...Time Subtle...
He blinked his blue eyes, as his foot crossed one another over the desk that sat in front of him. Rufus smiled, thinking to himself, as he sat in the big arm chair, fiddling around with a small revolver. It had probably been at least three years, when he was 21, that he had first met up with Aeris, even after all those childhood years. The two had known each other for nearly all of their lives, not including the fact that he hadn't seen her for so long.
She wasn't one that suited him, of course not. Rufus Shinra was far more independent than that. He didn't need Aeris, nor did he want her. She was just something, that needed to be looked upon. A Princess, what role would that give him? He didn't need it. Rufus' eyes slowly gazed up, as there was a soft knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" he called out, feeling a bit invaded. The door quickly opened, with a loud thump as it hit the wall. Only to reveal a tall, long legged blonde woman. She had a full figure, her outfit, barely covering anything. She was dressed in a long red gown, slits on both sides, that fell all the way up to her hips. She slowly walked in, her movements swayed.
Rufus stared up at her, not a bit amused, as she slowly leaned up in front of his desk, causing her chest to nearly jump out. "Well...," she started, as she soon sat up on the desk, crossing her legs, with a seductive voice.
"What do you want, Scarlett?" Rufus questioned, expecting something at ease.
She smiled, as she leaned over the desk, staring into his baby blues.
He slowly leaned back in his seat, as he cocked his head to one side, "If you're lookin' for a good place to sleep, its not my desk." Scarlett, a bit offended by his comment, quickly sat up.
"No one asked, Rufus," she remarked, then crossing her arms. "You shouldn't treat me like shit, then come to me later on." The young man shook his head, letting out a laughter, as he slowly arose, walking around the desk. Then stopped short in front her.
"It's more like you come running to me, don't you think?" he replied, with a sly smile, as he slowly headed for the door, then exiting. Scarlett smirked, as she followed behind him.
"What do you see in that girl, anyways?" she mumbled, pushing herself in front of him, before he had a chance to walk off. He stopped, staring back at the exotic woman.
"What are you talkin' about?" Rufus questioned, looking down at her.
She let out a laugh, "Gwaahaha, your fiancee,' am I correct?"
He shook his head, smiling, as he made way passed her. He recalled hearing Scarlett's voice, calling out to him. Still rambling on about that subject.
Aeris' emerald eyes slowly opened, as she began to stretch with a smile on her face. Her long locks were scattered around her pillow, as they were left down. She slowly sat up, taking every bit of precious time. Glancing around her room, shielding her eyes gently from the bright sunlight that blinded her.
"Finally, awake?" a voice called out, startling the young woman. Her eyes quickly opened wide, surprised that anyone could get in. Rufus stood near the balcony, staring back at her. She rolled her eyes, not a bit startled, as she would have been earlier. He definitely found someway in, no questions needed asked.
Aeris quickly got out of bed, dressed in some pajama shorts, and a loose tank-top. She had nearly forgotten the clothes she had been wearing, until she realized Rufus' eyes giving her a 'what the hell are you wearing' look. She quickly jumped back into bed, pulling the sheets to cover her petite figure.
"Geez," she began, angered, "Don't you knock?" He shook his head, as he walked over towards her, his footsteps traced by the sound of his boots.
"Just came to see if you were hungry," he replied, reluctantly.
Aeris sighed, as she turned in the other direction, "Well, I'm not."
He grinned, "Lookin' forward to seein' that guy again." The young woman's eyes quickly fell upon the tall handsome man. His blonde hair falling slightly below one side of his blue eyes. He was one of those men, that would have so many girls clinging onto him. And that was definitely true. He had the looks to kill, and Aeris wouldn't deny that. She was actually considered one of the luckiest girl in Cetra, at least she didn't think so.
"Does it matter?" She began, yet again, "Its not like I like you, and you definitely don't like me. You cant full anyone, I'm just a thorn in your side, that you want rid of." He crossed his arms, cocking his head to one side, as he smiled at her.
Aeris squinted her eyes, as she held the sheets up to her chest, "Don't you get tired of smiling all the time? Don't' your face hurt?" she muttered sarcastically, and jumped a little, as he slowly walked up beside her.
"You don't' know that," he remarked, gazing down at her, into her emerald eyes.
Aeris smirked, "Know what? Know that you have that mistress of yours prancing around all the time, when I'm not there?"
"Jealous?" he questioned, mockingly.
"HAH! Me, jealous?" she quickly stepped out of bed, not a bit ashamed of her sleeping clothes, as she walked right on by him, heading to the bathroom, "Too bad, you're lying to yourself." With that, she quickly slammed the door shut.
Cloud quickly pulled on his boots, as he hesitated, gazing out towards the open window, that joyfully greeted the calm breeze. He slowly stood up, as he headed towards the door, pulling it open. The halls were quite quiet, with not even a soul wandering around. He recalled that he hasn't even seen anyone for as long as he's been there.
"Cloud!" Aeris called out, as she quickly made way to him, right when he pulled the door shut. She greeted him, warmly, with a bright smile on her face.
"So, where is this place you told me about?" he questioned, the first thing on his mind, since the previous night. She smiled, glumly, as she pulled her arms behind her, peering up at him.
"Awww, you're no fun," she remarked, as she suddenly grabbed him by the arm, nearly dragging him down the narrow hallway, "You could at least enjoy yourself, while you're here."
"But---"
Aeris stopped short, as she swung around to face him, "No buts, you do me this favor, and I'll return it."
Cloud scratched his head, as his blue eyes fell back upon her, "I don't' need anymore dates."
She pouted, as she sighed, "Now that's not nice. Just come on, okay."
It seemed so lively, how the flowers fitted into place in such a big garden. It seemed almost too heavenly, too peaceful. It was empty, just as Aeris had expected it to be. After all, the garden was in her possession. She loved flowers, ever since as long as she could remember. The two strode down the painted gold pathway, as she began fiddling around with a long leaf, running about in his presence.
Cloud watched her every movement.She continued to flow with the gentle breezes that filled the air, the scent of wild flowers roaming along with it. She paused, when she then ran towards a big rock, just before her, then sitting down. Inviting Cloud beside her.
He sat down, as his blue eyes gazed up at the skies overhead. A perfect World almost, the total opposite of where he was. Maybe it only made him happier to know that Aeris was alive somehow. But she didn't know a thing.
She smiled, interrupting his thoughts, "So...you miss this place, you call home?" Cloud hesitated, as he glanced quickly at her, then back up at the crystalline structures of the tall built castle.
"Not really," he uttered, thinking deep, "I never really had a place to call home."
"Wow...," Aeris aforesaid, "must be hard..." Cloud stayed quiet, as he let her do the talking.
"So," she began again, "tell me about yourself. Your dreams...your goals." He smiled, slightly thinking.
"You sure love people openin' up to you, don't you?" he uttered, looking down. Aeris hadn't take a second to take her eyes off of him. They sat watching him, studying his face, his features.
"Yea...," she said, softly, "Actually, I do." There was an odd silence between the two, as they sat there, waiting for one to say something.
"...Just like her," Cloud uttered. She had a curious look on her face, as she leaned over, reading his expression.
"Her?" she questioned, "Your girlfriend?"
"..no...," he replied, then gazed up, "I don't know what you'd consider her...I never really thought about that, up til now. It surprises me, all the things I could have called her..."
"Oh," Aeris muttered, turning a way a bit, "So she's dead." Cloud paused, as he let the same words seep through, touching him, lightly. A gentle smile crossed his lips, as he made eye contact with the young woman.
"Yeah...," his voice trailed off. Aeris gave him a concerned smile, then turned away.
"Just like me," she uttered, her hands pressed on the hard stone beneath her, "It hurts to lose someone you love."
"And worse," Cloud added, "having to sit here and seeming as though they were actually there."
"So you've felt that, too?" Aeris questioned, surprised.
"Too?" he repeated, curious.
"I've had those feelings, like somehow, I could communicate with those that were gone. But up until now, things are still the same. At night, I hear voices...sounds like my mother. She said to me....'One day, you'll know the truth. One day you'll be happy, again.' And I believe that someday, that will happen for me. What I truly want in life...."
"What else could you want?" Cloud questioned, not expecting her to answer, as he continued on, "You gotta a pretty good life here. Beats livin' in the Slums. A girl like you wouldn't survive there...or you did."
Aeris turned to him, with a smile, as she stared at him, "You talk as if you know me....I feel as though I know you..." He swayed to look at her, seeing a glow in her eyes.
She let out a soft laughter, "Maybe I did....in a dream," she restated, trying not to sound as strange as she thought she did, "But..I did meet you..."
"Sharing a bit of intimacy, I see," Rufus' voice trailed along, causing the two to turn to face him. He smiled, as he stood a distance from them, his hands shoved into his pant pocket.
Rufus? Cloud thought, but he was ready, for things to become stranger by the minute. Aeris sighed, as she slowly stood up.
"Don't let me get in your way, Princess," he replied, before she had a chance to comment, "I'm just strolling by." With that, he made way down the narrow path, as he headed back in the same direction.
"Who is he?" Cloud questioned, as she turned to face him. She smiled, nervously.
"Some guy that claims to be my fiancee,'" she replied, reluctantly. Cloud took in a deep breath, as he grazed over that odd fact, that made everything else seem so fiction.
"Oh," he uttered, the only thing that could possibly escape his lips. "So, when do you plan on taking me there?"
"Why so soon?" she questioned, a concerned look on her face, "I mean...you've only been here awhile. Remember what you told me? That thing about being my bodyguard?"
Cloud let out a laugh, as he gave her a crooked smile, "You've got plenty of that around here."
"But that's not the point," she began, "A man should never take back his words to a lady. You can at least stay awhile, before, I could say you can go. Your home isn't gonna runaway from you."
"Yeah, it won't," he mumbled.
Aeris smiled, as she exclaimed on a handshake, "Good! We agree."
