"Well," Aeris thought to herself as hell broke loose. "at least Tifa didn't
get struck by lightening."
"Why didn't you go out and look for them!?" Cloud raged. " Do something besides sit and say 'Oh well...we lost our only transportation...who cares!"
"Oooo," Sephiroth murmured to Aeris as they watched the two go back and forth. "mocking...low blow."
"It's not as if I don't care Cloud!" Tifa shot back. "But did you actually expect me chase AND catch a scared gold chocobo? I'd like to see you do it!"
Aeris arched an eyebrow at that. " She has a point, Kera was really moving when the tether snapped."
"You could have at least attempted to get them back Tifa! Now what are we going too do?"
"Yeah well, we are kinda stuck." Sephiroth replied to Aeris.
"We can walk Cloud! Ever hear of it? We used to do it all the time before! Get off your lazy ass and do some work for once in a few months!"
"She's got another point." Aeris chuckled "And a pretty good burn."
"Watch it Tifa!" Cloud warned.
"Or what Cloud?"
Cloud growled and raked a hand through his hair. "Forget it. I just can't believe you let them go." Cloud sat heavily on his unrolled sleeping bag.
"Like I said it's not as if I meant to." Tifa replied quietly. "It was a mistake...I'm sorry."
"Yeah well, that won't bring the chocobos back will it?" Cloud withdrew from the fight and began to clean and skin the animals he and Sephiroth had caught.
Tifa sunk numbly to the cave floor and stared into the fire, seemingly oblivious to the awkward silence. Aeris looked from Cloud to Tifa for a moment before seating herself next to Tifa and taking the other woman's hand. Truthfully, Aeris was glad they'd had the fight it only meant that they were realizing the truth. Of course, Aeris hated seeing either of her friends hurt. Cloud still meant a lot to her and Tifa.well, Tifa had become part of her heart since she had found the truth. She looked up at Sephiroth who shrugged, knelt next to Cloud and began to help him strip the meat and cook it. Nothing more was said between the group barring the occasional "Excuse me." Or "Could you get that."
That night Tifa and Cloud slept on opposite sides of the banked fire. Sephiroth slept a few feet away from Cloud and Aeris lay awake just next to Tifa. She stared at Tifa's sleeping form. She felt sorry for what was going on in Tifa's life right now. The other woman was dealing with some confusing thoughts. She'd been operating under the assumption that Cloud was the one she loved. Why? Well, because years of living around him and interacting with him had told her so. Tifa had done what felt right and now, because of Aeris, she was questioning everything she and Cloud had been through. Aeris reached out and flicked some of Tifa's hair from her face. She would do anything for the other woman. However, at this point it seemed Tifa would prefer to not be with anyone. She had a lot to think about. Aeris drew her hand back into the warmth of her sleeping bag and closed her eyes.
"I love you." She whispered quietly.
Tifa's eyes flew open at this. She hadn't actually been asleep, just dozing. It had startled her to feel Aeris touch her so intimately, and then to hear her say that! "So that's what she meant by the Planet having other plans for me. How could I have missed it?" Tifa studied the other woman's outline through the darkness. "It.doesn't bother me. Why should it really? I mean love is love, right?" Tifa frowned and turned on her side to face Aeris. "But accepting what she said would mean that everything in my life is planned for me by the Planet. Do I really live a mapped existence? Does this mean I have no free will?" The thought of that truly disturbed Tifa; she didn't like the idea that she had no control over her actions. That she was nothing but a puppet that could be manipulated and changed when the Planet saw fit. She sniffed and pulled the end of her sleeping bag up to her chin. No one ruled over Tifa Lockhart, not Cloud, not Aeris, and not the Planet. She yawned and relaxed her tensed muscles in attempt to get to sleep.
* * *
The next day Aeris awoke later than the rest of the group. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked about. Someone had prepared a light breakfast of oatmeal and dried fruit, an extra bowl and spoon had been left aside for her. Sephiroth nodded in her direction and continued eating his food. "Not a morning person I guess." She thought to herself. Aeris shrugged, grabbed her bowl and served herself some oatmeal. The two ate in silence for a moment until Aeris realized that Tifa and Cloud were missing. She raised a questioning eye to Sephiroth who simply gestured further into the cave with his bowl and spoon. Aeris looked over just in time to see Tifa and Cloud emerge from within the cave. Cloud leaned over and gave Tifa a kiss on the cheek as they entered. She gave a small smile and moved to roll up her sleeping bag, as she knelt she glanced briefly at Aeris. That one look told Aeris every thing, Tifa had heard her last night and felt her touch. Things were not 'cool' between Cloud and Tifa, although Cloud seemed to be oblivious to that fact. Aeris looked over to Cloud, who was grinning at Sephiroth. "Completely oblivious". Aeris sighed as she began to clean up her area. "Look at what I've done to her. I've destroyed her life. Things were fine until I came back. Was the Planet so wise in bringing us back?" She sat back on her heels and grabbed her brush to settle her brown locks.
"Ready to get going?" Cloud asked the group as he shouldered his pack.
"Yeah, one moment." Sephiroth said as he doused the fire and cleaned the pot of oatmeal.
"I'm ready." Aeris said in a quiet voice.
"Let's be off then." Cloud smiled and the group began the trek through the Mythril Caves.
***
Aeris groaned inwardly as she, Cloud, Tifa, and Sephiroth trudged deeper into the caves. They'd been walking all day. Well, at least it seemed like all day to Aeris. It was hard to tell what time it was without the sun. The only source of light they had was a lantern they'd purchased in Midgar, and a luminous moss that covered the cave walls. The moss was enough to light the way, but they still lit the lantern just in case they came across a moss-less room. Like last night not much was said as they made their way through the caves. It was rough on them all, for suddenly there was nothing to say. Aeris wanted desperately to speak to Tifa, and she knew Tifa wanted to speak to her. Aeris just wanted to explain herself to the other woman. Cloud didn't seem to want to talk to either of them and normally directed his questions to Sephiroth. Of course Sephiroth was used to people not talking to him so the silence didn't seem to shake him too much. Aeris remained silent as she plodded on. She hung her head and kept her eyes to the ground as she walked so she didn't notice she was about to run into Tifa until it was too late. Aeris ran head first into Tifa causing the other woman to yelp and jump.
"Sorry." Aeris whispered.
"It's okay Aeris." Tifa put a hand on the other woman's arm. "Look at that."
Aeris focused her gaze onto the room they had just entered, it was strikingly beautiful. The cave room was very large with a high craggy ceiling which ended in black eternity. Aeris squinted trying to see through the dim light but gave up. The walls were made of some clear greenish substance and coated, just like the rest of the cave, with that luminous moss. The clear substance also formed stalactites and stalagmites which strained to connect ceiling and floor. In some places it had actually managed to do so forming columns of glowing light. Multiple corridors lead to different places all around the room, each stretching on until the eye became too weak to make out an end. A familiar sound caught Aeris' ear and she looked about for a moment until Tifa tapped her shoulder and pointed to the far side of the room. A cool stream of cave water slipped lazily through the room and onward to who knew where.
"Guess we should stop for now." Cloud said as they stepped into the wondrous room. "Let's rest for awhile and then decide if we wanna go on or stay until tomorrow."
"Alright then." Sephiroth set his stuff down and quickly grabbed his Masamune. "I'll go out for food, any special orders?" he grinned for a moment as the rest of the party stared at him. "Or you could all just gape at me ..." Sephiroth inspected on of the corridors leading from the room. "This one looks promising. Why don't you come with me Cloud?"
"Sure, hold on a minute." Cloud unrolled his sleeping bag, grabbed Ultima and caught up with Sephiroth who had donned a thick black cape. "What's with the cape," Cloud asked looking Sephiroth up and down as they walked. "ya cold?"
"Maybe I am." Sephiroth pulled the cape closer about him, molding it to his body. "It's a constant 65 degrees in here..."
"Wimp." Cloud taunted and folded his arms behind his head.
"Who you callin' a wimp, porcupine!" Sephiroth shot back.
"I'm callin' you a wimp...wimp"
Although Aeris grinned as their friendly banter receded into the cave she did not feel even slightly amused. Now she was alone with Tifa. Sephiroth, she was sure, would get through to Cloud. Cloud wasn't mad at Sephiroth like Tifa was mad at her. They wouldn't be alone, but she would. Aeris sighed and leaned back on a moss coved stalagmite. She looked over to Tifa as she moved around the site, making a pit for the fire and gathering cool water from the stream. Their eyes met as Tifa turned back with the pot of water. Aeris started to say something but closed her mouth and turned away, unable to speak. Tears began to run slowly down her face. How was she going to do this? She heard the pot being set down and a few seconds later an arm wrapped around her shoulders.
"Don't cry Aeris." Tifa whispered into her ear. "I know you think I'm mad."
"Aren't you?" Aeris sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"Of course not." Tifa gave her a squeeze. "Why would you think that?"
"Well, you had that argument and I know that you felt me touch you...and you wouldn't speak to me..."
"Well," Tifa settled next to Aeris and stroked the other woman's back. "I was confused for awhile, and I was a little angry, but never at you. I was upset at myself for not understanding soon enough. I understand now though, I understand how you feel, and how I'm starting to feel."
Aeris unconsciously leaned on the other woman for support, relief coursed through her veins as she processed Tifa's words. Tifa didn't hate her, in fact she admitted to having the same feelings. It made her heart soar to know this.
"I was so afraid I'd ruined your life. That you didn't want to be with me but at the same time knew you couldn't be with Cloud."
"Aeris..." Tifa put a hand to her face. " you don't have to explain anymore...I understand."
Aeris looked up into Tifa's smiling face and her breath caught in her throat. She paused for a moment, taking in the scent that was Tifa, then abruptly leaned forward pressing her lips to Tifa's. The other woman jumped back a bit but didn't break contact. Instead she held the Aeris closer savoring the rare gentle contact. Despite her need for love Aeris was surprisingly gentle. Cloud had never been that gentle. Some cave water dripped from a stalactite and the tiny drop sounded loud amid the silence. The two jumped a part at the sound then smiled as they realized how silly it was to jump at such a sound.
"Well, I'm glad things are okay between us, but what about Cloud." Tifa worried at a loose string on her sleeping bag.
"Oh I think Cloud will be okay." Aeris gave a wise smile.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, but I won't say anything to Cloud until you're ready okay?"
"Okay...but what are you keeping from me?"
"Nothing." Aeris smiled coyly. "Figure it out on your own."
"Or I could just make you tell me." Tifa pounced on Aeris and began to tickle her relentlessly.
Sounds of their mirth echoed from wall to wall.
"Why didn't you go out and look for them!?" Cloud raged. " Do something besides sit and say 'Oh well...we lost our only transportation...who cares!"
"Oooo," Sephiroth murmured to Aeris as they watched the two go back and forth. "mocking...low blow."
"It's not as if I don't care Cloud!" Tifa shot back. "But did you actually expect me chase AND catch a scared gold chocobo? I'd like to see you do it!"
Aeris arched an eyebrow at that. " She has a point, Kera was really moving when the tether snapped."
"You could have at least attempted to get them back Tifa! Now what are we going too do?"
"Yeah well, we are kinda stuck." Sephiroth replied to Aeris.
"We can walk Cloud! Ever hear of it? We used to do it all the time before! Get off your lazy ass and do some work for once in a few months!"
"She's got another point." Aeris chuckled "And a pretty good burn."
"Watch it Tifa!" Cloud warned.
"Or what Cloud?"
Cloud growled and raked a hand through his hair. "Forget it. I just can't believe you let them go." Cloud sat heavily on his unrolled sleeping bag.
"Like I said it's not as if I meant to." Tifa replied quietly. "It was a mistake...I'm sorry."
"Yeah well, that won't bring the chocobos back will it?" Cloud withdrew from the fight and began to clean and skin the animals he and Sephiroth had caught.
Tifa sunk numbly to the cave floor and stared into the fire, seemingly oblivious to the awkward silence. Aeris looked from Cloud to Tifa for a moment before seating herself next to Tifa and taking the other woman's hand. Truthfully, Aeris was glad they'd had the fight it only meant that they were realizing the truth. Of course, Aeris hated seeing either of her friends hurt. Cloud still meant a lot to her and Tifa.well, Tifa had become part of her heart since she had found the truth. She looked up at Sephiroth who shrugged, knelt next to Cloud and began to help him strip the meat and cook it. Nothing more was said between the group barring the occasional "Excuse me." Or "Could you get that."
That night Tifa and Cloud slept on opposite sides of the banked fire. Sephiroth slept a few feet away from Cloud and Aeris lay awake just next to Tifa. She stared at Tifa's sleeping form. She felt sorry for what was going on in Tifa's life right now. The other woman was dealing with some confusing thoughts. She'd been operating under the assumption that Cloud was the one she loved. Why? Well, because years of living around him and interacting with him had told her so. Tifa had done what felt right and now, because of Aeris, she was questioning everything she and Cloud had been through. Aeris reached out and flicked some of Tifa's hair from her face. She would do anything for the other woman. However, at this point it seemed Tifa would prefer to not be with anyone. She had a lot to think about. Aeris drew her hand back into the warmth of her sleeping bag and closed her eyes.
"I love you." She whispered quietly.
Tifa's eyes flew open at this. She hadn't actually been asleep, just dozing. It had startled her to feel Aeris touch her so intimately, and then to hear her say that! "So that's what she meant by the Planet having other plans for me. How could I have missed it?" Tifa studied the other woman's outline through the darkness. "It.doesn't bother me. Why should it really? I mean love is love, right?" Tifa frowned and turned on her side to face Aeris. "But accepting what she said would mean that everything in my life is planned for me by the Planet. Do I really live a mapped existence? Does this mean I have no free will?" The thought of that truly disturbed Tifa; she didn't like the idea that she had no control over her actions. That she was nothing but a puppet that could be manipulated and changed when the Planet saw fit. She sniffed and pulled the end of her sleeping bag up to her chin. No one ruled over Tifa Lockhart, not Cloud, not Aeris, and not the Planet. She yawned and relaxed her tensed muscles in attempt to get to sleep.
* * *
The next day Aeris awoke later than the rest of the group. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked about. Someone had prepared a light breakfast of oatmeal and dried fruit, an extra bowl and spoon had been left aside for her. Sephiroth nodded in her direction and continued eating his food. "Not a morning person I guess." She thought to herself. Aeris shrugged, grabbed her bowl and served herself some oatmeal. The two ate in silence for a moment until Aeris realized that Tifa and Cloud were missing. She raised a questioning eye to Sephiroth who simply gestured further into the cave with his bowl and spoon. Aeris looked over just in time to see Tifa and Cloud emerge from within the cave. Cloud leaned over and gave Tifa a kiss on the cheek as they entered. She gave a small smile and moved to roll up her sleeping bag, as she knelt she glanced briefly at Aeris. That one look told Aeris every thing, Tifa had heard her last night and felt her touch. Things were not 'cool' between Cloud and Tifa, although Cloud seemed to be oblivious to that fact. Aeris looked over to Cloud, who was grinning at Sephiroth. "Completely oblivious". Aeris sighed as she began to clean up her area. "Look at what I've done to her. I've destroyed her life. Things were fine until I came back. Was the Planet so wise in bringing us back?" She sat back on her heels and grabbed her brush to settle her brown locks.
"Ready to get going?" Cloud asked the group as he shouldered his pack.
"Yeah, one moment." Sephiroth said as he doused the fire and cleaned the pot of oatmeal.
"I'm ready." Aeris said in a quiet voice.
"Let's be off then." Cloud smiled and the group began the trek through the Mythril Caves.
***
Aeris groaned inwardly as she, Cloud, Tifa, and Sephiroth trudged deeper into the caves. They'd been walking all day. Well, at least it seemed like all day to Aeris. It was hard to tell what time it was without the sun. The only source of light they had was a lantern they'd purchased in Midgar, and a luminous moss that covered the cave walls. The moss was enough to light the way, but they still lit the lantern just in case they came across a moss-less room. Like last night not much was said as they made their way through the caves. It was rough on them all, for suddenly there was nothing to say. Aeris wanted desperately to speak to Tifa, and she knew Tifa wanted to speak to her. Aeris just wanted to explain herself to the other woman. Cloud didn't seem to want to talk to either of them and normally directed his questions to Sephiroth. Of course Sephiroth was used to people not talking to him so the silence didn't seem to shake him too much. Aeris remained silent as she plodded on. She hung her head and kept her eyes to the ground as she walked so she didn't notice she was about to run into Tifa until it was too late. Aeris ran head first into Tifa causing the other woman to yelp and jump.
"Sorry." Aeris whispered.
"It's okay Aeris." Tifa put a hand on the other woman's arm. "Look at that."
Aeris focused her gaze onto the room they had just entered, it was strikingly beautiful. The cave room was very large with a high craggy ceiling which ended in black eternity. Aeris squinted trying to see through the dim light but gave up. The walls were made of some clear greenish substance and coated, just like the rest of the cave, with that luminous moss. The clear substance also formed stalactites and stalagmites which strained to connect ceiling and floor. In some places it had actually managed to do so forming columns of glowing light. Multiple corridors lead to different places all around the room, each stretching on until the eye became too weak to make out an end. A familiar sound caught Aeris' ear and she looked about for a moment until Tifa tapped her shoulder and pointed to the far side of the room. A cool stream of cave water slipped lazily through the room and onward to who knew where.
"Guess we should stop for now." Cloud said as they stepped into the wondrous room. "Let's rest for awhile and then decide if we wanna go on or stay until tomorrow."
"Alright then." Sephiroth set his stuff down and quickly grabbed his Masamune. "I'll go out for food, any special orders?" he grinned for a moment as the rest of the party stared at him. "Or you could all just gape at me ..." Sephiroth inspected on of the corridors leading from the room. "This one looks promising. Why don't you come with me Cloud?"
"Sure, hold on a minute." Cloud unrolled his sleeping bag, grabbed Ultima and caught up with Sephiroth who had donned a thick black cape. "What's with the cape," Cloud asked looking Sephiroth up and down as they walked. "ya cold?"
"Maybe I am." Sephiroth pulled the cape closer about him, molding it to his body. "It's a constant 65 degrees in here..."
"Wimp." Cloud taunted and folded his arms behind his head.
"Who you callin' a wimp, porcupine!" Sephiroth shot back.
"I'm callin' you a wimp...wimp"
Although Aeris grinned as their friendly banter receded into the cave she did not feel even slightly amused. Now she was alone with Tifa. Sephiroth, she was sure, would get through to Cloud. Cloud wasn't mad at Sephiroth like Tifa was mad at her. They wouldn't be alone, but she would. Aeris sighed and leaned back on a moss coved stalagmite. She looked over to Tifa as she moved around the site, making a pit for the fire and gathering cool water from the stream. Their eyes met as Tifa turned back with the pot of water. Aeris started to say something but closed her mouth and turned away, unable to speak. Tears began to run slowly down her face. How was she going to do this? She heard the pot being set down and a few seconds later an arm wrapped around her shoulders.
"Don't cry Aeris." Tifa whispered into her ear. "I know you think I'm mad."
"Aren't you?" Aeris sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"Of course not." Tifa gave her a squeeze. "Why would you think that?"
"Well, you had that argument and I know that you felt me touch you...and you wouldn't speak to me..."
"Well," Tifa settled next to Aeris and stroked the other woman's back. "I was confused for awhile, and I was a little angry, but never at you. I was upset at myself for not understanding soon enough. I understand now though, I understand how you feel, and how I'm starting to feel."
Aeris unconsciously leaned on the other woman for support, relief coursed through her veins as she processed Tifa's words. Tifa didn't hate her, in fact she admitted to having the same feelings. It made her heart soar to know this.
"I was so afraid I'd ruined your life. That you didn't want to be with me but at the same time knew you couldn't be with Cloud."
"Aeris..." Tifa put a hand to her face. " you don't have to explain anymore...I understand."
Aeris looked up into Tifa's smiling face and her breath caught in her throat. She paused for a moment, taking in the scent that was Tifa, then abruptly leaned forward pressing her lips to Tifa's. The other woman jumped back a bit but didn't break contact. Instead she held the Aeris closer savoring the rare gentle contact. Despite her need for love Aeris was surprisingly gentle. Cloud had never been that gentle. Some cave water dripped from a stalactite and the tiny drop sounded loud amid the silence. The two jumped a part at the sound then smiled as they realized how silly it was to jump at such a sound.
"Well, I'm glad things are okay between us, but what about Cloud." Tifa worried at a loose string on her sleeping bag.
"Oh I think Cloud will be okay." Aeris gave a wise smile.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, but I won't say anything to Cloud until you're ready okay?"
"Okay...but what are you keeping from me?"
"Nothing." Aeris smiled coyly. "Figure it out on your own."
"Or I could just make you tell me." Tifa pounced on Aeris and began to tickle her relentlessly.
Sounds of their mirth echoed from wall to wall.