Drabble #35: Conversation
Summary: He never understood that strange conversation they had shared. Not until it was too late.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot. Characters and places belong to SquareEnix
Cloud wasn't really surprised when he found Aeris sitting by the campfire alone, knees drawn to her chest and her arms wrapped around him. It had become a common scene recently but Cloud, despite his worries, did not ask what was troubling her. He did not want her to think that he was nagging at her as he often did about her safety.
She looked up when she felt his presence, or probably noticing the shadow standing still beside her. She gave a small smile but Cloud could tell, even from the distance that it wasn't her usual trademark smile. It did not reach her eyes. The corners of his lips twitched slightly but that was the nearest he got to returning the gesture but she didn't seem offended at all. She just turned back to the fire before her, resting her head down on her arms.
"Hey," he whispered, picking up his water bottle that lay by his travelling bag. "Are you okay?" he asked, taking a sip of the cool liquid. She sighed as her shoulders scrunched up a little but she did not look at him when she answered.
"I'm fine,"
Cloud frowned, his bottle halfway towards his mouth as he stared at her. He exhaled heavily and put the water down, sitting on the log behind Aeris, his feet levelling with her form that sat still on the ground.
"You're not okay," he whispered softly. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing you can help me with," she responded, still not looking at him and Cloud was sure he saw her eyes glistening, as if she were about to cry. Cloud scooted a little closer, tilting his head to get a better look but she turned her face away.
"Aeris?"
"Just…leave it Cloud," she begged, her breathing hitched as a sign that she was fighting back sobs. Cloud opened his mouth to argue again but thought better of it. He knew better than anyone that Aeris could be as stubborn as a mule. Instead, he stood up with a sigh.
"If you change your mind you know you can talk to me," he said as he headed for his tent. Aeris turned her head slightly to watch him, tears streaming softly down her fair cheeks but she did not call him back.
Cloud never understood what was troubling Aeris or the strange one-sided conversation that they had shared. In fact, he pushed the conversation to the back of his mind.
It was not until the flower girl fell limp in his arms that he remembered the conversation…and finally understood.