There's no place like home. Even if your home is a rundown, one bedroom apartment with a leaky roof, smelly cat and sheet thin like walls, there has got to be no place like it. It may broken but there's one thing about it that you cannot discard, it is yours to call home. You feel safe in it. Right in it. Clear headed even. You know where everything is. The remote for the crackling TV is on the coffee table next to the bowl of week old peanuts. Your girlfriend's favourite dress is in the cats sand box. Your cell phone that you thoughtfully placed is in the laundry hamper and the ring that you bought for your two year anniversary is in the tool box, the last place she'd think to look. In your crappy one bedroom apartment, leaky roof and all, you love it and her and maybe even that smelly cat. But what happens when something turns sideways? What happens when you get home and you realise that the dress is out of the cat box or the remote is not where you put it. It is possible your girlfriend reclaimed her dress and threw it in the washing or that maybe she or the cat moved the remote. But that doesn't explain the note or the letters you've been getting. The letters that have been signed 'Your Eternal Fan'. My question is, what happens when you can no longer find comfort in your leaky apartment, when someone has trespassed into your house and threatened to harm your girlfriend of nearly two years? There really is no place like home, no sacred place like it. That's why it's the ideal location for a psychopath to destroy.
The only way to describe work was brutal. One word, that's it. A fairly simple day had transformed into a nightmare and Cloud Strife was ready to wake up from. Fortunately for him when he took off his uniform, the pale blue jumpsuit with oil stains, he was headed for one place and one place only. Home. He mentally imaged his girlfriend awaiting his arrival, a warm, stress melting smiling gracing her face. Though she had completed the same nine to five day she was able to maintain a grace Cloud simply couldn't comprehend but appreciated none the less. Aerith was a secretary for Midgar's most successful law firm. In truthfulness, she was much more than your average secretary. Fetching coffee and bagels weren't on the daily 'To Do' list. She was legally trained and it was a good thing to. Her incompetent, whiny boss, often relied on Aerith's judgement or aid in writing reports. Her income didn't match the work she actually performed and what she did earn she mainly donated to charities. She was like that. Selfless and kind hearted.
Often Cloud wondered if his motorcycle had a mind of its own. It always seemed to speed up whenever he headed off in the direction home. Home sweet leaky home. He had been meaning to fix the holes in the roof but never got around to it. Aerith rarely nagged. It was welcome change from his old roommate from home.
In the near distance Cloud could see it. He was almost there. His motorcycle sped up further. He could see the lights were on in the kitchen. She was a great cook. His stomach began to growl. He hoped it wasn't instant noodles. Man he had enough of instant noodles at work. Often Aerith would prepare him a lunch when she had time in the morning. Lately he boss had a new case and that meant Aerith had a new case to help him complete. Cloud was never good in the kitchen and instant noodles at work where only ten gil. The questionably flavoured water did nothing for his tummy.
He parked the bike around the back. He half expected to see her near the front entrance or hear her feet running down the steps. As always she was there, a radiant smile and warm embrace. She excitedly over to him.
'Guess who is going to be wrapping the big case up early?' Cloud held her tightly into his chest.
'Tell me again why you aren't the lawyer and that douche bag is the secretary?'
'He's no good at making coffee, the other lawyers would complain.' Laughing she looked at him. Her beaming smile widened.
'It's so good to see you right now.'
'Another bad day at work?' He released her from his embrace. She took him by his hand and led him through the garden to the house.
'I don't even want to think about it.' Stepping into the front door of their home was like entering a different place. The cool Autumn toned air melted away. The electric heater boomed through the house making it feel like Summer again. The savoury aroma of roasted flavours made his mouth water. She'd probably only been home for an hour he figured but the house seemed to be restored to a neat order. The clothes he had left on the stair case railing had been cleared. His shoes that he often left scattered on the steps were out of sight. In the living room the newspapers and magazines were swept up and placed neatly on the coffee table. The week old peanuts were still there though. Cloud smiled. So was the cat but less smelly than usual. Cloud grabbed her by her waist and pulled her into a hug.
'I know I've suggested it before but I don't get why you don't take that job at Shinra. They could use you down at engineering. The job pays a lot more and you wouldn't have to put up with idiots like Reno all day.' He released her from his embrace with a frown. He walked to the stairs and took off his shoes carefully placing them neatly. Aerith sighed softly following him into the bedroom.
'No. Instead I'd have to put up with Zack Fair. I'd rather spend another ten years working at the where I am then working for ten minutes with that tool.'
'Cloud.' He grabbed his towel and whipped it over his shoulder. 'Just forgive him. I have.'
'I'm not going to. Aerith the way he treated you is wrong. I will never work for him.' Cloud left the bedroom and closed the bathroom door behind him. He hung his towel on a hook then walked over to the basin. He ran cool water in the sink. He cupped his hands then splashed water on her face. Work was brutal. Turning on the hot water he undressed and got into the shower. But at least he was home.
Aerith went back into the kitchen. The water had boiling for her shell pasta. She burst open the packet and poured in enough pasta for two portions. The cat had jumped onto the kitchen counter. Normally Aerith would have shooed it away but she allowed it to remain.
'I know Lily. He's stubborn but I'll get him see reason. He can't continue working for Reno.' The cat meowed as if in agreement. Aerith smiled then went back to stirring her pasta. She added a bit of oil to the pot to stop the shells from sticking together. Reaching into the far left cupboard she took out some salt and sprinkled in a pinch. The kitchen window looked out onto the path leading to the house. For a second she froze. She had the odd feeling that someone had been watching her. She lifted a corner of the curtain and looked out. The wind had picked up outside. The trees swayed violently. She couldn't shrug off the feeling but she decided it best not to alarm Cloud. Why would anyone be watching her?
