Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 7 is owned by Squaresoft.
Author's Note: Muchos gracias once more to Onna and Fiery Tempest for beta-ing this part. :)
Sweet Sacrifices - 3 By: Liv
Walking down the white hallway, Aeris thought that they were calmer compared to yesterday. Or maybe it was just her rushing heart and aching head. She was behind Tifa who was in between Gast and Lucrecia. She nodded at everyone she passed by with a smile.
"Aeris!"
Aeris stopped to see who was arriving to her left, noticing she had reached an intersection at some point. "Uhh, I'll follow." She waved to Tifa before turning to the Turk. "Tseng, good morning."
"Good morning." Tseng nodded back with a slightly goofy smile. He was alone. "Fancy meeting you here...again."
"I'm visiting someone." Aeris explained. She tiptoed and looked around him. "The Turks?"
"I sent them off to check on the army."
"And you?"
Tseng's eyes looked around and shrugged. "Your father asked me to accompany you."
"Daddy?" Aeris gave a soft laugh, amused her father gave her his bodyguard for company. "Why would I need company? I won't be staying here for a long time." She gave a sweet smile to Tseng. "You've been very stressed yesterday. Personally, I am very grateful for your concern, but I think you should rest."
Tseng shook his head. "I'm doing fine." At a loss of words to say, he awkwardly pointed to his back. "Want some coffee?"
"I don't drink coffee." Aeris refused politely, shaking her head. "I believe they're waiting for me, too."
"In that case, I'll just come with you."
Aeris nodded. "Thanks for being a gentleman, Tseng." She went ahead towards the commander's room while the Turk followed behind her.
"Cmdr. Strife?"
Cloud, already wearing a hospital gown, looked up from the magazine he held. "Doctor," He nodded with a smile. "Good morning, sir." He settled the magazine on his lap.
"I see you're doing better every minute." Gast entered the room with Lucrecia and a young girl who looked like she was uneasy while she entered the room, looking around and seemed self-conscious. Gast noticed this. "Oh, Cmdr. Strife," He gestured over to Tifa. "We have with us someone who shared her blood to your men."
"T, Tifa Lockhart." Tifa approached Cloud and introduced herself, stretching out her hand.
Cloud reached for it and shook it with a nod. "Cmdr. Cloud Strife of the 4th division." He leaned back on his bed letting go of Tifa's hand. "Thanks for the help."
"Nah, it was the least I could." Tifa waved her hand to gesture her message and looked away, feeling butterflies in her stomach. "Ehh...so!" She returned her attention to Cloud. "You doing okay?" The sudden movement had caused an imbalance on her part, she thought.
"Yes, Ma'am. Not the best but I should get better soon." Cloud nodded. Suddenly, he saw Tifa stumble backwards and touch her forehead. "Ms. Lockhart??"
"No, I, I'm fine..." Tifa winced. "Maybe I'm really not that strong yet..." She got her poise back. She had concerned looks from the doctors. "No, really! I just need rest! I mean...blood transfusion isn't a joke, y'know..."
Lucrecia turned to Gast. "I'll take her back to her room, Dad."
Gast nodded and watched the two women leave the room. "Cmdr. Strife," He approached the man's side, looking at the records of his trusty clipboard. "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with you anymore. Just that..." He held his clipboard close to him once more. "You may need to train your wounded leg for walking."
"Will I need to return to the hospital, then?"
"If you wish to have the assistance of professionals, then it would be most recommendable." Gast nodded. "You can return here. But if you think you can do it yourself, you will only need the assistance of a crutch. It would be pretty annoying but in time, you will get used to it and soon, to walking without it."
"I'll take that crutch."
"Very well." Gast nodded. "If you continue your recovery, I can release you tomorrow." He smiled a formal one.
Cloud nodded, returning the gesture at his own expression. "Thank you, sir."
"My pleasure." Gast turned away and walked over to the door. "I'll see you around, then."
Cloud waved. "Yes, sir." He saw the door close.
As Gast closed the door outside, he turned to his right to see Aeris and Tseng arriving. "Well hello there, you two."
Tseng nodded his greeting. "I've come to accompany Ms. Aeris to her friend, does she still accept visitors?"
Aeris giggled and turned to Tseng. "I'm visiting a man, the commander."
"The commander??" Tseng stared incredulously at Aeris who blinked innocently. "Aeris, you...why?" It all ended with that simple word.
"I want to give him my gratitude, Tseng." Aeris answered, frankly. "He fought bravely for us. It is only right that I recognize such act."
Tseng fell silent. Truly, it was one thing that made Aeris beautiful to his eyes.
Gast waited until he was sure they were done before he cleared his throat. "Cmdr. Strife can still accept visitors. If you'd excuse me..." He nodded and left, passing by the two.
"Take care, Dr. Gast." Aeris called with a wave. She turned to the door knob and twisted it open, slowly she pushed the door. From her position, she could see that the room was well lit. A tray of medicinal instruments and the night desk sat beside the commander whose bed was in between it and some machines. Two bags of fluid hung on silver poles, one transparent and another blue and thick. The windows were found beside the machines, as well. In front of the man was a TV set suspended by some bars. "Cmdr. Strife?" She asked as she entered the room.
Cloud blinked from his magazine and turned to the woman who entered. "Ms. Aeris," He nodded, keeping his magazine away. "G, good morning, Ma'am!" His heart beat rather loudly as the woman greeted him back. Not only was this Pres. Shinra's daughter, this was the first time he met her and she, truth be told, was beautiful.
"How are you feeling, Cmdr. Strife?" Aeris approached the man. She heard a soft protest from the Turk behind her who closed the door but ignored it.
"Recovering quickly, Ma'am. Thank you."
Aeris nodded with a smile. Somehow, she couldn't help but admire Cloud's crystal blue eyes. She thought they were beautiful and definitely attractive. "On behalf of my family, I wish to thank you for your braveness."
Cloud nodded. "It's our honor to have fought for your family, Ms. Aeris." They both fell silent. But while he waited for Aeris to speak, he studied her features. He knew she got most of them from her mother, Ifalna Shinra, who was equally as beautiful as she was. He knew why many men fell for her.
"Commander," Aeris looked away and laughed shortly. "I don't know how I could make it up to you, but will there be anything you will wish--"
"Ms. Aeris, there's nothing I could ask for." Cloud shook his head, answering automatically. He was surprised to hear Aeris' offer. "...however, there MAY be one thing."
Aeris' eyes blinked. "Yes?"
"My men might want to see their family." Cloud started, a serious look on his face. "If it would be fine, maybe they could have a break from the army and return to their family. I know some of them might not want to return to the army any longer, but at our current state, I doubt anyone would attack us."
"That is very thoughtful, Cmdr. Strife." Aeris expressed her admiration. "What about you? Would you like to come back to your family?"
"Ms. Aeris, you shouldn't be too personal with him." Tseng whispered but noticed he was ignored once more. He groaned inwardly.
Cloud shook his head. "My parents have both died and none of my relatives live in Nibelheim any longer. The army would need to recover from its casualties. At this time, I think I am most needed."
"I appreciate your dedication..." Aeris' voice sounded as if she was in a trance. In her whole life, not once until now had she met a man of such disposition. "...the world needs men like you nowadays..."
Cloud felt his heart jump. "Th, thank you, Ma'am..." He managed to stutter. He could not believe what he heard.
"Ms. Aeris, I think we must go." Tseng whispered behind the woman who blinked and returned to reality.
"Must we?" Aeris looked at the clock and saw that it was an hour from lunch. "I see..." She faced Cloud and nodded with a smile. "Cmdr. Strife, I would like to see you back in the army soon."
"Ma'am, yes, Ma'am." Cloud affirmed her request and watched Aeris wave and turn to leave the room. He watched her as long as he could...and then the door was closed.
Even so, his thoughts revolved around this woman. Her every move, her every word...he remembered them clearly.
He smiled to himself. She's very nice...and beautiful, too.
While walking away from the room, Aeris stole quick glances to where she once came from. She enjoyed her short talk with the commander. He was amiable, and yet he held a certain degree of respect. He was a very versatile man--someone she'd want to meet once more.
Meet him again... Aeris smiled to herself. "Hurry, Tseng, I'll tell Tifa I'm leaving, then let's head home." She jogged towards the entrance, a certain excitement in her as the thought of telling her best friend and brother about her talk.
- End of Part 3 -
Author's Note: Muchos gracias once more to Onna and Fiery Tempest for beta-ing this part. :)
Sweet Sacrifices - 3 By: Liv
Walking down the white hallway, Aeris thought that they were calmer compared to yesterday. Or maybe it was just her rushing heart and aching head. She was behind Tifa who was in between Gast and Lucrecia. She nodded at everyone she passed by with a smile.
"Aeris!"
Aeris stopped to see who was arriving to her left, noticing she had reached an intersection at some point. "Uhh, I'll follow." She waved to Tifa before turning to the Turk. "Tseng, good morning."
"Good morning." Tseng nodded back with a slightly goofy smile. He was alone. "Fancy meeting you here...again."
"I'm visiting someone." Aeris explained. She tiptoed and looked around him. "The Turks?"
"I sent them off to check on the army."
"And you?"
Tseng's eyes looked around and shrugged. "Your father asked me to accompany you."
"Daddy?" Aeris gave a soft laugh, amused her father gave her his bodyguard for company. "Why would I need company? I won't be staying here for a long time." She gave a sweet smile to Tseng. "You've been very stressed yesterday. Personally, I am very grateful for your concern, but I think you should rest."
Tseng shook his head. "I'm doing fine." At a loss of words to say, he awkwardly pointed to his back. "Want some coffee?"
"I don't drink coffee." Aeris refused politely, shaking her head. "I believe they're waiting for me, too."
"In that case, I'll just come with you."
Aeris nodded. "Thanks for being a gentleman, Tseng." She went ahead towards the commander's room while the Turk followed behind her.
"Cmdr. Strife?"
Cloud, already wearing a hospital gown, looked up from the magazine he held. "Doctor," He nodded with a smile. "Good morning, sir." He settled the magazine on his lap.
"I see you're doing better every minute." Gast entered the room with Lucrecia and a young girl who looked like she was uneasy while she entered the room, looking around and seemed self-conscious. Gast noticed this. "Oh, Cmdr. Strife," He gestured over to Tifa. "We have with us someone who shared her blood to your men."
"T, Tifa Lockhart." Tifa approached Cloud and introduced herself, stretching out her hand.
Cloud reached for it and shook it with a nod. "Cmdr. Cloud Strife of the 4th division." He leaned back on his bed letting go of Tifa's hand. "Thanks for the help."
"Nah, it was the least I could." Tifa waved her hand to gesture her message and looked away, feeling butterflies in her stomach. "Ehh...so!" She returned her attention to Cloud. "You doing okay?" The sudden movement had caused an imbalance on her part, she thought.
"Yes, Ma'am. Not the best but I should get better soon." Cloud nodded. Suddenly, he saw Tifa stumble backwards and touch her forehead. "Ms. Lockhart??"
"No, I, I'm fine..." Tifa winced. "Maybe I'm really not that strong yet..." She got her poise back. She had concerned looks from the doctors. "No, really! I just need rest! I mean...blood transfusion isn't a joke, y'know..."
Lucrecia turned to Gast. "I'll take her back to her room, Dad."
Gast nodded and watched the two women leave the room. "Cmdr. Strife," He approached the man's side, looking at the records of his trusty clipboard. "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with you anymore. Just that..." He held his clipboard close to him once more. "You may need to train your wounded leg for walking."
"Will I need to return to the hospital, then?"
"If you wish to have the assistance of professionals, then it would be most recommendable." Gast nodded. "You can return here. But if you think you can do it yourself, you will only need the assistance of a crutch. It would be pretty annoying but in time, you will get used to it and soon, to walking without it."
"I'll take that crutch."
"Very well." Gast nodded. "If you continue your recovery, I can release you tomorrow." He smiled a formal one.
Cloud nodded, returning the gesture at his own expression. "Thank you, sir."
"My pleasure." Gast turned away and walked over to the door. "I'll see you around, then."
Cloud waved. "Yes, sir." He saw the door close.
As Gast closed the door outside, he turned to his right to see Aeris and Tseng arriving. "Well hello there, you two."
Tseng nodded his greeting. "I've come to accompany Ms. Aeris to her friend, does she still accept visitors?"
Aeris giggled and turned to Tseng. "I'm visiting a man, the commander."
"The commander??" Tseng stared incredulously at Aeris who blinked innocently. "Aeris, you...why?" It all ended with that simple word.
"I want to give him my gratitude, Tseng." Aeris answered, frankly. "He fought bravely for us. It is only right that I recognize such act."
Tseng fell silent. Truly, it was one thing that made Aeris beautiful to his eyes.
Gast waited until he was sure they were done before he cleared his throat. "Cmdr. Strife can still accept visitors. If you'd excuse me..." He nodded and left, passing by the two.
"Take care, Dr. Gast." Aeris called with a wave. She turned to the door knob and twisted it open, slowly she pushed the door. From her position, she could see that the room was well lit. A tray of medicinal instruments and the night desk sat beside the commander whose bed was in between it and some machines. Two bags of fluid hung on silver poles, one transparent and another blue and thick. The windows were found beside the machines, as well. In front of the man was a TV set suspended by some bars. "Cmdr. Strife?" She asked as she entered the room.
Cloud blinked from his magazine and turned to the woman who entered. "Ms. Aeris," He nodded, keeping his magazine away. "G, good morning, Ma'am!" His heart beat rather loudly as the woman greeted him back. Not only was this Pres. Shinra's daughter, this was the first time he met her and she, truth be told, was beautiful.
"How are you feeling, Cmdr. Strife?" Aeris approached the man. She heard a soft protest from the Turk behind her who closed the door but ignored it.
"Recovering quickly, Ma'am. Thank you."
Aeris nodded with a smile. Somehow, she couldn't help but admire Cloud's crystal blue eyes. She thought they were beautiful and definitely attractive. "On behalf of my family, I wish to thank you for your braveness."
Cloud nodded. "It's our honor to have fought for your family, Ms. Aeris." They both fell silent. But while he waited for Aeris to speak, he studied her features. He knew she got most of them from her mother, Ifalna Shinra, who was equally as beautiful as she was. He knew why many men fell for her.
"Commander," Aeris looked away and laughed shortly. "I don't know how I could make it up to you, but will there be anything you will wish--"
"Ms. Aeris, there's nothing I could ask for." Cloud shook his head, answering automatically. He was surprised to hear Aeris' offer. "...however, there MAY be one thing."
Aeris' eyes blinked. "Yes?"
"My men might want to see their family." Cloud started, a serious look on his face. "If it would be fine, maybe they could have a break from the army and return to their family. I know some of them might not want to return to the army any longer, but at our current state, I doubt anyone would attack us."
"That is very thoughtful, Cmdr. Strife." Aeris expressed her admiration. "What about you? Would you like to come back to your family?"
"Ms. Aeris, you shouldn't be too personal with him." Tseng whispered but noticed he was ignored once more. He groaned inwardly.
Cloud shook his head. "My parents have both died and none of my relatives live in Nibelheim any longer. The army would need to recover from its casualties. At this time, I think I am most needed."
"I appreciate your dedication..." Aeris' voice sounded as if she was in a trance. In her whole life, not once until now had she met a man of such disposition. "...the world needs men like you nowadays..."
Cloud felt his heart jump. "Th, thank you, Ma'am..." He managed to stutter. He could not believe what he heard.
"Ms. Aeris, I think we must go." Tseng whispered behind the woman who blinked and returned to reality.
"Must we?" Aeris looked at the clock and saw that it was an hour from lunch. "I see..." She faced Cloud and nodded with a smile. "Cmdr. Strife, I would like to see you back in the army soon."
"Ma'am, yes, Ma'am." Cloud affirmed her request and watched Aeris wave and turn to leave the room. He watched her as long as he could...and then the door was closed.
Even so, his thoughts revolved around this woman. Her every move, her every word...he remembered them clearly.
He smiled to himself. She's very nice...and beautiful, too.
While walking away from the room, Aeris stole quick glances to where she once came from. She enjoyed her short talk with the commander. He was amiable, and yet he held a certain degree of respect. He was a very versatile man--someone she'd want to meet once more.
Meet him again... Aeris smiled to herself. "Hurry, Tseng, I'll tell Tifa I'm leaving, then let's head home." She jogged towards the entrance, a certain excitement in her as the thought of telling her best friend and brother about her talk.
- End of Part 3 -