"Hey Cloud, can you help me with something tonight?"

Aerith's voice stops Cloud in his tracks, glancing behind his shoulder. Under the light of the night sky and the smouldering fire pit, there's a hopeful twinkle in her eyes that catches him off guard.

"Tonight?" he repeats, a bit incredulously. His eyes shift upwards, a deep navy already colouring the sky. "You mean right now?"

She nods, that gentle smile of hers never leaving her face.

He gives her a flat look. "It's late, Aerith," he says, a refusal ready at the tip of his tongue.

"So?"

He takes a step towards his tent. "No."

"I didn't even ask you anything yet!" she calls after him. "What if I really needed your help?"

His heel digs into the soil as he cuts his step short. He can hear the irritation in her voice rising and knowing Aerith, she'll probably go off and do whatever she's planning, regardless his help. Whatever that entails.

He pivots on his heel, turning the face her. Her glare is serious but slightly sly.

Better safe than sorry.

"Fine. I'm listening."

She smiles knowingly. From Cloud's experience— a bad sign.

"Remember those Moth Slashers we fought near the Shinra Building? They had Carbon Bangles. I was hoping to steal one from them, but I didn't get the chance."

Carbon Bangles? He lifts a brow suspiciously.

"What for? The rest of us have more than enough power to keep you safe," he says with a glance to their tents, inhabitants sleeping peacefully inside them.

Aerith purses her lips. Surprisingly, she fidgets with her fingers, hesitation clear in her posture. To Cloud, it's rare to see her so caught off guard.

"It's not just about me, Cloud," Aerith says with a shake of her head. "I need to pull my weight, too. It's the least I can do."

His eyes soften at her words, a sense of understanding washing over him. Aerith is by no means a combatant, she and Cloud both recognize. Still, she's persevered throughout many sleepless nights and hard fought days in their travels, and for that, Cloud admires her. The least he could do now was to give her the opportunity to try.

"So you want to go back," he says after a moment.

Aerith nods. "Sorta. Maybe just in the area. See if they're lurking anywhere near. Honestly, I was planning on sneaking out for a bit while you were all sleeping, but I figured that probably wouldn't be a good idea."

Cloud crosses his arms vehemently. No way he would have let that happen. "Terrible idea. That's a dangerous area."

"I know," Aerith admits, moving closer to him. Instinctively, he steps back, but he's a fool to think Aerith would back down.

Instead, she does that . . . thing she always does— that thing where she leans towards him with her hands clasped behind her back, an innocent expression plastered on that cheeky face of hers.

He looks away, hiding the imminent blush creeping onto his face.

She does it on purpose, he's sure of it.

"That's why I need you to come with me, mister bodyguard," she adds in a tone that's much too gleeful for the situation at hand. A part of him wants to argue, but the other knows well enough not to. Once her mind was set, there was no stopping her.]

"Fine," he says reluctantly, "but it'll cost you."

Aerith gasps in mock offence. "After all the time we've spent together, you're still trying to cheat me out of my money?"

He huffs. "Not like you ever paid to begin with."

Aerith gives him a glare, a comeback likely ready on her lips, but she quiets instead. Cloud watches as her lips purse in thought, her finger slowly tapping on her chin.

Cloud scratches the back of his neck. Was she taking his words seriously? He was only kidding. The thought makes Cloud cringe inwardly. Then again, he knows all too well that he wasn't good at telling "jokes" anyway.

Cloud sighs. "Hey, I was just jo—"

"Deal," she agrees suddenly. There's a mischievous look in her eyes that he's much too familiar with. He's not sure if he should be more worried or intrigued.

"But . . ." she continues. Ah, he thinks. By the lilt in her voice, he should definitely be worried this time. "How 'bout a little compromise? Maybe another form of compensation for all of your oh, so gallant bodyguard services?"

Cloud narrows his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Aerith takes a step forward, their bodies close enough that he can feel the hot breath of her words and the sweet scent of her hair. He swallows.

"Will a kiss do the trick?"

Cloud freezes. His heart stutters in his chest, eyes widening in shock. Her words catch him so off guard that he coughs, throat hoarse from surprise.

Did she just—?

Before Cloud can form a coherent thought, he sees the twinkle in Aerith's eyes fade. She laughs.

"I guess that was a little too forward of me, huh?" she says with a hasty smile, words distant and quick. There's a look in her eyes that Cloud can't place. "I'm sorry, you don't hav—"

"No—!"

What?

It takes Cloud a moment to register his thoughts. By the look on her face, Aerith must be doing the same.

Cloud swallows. "No . . . Ah, I mean—"

Aerith tilts her head. "No?"

Shit.

"It's not that—I mean, I, uh . . ." he stumbles. His words trail off, a surrender to his embarrassment. For the second time today, the feeling of blood rushing to his cheeks compels him to turn away.

He shakes his head frustratedly, trying to hide his unease. "Forget it," he relents. "Let's just go."

Wordlessly, Cloud adjusts the sword on his back, refusing to spare a glance Aerith's way. If a simple blush had been enough for her to tease him in the past, surely she wouldn't pass up the chance make fun of him now. The faster they finish the job, the faster he can forget this conversation ever happened.

He saunters away, hearing her footsteps trail behind him. "Cloud, wait!"

She grabs his hand abruptly, causing Cloud's foot to stutter back. He turns his head.

"Wha—"

It happens in three seconds.

One. Aerith's face is next to his, teetering on her toes. He's so close that he can see the flutter of her eyes as they close ever so slightly. Two. She closes the distance. Her soft lips are against his cheek, leaving just a whisper of her presence on his skin. Three. She pulls away, eyes shining against the pale moonlight.

Although the world around them seems to slow, the moment passes too quickly for Cloud to comprehend.

He looks at her with wide eyes. For once, Aerith looks just as bashful as he feels when he's around her.

"Paid in advance," she says simply, a subtle blush growing on her face. "So now you have to do this for me. Okay?"

"Y-yeah. Okay," he replies, still reeling. It's all he can manage to say.

Aerith giggles, cheeks still as pink as his own. "Alright then, let's go!"

When he doesn't follow, still clearly in a daze, she gives him a sheepish smile, hooking her arm onto his and pulling him into her stride. Cloud blinks, moving mindlessly.

"Hey," she says, after a moment, "maybe if you're lucky, I'll give you a tip, too!"

Utterly defeated, Cloud closes his eyes. "You're killing me here."