Here is chapter 3 of my story. In this one we'll finally see Aeris and Sephiroth talk and maybe Vincent will be introduced. I'm not sure.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII…
Sephiroth could see everyone talking to each other in the canteen, basically ignoring him. When he arrived earlier many people tried to talk to him, mostly girls. They blatantly walked up to him, fluttering their eyelashes while swaying their hips. Many people had called him handsome but he never gave anyone the time of day, but even with his limited knowledge on girls he still knew when they tried to flirt with him.
Even though many had tried this morning, they all failed, including that annoying youngster from Wutai. He had no time for distractions when he had training to do.
As he stood alone on the corner of the canteen he spotted a short young woman walking towards him. She had a pink dress on and gold bracelets on either wrist. From what he could tell she had long brown hair as it slightly swayed as it hung in the air. As she got closer he could see her green eyes full of life and warmth. Turning away, he hoped she didn't come to start a conversation with him.
"Hello, my name is Aeris" he heard her say. She had sweet voice that seemed to carry in the air. Closing his eyes, he tried to ignore her and hopefully she would leave him alone.
"Excuse me" she said, still in the same sweet tone. Sighing, Sephiroth turned to look down at her. Up close he could see how green her eyes were and how soft her skin looked. Puzzled at his thoughts, he pushed them down to the back of his mind.
Looking down at her, he didn't respond. He simply waited for her to continue whatever she had to say, then finally leave him in peace.
"I said, my name is-" she began again, but a wave of the hand cut her off.
"I heard what you said" he told her as she looked stunned.
"Then why didn't you answer me?" she asked him, feeling a little hurt that she was being blatantly ignored.
"I didn't see the need to answer you" he told her evenly. With that he turned to the rest of the canteen with his side facing her. Stunned by his response Aeris simply nodded and looked at her feet.
"Um, okay…I'm sorry I bothered you" she said sadly. Sephiroth couldn't help but feel guilty at what he said to her and how he acted. He watched her walk sullenly away back towards a table in the corner of the canteen. He saw her sit down with her friends as they resumed their conversation, throwing angry glances his way.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Aeris sat down at the table with her new found friends, her embarrassment and hurt still plain to see. She kept thinking about the man who just ignored her in front of everyone in the canteen.
'What a jerk' she thought to herself. She looked back at him where he stood, still silent and rigid as if he were a statue. Sure he was handsome, but he was arrogant and full of himself.
'Didn't see the need to answer me' she thought angrily. As she continued to stare at him he wouldn't move, until by some unseen force he slowly turned to look at her, catching her eyes. Blushing furiously she turned back to the table where the rest of her new friends were talking.
'Damn, he caught me ogling him' she thought, as she tried to strike up a conversation with Cid. He told her all about the Air Force and his life in Rocket Town while she explained her time in Cosmo Canyon and her membership in AVALANCHE.
"So Aeris" Cloud asked as he turned to her "Where are you staying? Are you staying in the dorms or do you live around here?"
"My mother lives in Midgar, in the slums" she told him. They all slightly gasped at her answer, earning them a confused look from her.
"What?" she asked
"You live there? Aren't they dangerous?" asked Tifa. Aeris nodded at her question, wondering if the slums were that notorious around the world.
"Are you sure you should be staying there?" asked Cloud, concern etched across his face. Tifa threw him a quick glance before turning back to Aeris, hoping no-one saw her. Aeris noticed the look, deciding that Tifa might have some feelings for her blonde friend.
"Yeah, I'm fine" she told him. Could still didn't look convinced at her answers, but decided to let it rest for the moment. As they continued their drinks they talked about the upcoming year and the rest of their time at the university. Only Cloud wasn't staying here for three years, he was off to the Army after the first year.
After awhile the conversation died down and the events of the day were slowly catching up to them. They could see the rest of the students slowly leave the canteen and they decided to follow suit. As they reached the main gates Cloud turned to Aeris.
"Do you want me to walk you home?" he asked her. Aeris blushed at the kind gesture but shook her head in reply, and she could see Tifa tense at the exchange.
"No it's okay, I don't live that far away" she told him. As he opened his mouth to argue the point further she cut him off.
"I'll be fine, after all I lived her for eighteen years so I'll be okay" she told, slightly touched at his persistence. Sighing in defeat Cloud smiled at her.
"Okay then, but be careful" he told her. Behind him Cid and Barret were making kissing noises behind him, giggling at their friends concern like a couple of school girls. Turning back angrily he cut them off with a glare, with the only occasional stifle of laughter could be heard. Taking the opportunity Yuffie bounded forward at hugged Aeris.
"Be safe when you walk home, and tell me about it tomorrow. And then I'll tell you about the time I-" she began but was cut off by Tifa.
"Calm down Yuffie, we'll see her tomorrow" she told the young Wutian. Turning to Aeris she smiled politely at her.
"Watch out and I'll see you at the canteen at about 9 'o' clock" she told her. Even though she was on the verge of going out with Cloud she still couldn't be mad at the woman, she was too nice. Aeris smiled and nodded in response. Suddenly, a strong hand patted her on the back, jolting her forward.
"Be safe, these damn slums are dangerous" she heard Barret telling her. She turned around and offered the large man a smile.
"Aw shucks, ain't this a touching scene" Cid said as he offered his hand to Aeris. Smiling warmly at him she politely shook his hand.
"Take care when you walk home, kiddo" he told her. After saying her thanks and her goodbye's for the night she started her short journey home in the slums of Midgar.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
As Aeris walked home she could see the effects of pollution everywhere she looked. It wasn't only effecting the planet, but it endangering the lives of people too. The effects were bad air, poor water and a short food supply but the population never learned or listened to the members of AVALANCHE.
She could see the public drunkenness and promiscuous behaviour of the residents, feeling once again the guilt of leaving her mother behind. As she got closer to her home she smiled brightly at the welcoming sight it offered her. It was still early in the day, about midday, but she wanted nothing more than to just go home and curl up on the sofa and relax.
As she walked up to the front door she could hear two voices from inside. One was her mothers' and one was dinsticively male. She giggled at the thought of her mother having a secret boyfriend, so she decided to catch them. Opening the door she could see someone's bags next to the couch.
'Maybe he's staying for a few days' she thought. Hearing the voices from the kitchen she crossed the room towards the two 'lovebirds'.
"Hey mom, I'm home!" she called out, hoping to interrupt whatever they were talking about. She respected her mothers privacy and she didn't want to eavesdrop. She saw the door opening and her mother walked out, smiling at her daughter.
"Hey honey, how was your day?" she asked cheerfully. Aeris smiled at her mother's happy demeanor, apparently this man was making her happy.
"I'm fine, but I'm a little tired" she told her mother. Gesturing to the door Aeris smiled at her mother.
"So mom, who's your mystery man?" she asked her. Elmrya blushed at her comments, sending her daughter into a giggling fit. Her mother hushed quickly, trying hard not to alert the man in the kitchen.
"Oh shush" her mother told her "It's not what you think" Elmrya said.
"Oh sure" her daughter said between her giggles.
"Remember when I said I was going to put up the spare room for rent?" she asked her daughter. Aeris nodded, remembering it was in one of the letters her mother had sent her.
"Well, a tenet just arrived and he's in the kitchen" she told her daughter. Calming down, Aeris looked towards the kitchen and then back to her mother.
"He's in the University just like you" Elmrya continued.
"Really? Then I might have met him today" she told her mother. Nodding, her mother turned to the kitchen and gestured for her to follow.
"Come on and meet him. Be warned, he isn't much on conversation" she told her. Aeris only nodded in response to her mother's comment, thinking back her failed attempts to talk to the man with silver hair. Elmrya opened the door and made way for her daughter.
As Aeris walked in she was greeted with sight of a man dressed in black sitting at the kitchen table, with long silver hair running down his back. She paused in shock at the very man who had shunned her so blatantly in the canteen.
"Aeris, I would like you to meet Sephiroth"
Ta Da! Done. What will happen now Aeris and Sephiroth have to share a house?
