Hey guys, thanks for the comments, as few as they were they were all positive so that's got to be a good sign.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing! Not a thing, no character or place name.


Right, so Cloud's adventure has officially begun, and soon he's going to realise exactly what he'd gotten himself into. And Leon and his crew will realise this too. Good luck Cloud, you're going to need it!


Aerith

Aerith opened the peep hole on her shop door and spoke through the narrow space. All she could see was a man's hood. "I'm closed, unless it's an emergency come back tomorrow," she said firmly, one hand on her fire poker and the other on the doorknob.

The stranger moved "Wait, um. A seed recommended your couch."

Aerith gasped. Leon!

She fumbled with the door and pulled it open so only a chain was keeping it shut, she peered through the gap and looked the stranger up and down. He was obviously the Mako soldier, but how did he know what to say?

She gripped the doorframe tightly "What did you say? Who told you to say that?" she demanded, her other hand tightening on her poker.

The stranger shrugged, glancing around for the Knight patrols which would be circling by again at any moment, when he spoke he sounded a little flustered "He didn't tell me his name, he said you'd know if I said a 'seed recommended your couch' …"

Aerith hesitated a moment longer "SeeD ..." she whispered. He's the only one who'd say that ... better double check. "Did he tell you to come to Garden?" she probed.

The stranger shrugged, his glances over his shoulder growing desperate "He said find a girl at a Garden Clinic, and to mention that line. He said if I did you- er she, would know who he was." He stepped closer to the opening "Can you help me? Are you her?"

Aerith felt a smile turn up her lips, Oh Leon, I know you're not a people person, and this just proves it.

"Silly boy …" she murmured to herself. She turned her attention back to the bewildered man who'd knocked on her door and smiled at him "One moment," she closed the door to undo the last of the locks and then opened the door to the stranger Leon had sent her way - knowing full well that the second he crossed her doorstep she was involved, and nothing was going to save her. However, she trusted Leon, he would never put her in more danger than she could handle.

She smiled as he rushed past with a loud sigh of relief. "The Mako soldier I presume," she said briskly as he stepped inside. Best get to the point.

She heard the man snort behind her as she bolted up, closing the peep hole and resetting the chain "How can people tell?" he asked, sounding frustrated.

Aerith smiled and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear "You're too obvious," she chuckled as she turned to face the man in her hallway.

The man pulled his hood back and groaned "What does that mean?" he had blond spiky hair and blue-green eyes that seemed to glow ever so slightly, they were faintly bloodshot, his skin was pale – lack of proper rest and nutrition, Aerith saw at once – and his clothes were wet through.

She laughed again "Your eyes for a start, and the fact that no one is allowed to hide their faces in the city yet you wore your hood up, you're a new face, you try too hard to avoid eye contact and contact in general, you glance around and act nervous, you're out at night in a curfew area, plus I bet you have walked away from a Knight patrol or two haven't you?"

The man's jaw was unhinged.

Aerith realised she must have hit the nail on the head.

She nodded kindly "You don't behave how the state expects its citizens too. We're not allowed to hide, your behaviour makes you stand out even if you try to fit in. It's too obvious that you don't know the rules and that you're trying to dodge their scrutiny, it's only logical that someone would think that you're suspicious. You're lucky you were sent here."

The man sighed heavily, slumping at his shoulders in exhaustion "I … I didn't realise things were so different."

Aerith reached out and patted his shoulder, ignoring when he tensed at her action, but taking note all the same. My he's jumpy, he needs to relax, all that stress can't be good for him. She smiled at him as if he was one of her patients, she had been told she was a calming person. She walked past him and beckoned him to follow her upstairs.

The man followed her, she made sure he was following her and she saw him admiring/analysing her house. Her house was a shop downstairs, a local clinic full of medicine cabinets and bottles and pills, some herbs and potions too, a few bandages, and sweets for the kids, and a till locked tightly with the profits of the customers. Upstairs there was a small kitchen combined with a living room, it had a radio which was buzzing lowly with slightly tasteless tunes, and a television. The colour scheme was light polished wood and hints of pink and orange. There was a single bedroom, a closet, and a fireplace against the back of the bathroom.

Aerith put the fire poker back where it belonged and smiled bashfully when the man raised an eyebrow at her. "In a city like this one doesn't tend to take chances," she explained, wiping her hands on her skirt "Because I'm a business I'm allowed to have the extra security locks, but even so it's best to come prepared for whoever knocks late at night."

The man nodded and cleared his throat "If you don't take chances, why help me?"

Aerith smiled, Leon must have picked him up in the streets if he didn't have time to explain anything, the poor man looked confused and suspicious. Areith saw she'd have to fill in a few gaps. "Well … it's kind of a long story. I'll tell you after you've showered and gotten into something warm. Are you hungry? I made casserole yesterday so there's plenty of leftovers," she beamed.

The man looked shocked "Um, okay … Thanks. Aerith, isn't it?" he said, holding a hand out at last.

Aerith smiled and shook his hand, it was strong and slightly rough with callouses, a swordsman – she recognised after a moment. "Indeed. Pleased to make your acquaintance Mr …"

"Call me Cloud," he offered a half smile and Aerith relaxed.

"Cloud it is, then. The bathroom is through that door, don't stay in those wet clothes or you'll get sick," when he opened his mouth to speak she raised a hand "After you've washed and dressed I'll answer any questions as best I can, I promise, I'll get supper ready."

Cloud looked a little lost but then shook himself and moved towards the bathroom.

Aerith made sure he was actually going to do what she said before she made her move.

Soon Aerith heard the sound of her shower running, she smiled to herself. She went into the kitchen and took out some leftover casserole and put it over the wood burning stove in a pot to heat up. She sat down and watched the fire burn from within its metal cage, heating the house and the water pipes all around.

She folded her hands in her lap and felt a worried crease form between her eyebrows "Leon …" Aerith clasped her hands together and worried her lip. I hope you know what you're doing.

She shook herself.

Of course Leon knew what he was doing! He had too much to lose if he messed up, if he did this then he was one hundred percent sure. Aerith just had to trust his judgement, Leon was never wrong, he couldn't afford to be ... there were too many eyes watching ...

If Leon thought Cloud was worth the risk of arrest then she's follow his instincts. If Leon thought he could be trusted then she'd trust him. If Leon asked her to hide him then she would make sure he was hidden.

She stood up and dusted off her skirt and went to find some suitable clothes for her guest. She checked in her closet and found a few of Leon's old clothes from when he used to spend the night. She ran her hands over the faded fabric and remembered the better days …

An Old Bailey barely holding together with wood and brick ... drinks in the evening sun ... sleepovers both planned and accidental ... fishing on the no-longer-there dock ... dancing at parties ... stealing apples and pears in the summer, and being chased by their parents down the cobbled streets now too scary for adults to walk down alone.

Aerith held the clothes to her face and inhaled.

They smelt as distant and foreign as the memories ...

She detoured a moment to gather a few medical supplies, just encase, and then picked up a towel and knocked on the bathroom door. "Cloud?" she called.

A moment later "Yeah?"

"I've got a change of clothes and a towel here, I'll leave them outside the door," she put them down and went back to sit in a comfy armchair and absently watched the casserole steam. She pulled it onto a tray and placed it ready for Cloud along with a drink of water and some pills.

I'd better prepare for the questions. How much should I tell him Leon? She thought to herself, imagining his answers, and looking up from her deep thoughts only when the bathroom door opened to snatch the clothes and towel she offered.

I guess I'll have to judge myself, and think as you do. You didn't even tell him your name! That's implies a level of caution ... but sending him here implies assurance. So ... I should mention you as little as possible? I know you like your privacy, even now I'm unsure how many secrets you own. You wouldn't give him the whole picture at once, but it's going to be hard to explain certain things if I leave out details.

I wish you were here, I wish I could call you.

Aerith glanced at the landline sitting innocently on a corner table. She knew the lines were monitored, she couldn't make late night calls or talk about sensitive information over the phone, even though she really wished she could at the moment.

I'll trust your instincts - you think he's worth the risk. You sent him to me, so what I tell him is up to me, she decided at last, just in time for the door to open and Cloud to step out.


And so, with the upcoming next chapter we shall have some inkling as to what Aerith and Leon's motives are. We shall explore the secrets of Hollow Bastion - admittedly I already have it written out and waiting for you, but I'm just going to withhold information for a while.

Sorry this one was so short. Next chapter will make up for it!