone like that??”

The words tumbled out of her before she could stop them. Raw, helpless anger flooded her chest. Her eyes stung, and her vision blurred. The man got quiet and looked between her and Vincent. Whatever crossed his face - pity or scorn - Aeris couldn’t quite tell. 

“You’re not right either, are you?” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “Ain’t no normal girl gonna stick up for… whatever the hell he is!”

Aeris’ breath trembled with fury as she glared at him, her fists clenched so tightly her nails bit into her palms.

Vincent still said nothing, and made no protest to the villager’s condemnations. Refused to even look at him. He made no attempt to stop Aeris either. 

She knew that silence too well. Though his face remained emotionless, she could see it: the shame in his eyes, carefully hidden behind that stoic façade. 

More villagers had gathered around the man, muttering and nodding along.

Encouraged, the man continued, gesturing to their small group, “Y’all show up here, and next thing, a horde of monsters tear through our town? Don’t tell me that’s all just a big coincidence.” 

“Excuse you?” Yuffie snapped. “Last I checked, we spent the night fighting those things to save your sorry butts! But sure, whatever. You’re welcome.”

“Yeah. Funny how quick folks forget who did the dirty work for ‘em,” Barret agreed.

The villager rounded on him at once, face twisted with disdain. “Figures you’d defend ‘im. Takes one to know one, eh?” He scoffed. “Probably an old ShinRa buddy, from ‘the good ol’ days’.”

A visible vein pulsed in Barret’s temple. “Hey, might wanna watch your damn mouth, unless–”

Before things could escalate further, Aeris stepped between them, pleading. “Stop!! Please!” She looked at the villager. “What do you want us to do?”

Without hesitation, the man jabbed a finger toward the outskirts of town. “Leave. Hit the road. You’ve done enough damage already.”

The villagers gathered behind him nodded in agreement, voices rising as they called for the outsiders to get lost. 

Kieran looked between the villagers, Vincent, and finally Aeris. He pursed his lips, something in his expression shifting.

Davoren stepped in again, trying to calm the growing unrest, but the villagers had already decided who to blame; fear had made up their minds for them. 

Aeris looked up at Vincent, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. A worried ache settled deeper in her chest as she moved closer to him. 

“Vincent…” she whispered, her fingers brushing his arm.

He glanced at her hand resting against his sleeve. Something pained passed across his face. 

But he didn’t return her touch or take her hand.

After a moment, he gently pulled away and walked past her without speaking.

Cold washed through her so suddenly she forgot to breathe, her eyes stinging at once. She blinked the tears back immediately, forcing herself to stay composed as she walked after him. 

Yuffie kicked at the loose rocks on the road, grumbling, “Bunch of cowards! I swear, I oughta–”

“Yuffie,” came Vincent’s voice, low and resigned. “Leave it.”

“Why? They can’t talk to you like that! Can’t believe you’re just gonna let ‘em disrespect you!” 

“They’ve already made up their minds about us,” Aeris said quietly. “It’s no use. Let’s just go. Cosmo Canyon’s waiting.”

“Yeah,” Yuffie muttered, kicking another rock. “About time we ditched this dump.”

Together, they made their way back toward Barret’s house beneath the uneasy stares of the villagers. 

***

Barret’s house sat near the edge of town, away from the worst of the unrest. The commotion from earlier had faded into little more than distant noise.

Aeris followed the others onto the weathered wooden porch, exhaustion settling heavier into her bones now that the adrenaline had worn off. Barret loitered near the railing, while Yuffie dropped onto the steps with an irritated huff. Vincent remained apart from the others, leaning against the side of the house with his arms folded tightly across his chest. 

A short distance from the porch, Kieran and the boys sat gathered around a fire pit ringed with rough logs. Some were sitting, others crouched near the flames, quietly talking amongst themselves while smoke curled lazily into the cold morning air.

Joe sat near the boys, with a steaming mug cradled between his hands.

Barret rubbed a hand over his face with a tired sigh. “Sorry ‘bout all that,” he muttered. He shook his head and looked at Aeris. “Truth is… it’s probably best if y’all keep movin’ before things get uglier.”

Aeris nodded in agreement.

“I heard you know someone who can take us to Cosmo Canyon,” she said, glancing briefly at Davoren.

“Yeah,” Barret replied. “You already met the little smartass.” His eyes shifted toward the fire pit. “Problem is, I dunno how keen he’ll be on takin’ passengers.” 

Kieran must have noticed Barret staring, because he looked up from the fire with a suspicious squint.

“What?”

“You an’ the boys plannin’ on leavin’ soon?”

“Why?” Kieran clicked his tongue. “We overstayed our welcome too?”

“Nah, it ain’t like that,” Barret said. “Someone needs to ask you a favor.”

Kieran blinked once, visibly caught off guard.

Aeris stepped forward before Barret could continue. “It’s for us. We need to get to Cosmo Canyon… and we could really use your help to-”

“Why do you need to get there?” Kieran cut in immediately, watching her with open suspicion.

Aeris hesitated only briefly. “Please. It’s important.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Yeah, but why Cosmo Canyon? Of all places?”

“Why does that matter?” Aeris shot back.

Yuffie cut in before Kieran could answer. “We’ve got an old friend there we need to see.”

“Old friend, huh?” Kieran smirked. “Bet he’s the type who wears robes and speaks in riddles.”

“Actually, he doesn’t wear–”

“That place is full of people who think the Planet’s talking to ’em,” Kieran interrupted. “Pretty sure they’re just talking to themselves.” He glanced at Yuffie. “You’re not one of those types too, are you?”

“Nope.” She shook her head and jabbed a thumb toward Aeris. “But she is.”

Curious eyes immediately shifted toward Aeris, and she felt herself shrink slightly beneath the attention. Kieran, meanwhile, only stared at her for a long moment before letting out a weary breath. 

“Of course she is,” he muttered. “Just my luck.”

Aeris’ heart sank, and she frowned indignantly. “I’m sorry?” 

“Wow,” Yuffie said, giving him a flat look. “You really don’t like that place, huh? What’d it ever do to you?”

“It’s not...” He waved the subject away with a frustrated motion. “Whatever. You wouldn’t get it.”

“Quit screwin’ around,” Barret cut in. “You know the canyon routes better than any of us, and you got that buggy.”

Kieran snorted. “Do we look like a free ride?”

“Of course not,” Aeris said quickly. “We’ll pay.” 

Kieran studied her silently for a few moments, like he still didn’t believe she was serious.

“No,” he said at last. “No way. I’m not leaving my grandpa. He needs me.”

A heated back-and-forth broke out between him and Barret, voices rising as Kieran dug his heels in.

Joe, who had been quiet this whole exchange, stood up. 

“You should go.”

Kieran turned sharply. “Grandpa–”

The old man put up a hand to silence him, shaking his head. “No.” His voice was tired, but steady. “You’ve been running long enough, son. It’s time.”

Kieran’s face hardened at once. “I’m not running.”

Joe looked at him with quiet sadness. “Then what do you call three years of not speaking with your father?”

Kieran turned his head away, and Aeris watched the words land harder than he wanted to show.

“I know you’re angry,” Joe continued. “You’ve got reason to be. What happened to your mother… none of it was right.” His expression softened. “But your father lost her too.”

Kieran dragged a hand across his mouth, saying nothing. 

“Punishing him won’t bring her back,” Joe continued. “And it won’t bring you peace.”

For a moment, no one said anything. 

Joe walked up to him, his hand finding his grandson’s shoulder. 

“Go home. Help these people get where they need to go, and then go see your father.”

Kieran swallowed, staring at the ground. “But…what about you?”

“I’ll be here,” Joe said. “Barret already promised to look after me.”

Barret gave a firm nod. “Ain’t lettin’ anything happen to him.”

Joe squeezed Kieran’s shoulder. “You don’t have to carry this anger forever, boy.”

Kieran let out a long breath, glancing from his grandfather to Aeris.

“Please,” she urged quietly. “We don’t ask lightly. We need to reach Cosmo Canyon as soon as possible.”

Kieran rubbed the back of his neck with visible reluctance, and pinched the bridge of his nose. 

“Tch. Fine.” 

Aeris blinked. “Really? You’ll take us?” 

He looked at Aeris. “I said fine, didn’t I?”

“Thank you. Thank you so much,” she said, pressing her hands together gratefully.

She saw Vincent turning in her direction then. 

“Aeris. A word,” he said in a low voice.

He had already stepped a few paces away from the house, giving her no real choice but to follow.

“That was reckless,” he said quietly. His gaze stayed fixed somewhere past her shoulder. “We don’t make decisions like that alone.”

“Reckless?” she shot back. “What’s reckless is staying here after what they did.”

“You’re injured,” he said. His eyes flicked briefly to the bruising beneath hers. “And you haven’t been sleeping. You need rest, not a forced march through the desert.”

Her hand went to her bandaged arm. 

“I don’t need reminding.” There was a sharp edge to her voice now. “We can’t afford to wait anymore.”

“It’s not just the road,” he said, voice low. “It’s everything that comes with it.”

“I climbed Mount Corel, didn’t I?” she countered, keeping her voice low. “I can handle it.”

“Not like this.”

She looked up at him. He held her gaze only briefly before looking away again. Instead, he turned away, folding his arms across his chest as if the decision had nothing to do with him.

The pressure behind her eyes returned before she could stop it. She squeezed them shut and took a shaky breath. 

“So what’s it gonna be?” Kieran called from behind them. “You two going or not?”

She straightened, forcing herself steady. 

“We’re going,” she answered, a little too quickly.

“‘You two’? Hello? You mean ‘you three’,” Yuffie chimed in, jumping to her feet. 

“You’re coming with us?” Aeris asked, taken aback.

“Duh. Obviously,” Yuffie replied, like it was the dumbest question she’d heard all week. “Came here for materia, remember? Total bust. And you think I’m staying after all that?” She snorted. “No thanks. Besides, I haven’t seen Red in forever.”

Aeris couldn’t help softening a little. “I’m glad you’re coming.” 

“I’m coming too.”

She looked up, startled to find Davoren watching her with quiet resolve. 

“You are?” Aeris asked, caught off guard. 

“Call it a hunch,” he said. “But something tells me I’m supposed to go.” 

He glanced toward the horizon.

“And Cosmo Canyon’s got the biggest archives in the world. I’ve been meaning to take a look. Never been,” he added. “Figured I’d finally see what all the fuss is about.” His gaze shifted briefly to Aeris. “Assuming you’re alright with me tagging along.” 

Aeris looked at him a moment before a faint smile touched her face. She gave a nod. “I’d like that.”

“Guess that settles it,” Davoren said, glancing toward Kieran. “Looks like you’ve got yourself a full crew.” 

The young man just shrugged. “Follow our rules, and we won’t have any problems.” He held up one finger. “One hour. Get your things, say your goodbyes, and be back here. If you’re late, you’re walking to Cosmo Canyon.” 

***

At the inn, Aeris gathered the last of her belongings, and changed out of her ruined dress into another she had packed for the journey. Its long sleeves hid her bandages and bruises. 

As she rummaged through her bag, her hand brushed against something hard near the bottom. She frowned and reached deeper, her fingers finally closing around the object before she pulled out a solid dark leather case. It held a small handgun.

For a moment, she simply stared at it.

Her gun.

She had forgotten she had packed it. 

Forgotten, somehow, that she even owned one.

Slowly, she opened the case and lifted the weapon into her hands. The familiar weight unsettled her immediately; the metal felt cold and heavier than something so small had any right to. 

Vincent had given it to her months ago after insisting he would not have her walking around Midgar unarmed. “I need to know you can defend yourself if it comes to it,” he had said. He had taught her how to use it himself, correcting her grip and stance with patient precision while she struggled through every lesson with visible discomfort.

She had hated it. Not the weapon itself, or even the training - but everything it represented: the enormous responsibility, the danger, the possibility that one day she might have to point it at another person and pull the trigger. 

At the time, she had not wanted to think too deeply about what the gift meant.

Now, however, after the past few days, she wondered if he had been right to insist.

When it passed, Aeris sagged back against the pillows, chest still fluttering, and her temples damp with sweat. Her face felt cold, despite the heat in her skin. A faint tug along her cheek made her realize there were small bandages there, the skin beneath them aching when she moved.

Yuffie stayed where she was, watching her anxiously, and her grip lingered on Aeris’ shoulder.

“…I’m getting the doc.” She pushed to her feet, a bit too fast, knocking her knee against the bedframe. “Ow, son of a—” She muttered under her breath and hurried behind the curtain. “Dr. Silas? She’s awake…and she just threw up.”

A minute later, Dr. Silas appeared at her bedside, clipboard in hand.

“There you are,” he said gently. “How are you feeling?”

“Nauseous,” Aeris murmured, closing her eyes. “A bit dizzy. And my arm hurts.”

“That’s not unexpected,” he replied, checking her vitals. “You took a serious hit.” He then lifted a finger. “Follow this for me, please.”

Her eyes tracked the movement. 

He nodded and held up two fingers. “How many?”

“Two.”

“Full name?”

“...Aeris Valentine.”

He nodded again, and clicked on a small flashlight, checking her pupils. 

“Remember what happened?”

“Monster,” she said quietly. “It chased me.”

“Good,” he said, jotting something down. “No memory loss. No confusion.”

Aeris sat still, looking forlorn.

When the doctor looked up and saw the sadness in her gaze, his tone softened. “You’ve got a mild concussion, and a deep laceration in your arm with significant blood loss. Another inch, and we’d be talking about a missing arm — or worse.”

He straightened slightly. “The cut is deep, but it’ll heal fast, as long as you don’t overdo it.”

Aeris just gave a tired nod.

“How long until she can leave, doc?” Yuffie asked.

He paused, scanning Aeris with a practiced eye, then looked toward Yuffie. “We’re keeping her for the day for observation. The head injury appears mild, but concussions can be unpredictable.” He checked the chart. “And as for the arm, she’s already been given a broad-spectrum antibiotic. We’ll watch for fever or signs of infection.”

He turned back to Aeris. “If you stay stable and nothing changes by evening, we’ll let you go. But if you develop double vision, worsening dizziness, or a fever, you need to come back immediately. Given everything you’ve been through, I want to be careful.”

“I understand,” she acknowledged, almost inaudibly.

“Good.” He scribbled something on his clipboard, then looked up again. “Then do us both a favor and get well.” 

With that, he moved off to check his other patients and left the two alone. Yuffie hovered a moment, caught between relief and worry. She looked at Aeris like she was about to say something, her expression etched with quiet concern.  

Aeris sighed into her hand. When she looked up, Yuffie was trying to hide a yawn, her eyes rimmed red and shadowed underneath.

“Yuffie?”

“...Yeah?”

“How long…have you been here with me?”

“Since the attack,” Yuffie admitted. “I wanted to be sure you were okay. And I’m not gonna lie…I was terrified.”

Aeris considered her friend’s words. 

“You’ve been here with me all night? I’m sorry,” she said, ashamed. “I didn’t mean to scare you...”

“Yeah, you did. I mean, I really thought you wouldn’t make it,” Yuffie said with a slight tremor in her voice. “You were bleeding really bad. And Vincent, he—”

Aeris shot upright, eyes locking onto Yuffie.

“Is he okay??”

“Uhh…I think so. They released him,” Yuffie said. “He was here last night, but didn’t say much. That’s all I know.”

Aeris frowned, blinking. “What do you mean ‘they released him’? From where?”

“Jail.”

“What? Why was he in jail?” 

Yuffie fell silent and avoided her searching gaze.

Aeris’ anxious heart pounded harder the longer the silence stretched.

“Yuffie. Tell me,” she pressed.

Yuffie hesitated for a moment.

“After you got hurt…he lost it. And Chaos really went—”

“Chaos??” 

The name hit her like a blow. Her vision blurred with tears, and she clenched her hands so hard in the blanket, her knuckles whitened.

“Hey, hey…” Yuffie said quickly. “Vincent’s okay, and no one was really hurt.”

“This is my fault,” Aeris whispered, more to herself. “If I’d been faster…” Her tears finally spilled over. “Why couldn’t I run faster?” 

Yuffie immediately sprang up. She frowned and arched an incredulous eyebrow.

“You think you were supposed to outrun that thing? Seriously? I’m a ninja and I’d still be monster chow!”

Aeris couldn’t find it in her to answer, and Yuffie fell silent, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly, and watched her wordlessly. She shook her head, like she was still trying to wrap her mind around it all.

“So… uh,” she said carefully. “Should I even ask what you were doing out there?”

“It wasn’t the plan,” Aeris admitted, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “I was at the shelter, but…there were kids still outside, and they were trapped.”

Yuffie’s brow furrowed as she listened.

Aeris went on, her voice thinning with exhaustion. “No one else was helping, and I couldn’t just… ignore it. So, I went to find them.” She swallowed. “Had to. I knew I was taking a risk,” she murmured. “I didn’t think it would end like this.”

Yuffie let out a slow breath, and her expression turned thoughtful.

“…Figures,” she said under her breath.

She scratched at her neck, then added, “For what it’s worth…” she hesitated, then shrugged faintly. “That was brave as hell. I didn’t even know those kids were out there.”

She glanced away. “Honestly? If you hadn’t gone after them… they might not’ve made it. So yeah. You might actually be a hero.”

Aeris stared straight ahead, fingers brushing the edge of her bandage.

“Then why does it feel like I failed?” she murmured. 

“You didn’t fail,” Yuffie defended. “You just got hurt.”

She didn’t respond and exhaled.

Yuffie was also quiet for a long moment. Something shadowed her expression, and her gaze became distant, like she was looking past the room. Somewhere into a distant time and place. 

“Y’know… sometimes you do the right thing and people still get hurt. Doesn’t mean it was wrong,” she said, her voice lower now. She exhaled. “That’s what war’s like. You help, and it costs more than you thought it would.”

She shook her head. “But if that meant you shouldn’t have tried… nobody would ever help anyone.” Her eyes flicked back to Aeris. “This is just… what comes after.”

Even despite Yuffie’s reassurances, she still couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that settled in her chest; a quiet, creeping dread she didn’t yet have words for. 

She couldn’t answer either. She just sat on the bed, staring ahead of her, fingers ghosting over the gauze of her bandaged arm, fighting to choke back her tears. Dried blood streaked her skirt in rust-colored stains. The sleeve of her dress had been cut away while the nurses tended the wound, leaving her arm bare.

She looked up, attempting to smile, but it faltered before it reached her eyes. “Yuffie…I—”

But the thought slipped away before she could grasp it. She frowned, disoriented, and pressed her palm to her face with a tired sigh. Her whole head throbbed.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I… I forgot what I was going to say.”

Yuffie watched her with quiet concern. “Hey…don’t worry about it,” she murmured. “You’re hurt and exhausted. The last couple days have been…a lot. You don’t need to push through everything at once.”

“Yeah. Thank you,” Aeris whispered, leaning back against the pillow. “I appreciate you looking out for me. But right now… do you mind giving me some space?”

The ninja hesitated, biting her lip as she considered the request. Then she gave a small nod. “Yeah. Sure. I could use some shut-eye anyway.” She lingered another moment, searching for the right words, then added quietly, “I’ll probably be at Barret’s place. Come join us later, okay?”

With that, she slipped away.

Aeris drew her knees closer, staring at the bandages wrapped around her arm. The sting in the treated wound was nothing compared to the ache in her chest. She buried her face in her hands and focused on breathing in and out, slow and steady. But her thoughts refused to settle. She was too tired to hold onto any one of them. 

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Vincent. Alone. And between them…something she couldn’t put into words.

She didn’t have the energy to chase the thought either. Instead, she lay back against the pillow with a sigh and stared at the white ceiling.

She didn’t know how long she stayed that way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

She had spent the rest of the day in a daze. 

By the time Dr. Silas finally discharged her, dusk had already begun to settle over Corel.

The air outside felt cooler than she expected, and she hurried toward Barret’s home to find the others, though still unsteady on her feet.

As she rounded the corner of his house, she found them outside near the porch, gathered around a bonfire that burned more for warmth than celebration. 

Barret sat on an overturned crate, turning a skewer of hot dogs slowly over the flames. Yuffie stood with her arms folded, restless, her weight shifting from one foot to the other. Her face lit up when she spotted her.

“Aeris!” 

Barret looked up at once.

“Thank God,” he said, relief plain in his voice. 

Kieran was with them too, sitting a small distance from the two. He looked her over, eyes flicking to the bandages, the ruined dress, and to the way she held herself.

“Holy shit…” he blurted. “You look rough.”

Yuffie frowned at that. “She got mauled by a monster, genius. What did you expect?”

He folded his arms defensively. “I told her not to leave the shelter, but she didn’t listen,” he insisted and shook his head at Aeris in frustration. “You’re lucky you’re still breathing.”

“Knock it off. It ain’t helpin’,” Barret cut in, his voice tired. “Been a long twenty-four hours for all of us.”

The young man opened his mouth, but no words came out. Instead, he stared into the fire, and said nothing more. 

Aeris noticed all three of them looked like they hadn’t gotten much sleep, if any. The weary postures, the blood-shot eyes and yawns told all.

Barret gestured toward the fire. “C’mon. Sit. You gotta be starvin’.”

He was right, she realized; she hadn’t even noticed her stomach grumbling until now.

“Yeah, actually,” she admitted softly, pressing a hand to her belly. 

Barret passed her a skewer when it was done. She took it gratefully, and settled carefully onto one of the crates between Yuffie and Kieran. For a moment, she let the warmth from the fire soak into her cold skin. It soothed her weary senses. She listened to the crackle of burning wood and Barret and Yuffie’s low banter as she ate.

But even then, there was an aching emptiness she couldn’t ignore. She kept looking up, half-expecting someone else to arrive at any moment.

No one did.

“Where’s Vincent?” she finally asked.

Barret and Yuffie fell silent, exchanging a glance. Yuffie blew out a breath.

“He…kinda just vanished,” she confessed. “We tried looking for him, but nothing. Didn’t even show up to eat.” She frowned. “Guess last night rattled him harder than he’s letting on. Disappearing when things go bad is kinda a Vincent thing, but still.”

“Don’t I know it…” Aeris murmured, more to herself.

Just then, she heard footsteps crunching on the gravel nearby.

She looked up immediately, and her pulse spiked.

But to her dismay, it wasn’t who she anxiously anticipated. An older man approached instead, one she recognized instantly: Joe. His gaze landed on Aeris as soon as he emerged from the shadows.

“Oh…hello.” He greeted with a polite nod. “And who might you be?”

Aeris stared at him, astonished. 

“You don’t remember me…do you?”

He regarded her for a long moment, brow faintly furrowed. “I don’t believe we’ve met, no.”

She looked over helplessly at Barret, who spoke up, “You met her, Joe. Said some real strange things to her.” 

The elderly man blinked hard, confusion creasing into regret. “I… did, didn’t I?” He looked at Aeris again, apologetic this time. “I’m sorry, young lady. Truly. I reckon I must’ve said a lot of nonsense…but I don’t remember any of it.”

Barret folded his arms, letting out a slow sigh. “You weren’t yourself. Didn’t recognize me either. Like you were in a trance or somethin’.”

Joe exhaled, and lowered himself on a crate next to Kieran. His eyes lingered on the flames, unfocused, like he was still trying to place where he was. “Maybe I was… I don’t know,” he admitted. “Feels like waking up from a nightmare…but it’s the kind you don’t remember. And if they took that orb away, then…” He lifted a hand, palm up in a quiet gesture of surrender. “Perhaps it was for the best.”

Aeris was taken aback by this revelation. 

“The materia? Who took it?”

Barret crossed his arms, eyes hardening as he stared past the fire.

“WRO. They got it this morning. Sealed it in some isolated containment case, then airlifted it outta here.” He shook his head. “Didn’t waste no time. Can’t say I blame ’em. Whole damn town’s on edge after last night.”

Aeris nodded, but the answer did little to settle the uneasy weight in her chest. It was supposed to be good news; a danger had been eliminated from Corel, and contained. But even so, that feeling, that the nightmare wasn’t over yet, wouldn’t leave her.

“Be very careful…” came Joe’s voice.

Aeris’ heart skipped a beat. His tone was very low, almost swallowed by the crackle of the fire, but she heard it clearly, and turned to face him.

He hadn’t looked up. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the flames, his expression distant and unfocused, as though he were listening to something no one else could hear. Around them, Barret and Yuffie continued talking quietly, and Kieran added more logs to the fire, preoccupied with his own thoughts. None of them seemed to have noticed.

Joe’s voice drifted, as if he were speaking to the fire rather than to her. “Not all voices speak the truth,” he murmured. “Some only sound like someone you miss…”

Aeris frowned.

“What do you mean by that?” she asked, leaning closer without realizing she had.

Joe blinked. He stared at her startled, like someone shaken awake. Scratching at his head, he glanced away, embarrassed. “...I’m sorry, I don’t know where that came from,” he said. “I’m still not quite myself. Forget it, it’s nothing.”

A chill passed through her.

It didn’t make any sense. He was confused. Rambling.

So, then… why did it unsettle her?

She tried to focus on the fire and the low murmur of conversation, but Joe’s voice stayed with her. She shivered hard and rose to her feet, perhaps a little too quickly.

“I uh—I think I should turn in,” she said to Barret and Yuffie, forcing herself to stay composed. “Thank you for the food. I’ll… see you tomorrow, okay?”

Before they could question her suddenness, she stepped away from the warmth of the fire and hurried off into the dark.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Returning to the inn, Aeris climbed the stairs carefully, one hand on the railing to steady herself.

The dark corridor on the upper floor felt longer than she remembered. When she stopped at the last door, an odd thought crossed her mind. It felt like at least a week since she had stayed here, not two days.

To her surprise, the door was unlocked. She eased it open and slipped inside.

The room was dim, lit only by a small oil lamp on the table. It looked exactly as she had left it. Her bag still rested on the bed.

She closed the door softly, and froze when she realized she wasn’t alone. 

Vincent stood by the window. 

He had his back to her, completely motionless, like a statue. He didn’t turn. Didn’t speak. His eyes were fixed on the view outside, as if unaware of her presence.

For a moment she only stared, trying to understand why he was here at all.

“Vincent…?” she said quietly.

He didn’t answer.

She moved closer, her fingers twisting together before she forced them still. “I heard what happened,” she murmured, her voice warm with concern. “I…oh, God, I was so worried about you...”

Still no reply.

Aeris swallowed, her voice thinning. “Are you hurt?”

The silence stretched between them. He stood rigidly with his back to her.

She took another step toward him, her voice shrinking to a fragile murmur. “…You’re not going to say anything?”

A long and heavy breath escaped him. “I don’t know where to start.”

She offered a small tentative smile. “You could start with… something,” she murmured. After a moment she added, gently, “Most people go with ‘I’m glad you’re alive,’ you know…”

That was when Vincent finally turned. The lamplight caught the tension carved into his crimson eyes; raw, fierce and wounded as he beheld her.

“Aeris… what were you thinking?” he said, voice low. He didn’t raise it, but it left no room for argument. “When I told you to get to safety, why didn’t you?”

“I…I did,” she faltered. “I went like you said, and—”

“Then why did you leave the shelter? I told you to stay safe,” he cut in. 

It came out sharper than he meant it to be, and Aeris flinched.

“Instead, you ran straight into harm’s way.” He went on, his control wavering. “Why?”

She opened her mouth, trying to reply, but nothing came out. 

“Were you trying to get yourself killed?”

The words struck her like a blow.

“No!” she cried, stunned. “Of course not!”

“Then why did you ignore me?” he demanded.

Her breath shook, but she forced the words out. “Because…there were kids still outside, and they were trapped… alone.” Tears stung her eyes. “No one else was going to help them, and I…I didn’t think, I just moved.”

Vincent watched her, his face betraying no emotion, but his jaw tensed. He held her gaze in silence.

His voice, when it came, was quieter…almost worse than anger. “Aeris… if you keep acting like this when I tell you something…” He stopped, exhaling through his nose. “You won’t like what it brings out in me.”

It wasn’t a threat. Just the truth, stripped of all restraint. 

She recoiled slightly. “You don’t have to talk to me like that,” she said, her voice small and wounded.

“I’m talking to you like someone who almost watched you die, after I made myself perfectly clear,” he insisted.

He moved away from the window before answering. “I don’t give orders to control you. But defying them has consequences. More than you realize.” 

His gaze flicked to her bandaged arm, then back to her eyes.

“Next time,” he said more quietly, but firmly, “you will listen. I won’t risk that happening again. Do you understand?”

The words landed too hard, too final. Aeris hesitated, staring at the floor. 

“Aeris,” he pressed, “do you understand?”

She looked up at him at last, hurt flashing through her eyes.

“You make it sound like I don’t get to choose.” 

“This isn’t about choice,” he answered, voice tight. “And it’s not up for debate.” 

She folded her arms around herself. “Then you’re deciding for me.” 

He shut his eyes for a moment, the muscle in his jaw hardening. When he spoke again, the anger had burned down to ash. “No,” he said softly. “I know you.”

He drew a slow breath, his keen crimson eyes trained on her face. “You would give your life for someone else’s without hesitation.” His voice dropped almost to a whisper. “I won’t stand by and watch you die for something that treats you as expendable.”

Aeris’ throat closed. She couldn’t say anything, couldn’t even look at him. Her gaze dropped as she whispered, “I didn’t mean for things to happen like this…”

Tears slipped down her cheeks; she wiped them quickly with the heel of her palm.

Vincent didn’t answer. He turned back to the window and stood there, shoulders set.

For a long moment, they just stood there in silence. The air between them was thick with everything unsaid. 

Aeris took a slow, shaky breath. “Vincent…” Her voice thinned. “I understand you were scared…and you’re shaken. But you didn’t hurt anyone.”

His voice came low and raw: “…Not this time,” he said. “But I don’t know how long I can keep this from happening again. And when I slip again, what then? What if it’s you?” “So…what am I supposed to do? Stay away from you because something might happen?”

She met his gaze, blinking back tears. Her hands curled into fists. “I won’t live like that. And I won’t let fear — or Chaos — dictate our lives.”

He didn’t respond. 

The anger that had carried him this far ebbed away, leaving only exhaustion. 

When he finally spoke, his voice cracked. “You think I haven’t tried?” 

In the dim light he looked older, the strain visible in the lines of his face.

“Years of silence. Restraint. I spend every day keeping myself in check… and he’s still there. Waiting.”

He turned his gaze from her. “I’ve lived half of my life pretending I can control it. But I can’t. Not forever.” A faint tremor passed through him. “And when I lose that grip—when I lose…myself—I can’t promise you’ll survive it.” Aeris went completely still. For a moment she couldn’t speak. Now she finally understood. All the strain he’d borne without complaint. The pieces he’d held together so quietly, and her whole world with him had rested on it without her knowing.

Her eyes softened, shimmering. “Vincent…” she whispered, voice barely holding. “I didn’t know.”

She stepped toward him, slowly and gently, as though approaching someone wounded. “I knew you struggled…and I knew Chaos frightened you. But not like this.”

Her eyes stung, and her vision blurred. “You’ve been fighting this alone, all this time…” Her voice broke. “And you thought you had to hide it from me...”

She reached out as if to touch his arm, but stopped just shy of it, her hand trembling. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered again. “You’ve been suffering, and I didn’t even see it.”

She gathered herself before speaking. “But I don’t see a monster when I look at you. I never have.” Her voice deepened with quiet conviction. “I see the man who fights every day to keep the world safe from what no one else can. Even at the cost of himself…”

Something in Vincent’s expression faltered, a crack forming in the armor he always wore.

He dragged trembling fingers through his hair. “It’s the truth I’ve been running from. The one thing I can’t change.”

She took a step toward him. She pleaded tenderly, “Then tell me what you want me to do. Tell me how I’m supposed to live beside you if you’re always afraid of yourself.”

He gave a small, broken laugh. But there was no humor in the sound. Staring down at his disabled claw, he hesitated. His next words came slow and heavy. “I married you knowing what I live with,” he said at last. “But you shouldn’t have to.”

She stared at him as the implication sank in, and she went cold.

“You shouldn’t have to pay for my sins, Aeris,” he said quietly. “And the truth is…I can’t protect you from what’s inside me. The thought of losing you…because I couldn’t keep you safe from myself…”

His words struck her somewhere deep and fragile.

“What are you saying?” she whispered, already afraid of the answer. She searched his face. “Are you…regretting us?”

“No!” The word came at once. So firm, and with such passion, it startled her.

He faced her fully now, the space between them collapsing in an instant.

“Aeris, no. I don't. Not for a moment,” he insisted.

His hand lifted, then stilled, fingers curling slightly as if holding something back.

“I only… regret what I bring with me,” he confessed hoarsely. “And what that asks of you.”

Aeris wiped her cheeks, refusing to look away. She spoke through the tremor in her voice. “Vincent…I chose you. All of you. That hasn’t changed, and I won’t ever give up on you.”

Vincent tore his gaze away from her, sorrow softening his features. Her insistence only made him look more pained, not less.

“I know,” he said gently, casting his eyes to the dark floor. “That’s what makes it unbearable.”

Her heart gave a small, helpless shudder. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks before she could stop them. 

“How can you say that?” she whispered. 

She tried to speak, but no sound followed. She could only stand there, with a terrible ache in her chest, fighting to keep a sob from escaping.

“I can endure anything,” he managed, voice rough, his anguish laid bare. “Anything but knowing you were hurt because I failed to stop myself.”

His voice faltered, and he didn’t try to steady it. He drew a slow breath, eyes shining with something close to despair. 

“That terrifies me more than anything I’ve ever faced.”

With that, he fell silent, and his shoulders sagged.

Aeris had never seen him look so inconsolable. So defeated. 

She wanted so badly to console him, to reassure him. 

But what could she even say?

“Vincent…” she whispered, reaching out to touch his shoulder.  

But the moment her fingers reached him, he immediately stiffened.

He recoiled before he could stop himself. It was as if her touch itself burned. He nearly staggered back and looked at her, stricken. For a long moment he didn’t move, caught between reaching for her and retreating again.

His hand hovered near the doorframe, as though he needed it to remain standing. One last look in the dim light, and she saw it then: the raw and unguarded pain, just before he turned away.

“Try to get some rest,” he said quietly. “You need your strength.”

With that, he left.

Her breath left her in a fractured sound.

For a moment, she didn’t move, thinking she might still go after him. But her knees gave way, and she dropped onto the bed. What little strength she’d been holding onto slipped through her fingers. She buried her face in the covers and the sobs tore out of her, harsh and relentless, her hands clutching the fabric as though it were the only thing holding her together.

She cried until the force of it burned itself out, leaving her hollow and aching.