She smiled, warmly, "Hey, girl. Are you feeling any better?" She slowly made her way beside Aeris, sitting down.
Aeris looked down, as she had a sudden thought, "Umm, is he okay?"
Tifa's expression showed surprise, "Huh? What's wrong with Cloud?"
She looked up, "Oh..nothing. It's just that, well, when he brought me back, his face scraped on a part of the rundown Shinra Building." Tifa's eyes adjusted onto the woman, as she felt that same feeling that she always had, when something worried her. She smiled, showing no feeling, as she gently brushed Aeris' deep brown hair behind her.
"He should be all right," she replied, smiling. Aeris looked up at her, for a brief moment.
"You know him...," she uttered, looking away. Tifa's eyes focused, as she forced a smile.
"What are you talking about?" she questioned, suddenly.
Aeris returned her gaze, a smile upon her frail face, "Nothing. Nothing at all." Tifa slowly stood up, as she headed towards the open door. But stopped to say something.
"I'll see you soon, okay? I should be going now," she replied, nicely.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Tifa questioned, concerned, as to how Cloud was. He looked up at her, from the couch.
"It's nothin'," he replied, simply. She slowly walked up beside him, staring down at his face.
Bringing her hand to it, she added, "You should put some treatment on it, at least." He hadn't made an attempt to move, instead Cloud sat there, staring up at her.
"I'm not a kid, anymore, Tifa," he replied, standing up, and walking into the kitchen. She paused, as she stood in disbelief, at to how cruel he had been to her.
"I was just...concerned, that's all," she uttered, turning away. Cloud held onto a can of soda, as he stared over the counter at the young woman.
"....I may say things that will hurt you, Tifa....but I just want you to know that...."
She quickly looked up, expectedly, waiting for him to say the words that she had longed to hear.
"I'm always gonna be there for you. Always a friend," he concluded. She felt her heart suddenly drop, as she forced a smile. Although, she had been hurting deep inside.
"Thanks....that's all I wanted to hear," she uttered, slowly walking to the door. Cloud stared at her figure looming away, as she then turned back to him. Nearly, bursting into tears.
"I'll see you, Cloud," she said, as she soon closed the door behind her. Aeris turned to the window, as she felt cool air entering the darkened room. She slowly stood up, as she leaned over a table top, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her long brown hair laid matted against her head, as her clothes stayed dismounted. She slowly brought her fingers to her face, as she smeared off the dirt below her emerald eyes, that seemed to give off a sudden glow.
"....Aeris...," she uttered, as she turned away.
She stepped out of the shower, as she ran her fingers firmly through her thick wet hair, that hung below her waist. Aeris quickly wrapped the towel around her tiny body, as she dried herself on. Later, pulling on a long sweater, that came up to her thighs. She glanced down at herself, as she fidgeted with the sleeves, that were actually too long.
Cloud sat at the kitchen counter, as he pressed a warm cloth against his cheek. He quickly looked up, when he realized that Aeris had stood watching him, for who knows how long. She nervously walked into the kitchen, as she stared into his blue mako eyes, that hadn't even turned away from her.
Her hands were clasped together, as she came up to the counter, "I'm sorry." Cloud gave her an uncertain look, as he continued with bandaging.
"I know that I shouldn't have ran off like that...but it's just that....," she uttered.
He looked up at her, "Just promise me, you won't do that again." Aeris' eyes adjusted back up at him, as she soon smiled. There was then a sudden moment of quietness.
She slowly came up beside him, taking the cloth from his right hand, "The least I could do," she uttered, pressing it against his cheek. Cloud just watched her eyes, as she continued to press it warmly against his face. He hadn't at all removed his eyes from her, instead he sat, watching her every movement.
She looked up, a bit startled, but forced a smile, "Were you and...Aeris close?" Cloud licked his lips, something that he tend to do, when thinking.
"....close?" he uttered, his eyes blinking slightly.
"Well.......," Aeris began, "What I meant was, how do you know for sure if.."
Before she had a chance to finish, he suddenly interrupted, "I know her......her voice, her eyes......her touch...." Cloud's eyes intently stared hard at her, as she felt a sudden chill run down her spine, as she backed away a bit.
Cloud let out a soft laugh, "You're afraid of me, aren't you?" She stared hard at him, questioning in her eyes. He quickly stood up, walking away.
"Did you love her?" Aeris suddenly called out, startling him. Cloud paused, but no words escaped his mouth.
"Did you love....me?" she questioned, her eyes fragile, as it showed of something hidden away. Memories perhaps.
Cloud showed only a hint of a smile, "Even if I told her now....what difference will it make?" With that, Cloud left into the hallway, leaving Aeris standing alone.