Chapter 1: The First Date
Hippo here. I'll start by giving a brief overview of the "relationship" between Cloud and Aeris. Cloud meets Aeris selling flowers. From the start, Aeris shows us all that she is interested in Cloud. They go on one date, and it gets interrupted. Finally, she gets killed by Sephiroth. So that's the story of Cloud and Aeris.
Or so it's presented. But then there's the apocrypha: what we didn't see. Everyone knows that fateful night at Gold Saucer was Cloud and Aeris's first and only date. Or was it? Cloud and Aeris went on several dates, before and after that one.
The first date between Cloud and Aeris took place when the group arrived at Costa del Sol. It was a trip to a secluded beach only Aeris knew about, but first they stopped at a carnival and a restaurant. While Cloud wore his normal attire, Aeris wore a polo shirt with navy blue stripes, along with a pair of green print shorts. She took the shorts off, so basically she just wore the shirt for the beach. But before we get into that, let's go back to where they made the deal.
It happened on the ship. The group had found a secluded deck to take refuge on for the night. As Cloud got settled in his room, he heard a knock on his door. Before he could get up to answer it, the door opened, and Aeris made her way into the room. See, it was a habit of hers. She was always told to knock at the door before entering a room, but she never considered to wait for someone to answer it.
"What's wrong?" asked Cloud. "I was about to crash."
"I'm sorry," apologized the soprano, "a lot's happened today."
"I got used to it," replied Cloud.
"I don't know," said Aeris. "I guess it just made me realize the danger we're in."
"I know."
"Hey, Cloud, listen….about that date I promised…" Aeris began.
"I know," Cloud finished for her, "we wouldn't have the time. That's okay."
"Actually," said Aeris, "I was thinking we should go on our date as soon as we dock."
Cloud raised his eyebrows. "You serious?
"Yeah!" Aeris exclaimed. "There might not be another chance later."
*****
"What am I getting myself into?" thought Cloud as he knocked on the door to Aeris's room in the villa they were staying at for the evening. It was three in the afternoon, yet it was a bright as noon. In Costa del Sol, the sun was up until nine.
Just then, the door opened. Aeris emerged from the room, dressed in a polo shirt with navy blue stripes, along with a pair of green print shorts. Cloud tried not to blush; he had never seen Aeris legs before, and found them quite attractive. But his attention quickly shifted to the smiling face that was greeting him.
"Hi!" exclaimed Aeris as she threw her arms around Cloud. He hugged her back, remembering how affectionate she could be sometimes. "I was looking forward to this all day!"
"Ready?" asked Cloud.
"Of course," Aeris replied. "Were would you like to go?"
"It doesn't matter," Cloud answered.
"I have an idea," Aeris began. "If we go that way," she said, pointing up the coast, "we pass through a carnival, a restaurant, and then a secluded beach."
"Sounds good," said Cloud.
They began to walk, side by side, in the direction of the carnival.
Suddenly, Aeris began to giggle.
"What's so funny?" asked Cloud.
"It's just that this is where we ask about each other and get to know one another," Aeris replied. "But we already know that stuff."
Cloud chuckled. He was thinking the same thing, and realized they thought alike. Perhaps this wasn't as bad of an idea as originally thought.
"Hey!" scolded Aeris playfully as she poked him in the same manner. "You have to talk, too!"
"Sorry!" Cloud replied in a similar tone of voice and poked her back. Cloud and Aeris then began a poke war. After ten minutes of mutual poking and laughter, they had reached the carnival.
"Hey look!" exclaimed Aeris. "A ring-toss game! Could you win something for me?"
"No prob," Cloud agreed.
Cloud took three rings. The first one landed over a small, pink teddy bear.
"Awww!" she exclaimed. "He is soooo cute! Thanks, Cloud!" said Aeris as she wrapped her right arm around his waist and nuzzled her head against his shoulder.
Cloud and Aeris played several more games and went on a few rides before they decided it was time to move on. Both of them felt alone with each other as the sounds and lights of the carnival faded. They were walking side by side again.
"Hey Cloud," said Aeris.
"Yeah?"
"I'm having a really good time!"
Cloud smiled at her. Then, before he could change his mind, he took her hand in his and clasped them together. Aeris's smile widened. The continued to walk hand in hand until they got to the restaurant. They each had a modest meal and talked a bit more.
"What do you want to do after all of this is over?" asked X9.
"I dunno," replied Cloud. "I guess take care of Shinra."
"And after that?"
"Good question," he answered. "How about you?"
"Seriously? Get to know you more."
They finished eating and left the restaurant. When the restaurant was behind them, Aeris suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" asked Cloud.
In response, Aeris turned to make eye contact with him, showing ambiguous emotion. Then, after what seemed like an eternity for both of them, Aeris moved forward and pressed her lips against Cloud's. Cloud began to kiss back, and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I've wanted to kiss you the whole time," Aeris whispered.
Cloud pulled her in again, and kissed her more deeply. He ran his hands over Aeris's back, as she did likewise to him. The taste of her mouth was soothing to him, and the feeling of his arms around her made her feel safer than she had felt in years.
Just then, Aeris spotted a bench. She took Cloud's hand in hers, and they sat down, locking their lips once more.
"I really like you," Aeris said as they stopped to breathe.
"I've had a buzz since I first met you in the streets," Cloud replied.
Aeris giggled, and pressed her lips against his once more. They kissed each other for what seemed like another eternity. Finally, Aeris stood up.
"The beach is just beyond those bushes," she said.
They pushed their way through the bushes, and a beautiful sight came to Cloud's eyes. The water sparkled, and the sand was white as salt. There were two high walls naturally made out of rocks. Those walls and the foliage behind them made the beach invisible to anyone who passed.
"What do you think?" asked the soprano.
"It's perfect," Cloud replied. "You weren't planning on swimming, were you?"
"No," Aeris laughed. "I just wanted to sit and talk."
"Where would we sit?" Cloud asked noticing there were no places to sit.
Aeris sighed. "I snuck two beach chairs back here before we met. But I don't know what happened to them."
"We can sit in the sand," Cloud suggested.
"True," she replied. With that, Aeris gripped her shorts.
"What are you doing?" Cloud asked.
"I don't want to get sand in them," Aeris replied. "It would be so uncomfortable."
Suddenly, her face turned serious. She seemed nervous to Cloud. Then, after a deep breath, Aeris pulled down her shorts and stepped out of them.
Cloud's eyes widened as Aeris stood in front of him, clutching her now-bare bottom. He had assumed she had been wearing bikini bottoms. But instead, nothing.
Aeris, meanwhile, could almost hear her heart pounding in her chest. He mouth began to feel dry, and her hands began to tremble. She had done what her heart had told her to do, without thinking of the consequences. She now had a fear in the back of her head that Cloud might turn and run. Seconds seemed like hours.
Finally, Cloud pulled her in for another kiss. She kissed back, realizing she had not driven him away. Her heart did not slow, however.
Cloud gazed into her smiling face. Every feature of it was perfect: her green eyes, her white teeth, and her bold red lips that seemed to invite him to kiss her again. He accepted the invitation.
"I'm so glad I met you," Aeris whispered in his ear after they broke the kiss.
"You make me a happy man," Cloud told her.
"And you make me a happy girl," Aeris replied.
"So happy you could do the happy dance all day?" joked Cloud.
Aeris giggled. She turned around, ran for about ten feet, and did a somersault.
"Where did you learn to do that?" asked Cloud.
"High school," Aeris replied. She then turned to face him. "Did I mention I was a cheerleader?"
X1 began to blush. He was attempting to resist the urge to gaze at her pubic area, but was failing at the same time.
Aeris didn't seem to notice. She sat down in the sand, and signaled Cloud to join her.
"What are you thinking?" asked Aeris as Cloud took a seat next to her.
"Just you," Cloud replied. "And how wonderful you are."
"The thought's mutual," Aeris replied with a giggle.
"You opened me up a bit," Cloud observed.
"I know," said Aeris, smiling at him. With that, she climbed onto Cloud's lap, facing him.
Cloud brushed the sand off of her exposed buttocks and pulled her in for another kiss. After the kiss ended, she pulled him in for a soft hug.
"I definitely want to do a second date," Aeris said with a smile.
"Me too," Cloud replied, smiling back.
