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I looked right through to see you naked and oblivious ... And you don't see me.3 Libras - A Perfect Circle
-------Sephiroth was waiting for Aerith in the lobby of the hotel. As she descended the stairs, she observed him tucking a triangular object into one of the inner pockets of his coat before glancing surreptitiously about. He noticed her arrival then, but said nothing, and merely motioned her out the door.
The did not leave the Golden Saucer by the way they had entered; instead, Sephiroth chartered a plane. He said very little, still irate with her, but did mention that their next destination was in the midst of the small island cluster to the southeast. The plane was also a new experience for Aerith, as she had never flown before, but the venture was overshadowed by the misery that settled upon her like an unrelenting cloud. It was a small aircraft, capable of carrying only four people, and it took off from an aerial pad on the uppermost levels of the Saucer. Sephiroth sat in the cockpit with the pilot, while Aerith was delegated to the back. Neither of them spoke for the duration of the flight, which was just short of four hours.For a while Aerith watched the land pass by below, intrigued by the way she saw everything from a different aspect from above. Very frequently her thoughts strayed to Sephiroth, and whatever it was that existed between them, and her mood became somber. She had enjoyed his touch, his kiss, and yet the knowledge that she had so very easily succumbed to him overwhelmed her with guilt. How could she do such a thing?
And, she mused grimly, how could she not?It was almost as if ... as if she cared for him. Was it possible he felt the same for her? Her eyes strayed to where he was seated at the front of the plane, only the back of his head visible. He was not the same man that had abducted her all those days ago, was not the same man who had threatened so easily to kill Tifa. This was a new person, frightening in his difference, terrifying for the fact that she was so strongly drawn to him. All the same, he was still taking her to Jenova, still working under Jenova's will, and that was something she could not ignore.
They reached their island destination around midday. The plane touched down roughly, having to use a grassy stretch of land for lack of an actual runway. The moment she left the plane, the heat hit her with such force that she immediately wished to be back on the air conditioned plane. On the ground, Sephiroth paid the pilot his wages, and once that was done he gestured for Aerith to follow him.The small aircraft departed with the noisy whine of its engines. From the flat, grassy area Sephiroth led Aeris up a slight incline. She had removed her coat, carrying it bundled under one arm, but already her clothes were damp from the muggy, oppressive air. The plants here were of the like she had never before seen; exotic, vibrant flowers and trees with long, slender leaves. She had heard of the tropical climes, but had never expected to see one first hand, and for a while her gloom lifted as she gazed at the marvels around them. As usual, Sephiroth paid no attention whatsoever to the surroundings and instead led them on with single minded purpose.
Hours passed. Occasionally, they would stop, and Sephiroth would produce from within his coat a canteen filled with water or a small ration of dried food. He would not speak to her, would not look at her, and it disturbed her how much she was bothered by this. If only she could forget all that had been ... perhaps then they would have a chance?She stole a glance at him as they stood together on a rise, looking down into the thick jungle below. His face was impassive, as if chiselled from marble, and he would not acknowledge her gaze. Was this how it was to be then? Back to being prisoner and captive?
She sighed. There was no answer forthcoming, and Sephiroth had started walking again, down the hill towards the jungle. Despairing, she slowly followed after him.-----
Sephiroth nursed his anger throughout the hours of the day. He was confused, he was irritated, and he was apprehensive; all of this combined made him furious. Why couldn't Aerith accept the fact that he no longer meant her harm? Why couldn't she take his word that he wouldn't let Mother harm her, that things had changed? He understood that what had transpired was hard to believe, but what was done was done, and that was all there was to it. This morning, when he had awakened to find her watching him with open curiosity and wonder - never before had he felt such contentment. When she had kissed him willingly it felt as though his heart had dropped, and though it was a disconcerting feeling he had liked it all the same. He had thought that maybe, just maybe, they had reached an understanding ...But they hadn't. And because she doubted him still and refused to accept the fact that they were meant to have this bond between them, he had grown angry.
It wasn't as if she were unsure of how she felt about him. He knew she desired him; as they travelled he caught the shy glances she cast his way full of longing and confusion. She'd admitted as much this morning when they had lain together. He also realized she was still afraid, and he wished he could take that fear from her, but she held onto it like some sort of shield. He had never experienced anything remotely like this before, and hadn't the faintest clue how to go about handling it. And so, as the day progressed, he found himself becoming firmly mired in a mixture of irritation and bewilderment.It was not a place he wished to be.
It was an hour before sunset when he decided to stop their travel for the day. They had been following the edge of the jungle for all this time; entering the mazelike forest would have severely slowed them down. They had reached the beach; the white sand stretched to the north as far as they could see, and the gentle sound of the rising sound mixed with the soft calls of the jungle. It was warm enough that even he was sweating, the leather of his coat sticking uncomfortably to the bare skin underneath; they would not need a fire tonight. From within an inner pocket he withdrew a pouch containing dried fruit, and another containing dried meat, and tossed them to Aerith. She caught them silently, and settled herself cross legged on the sand before starting to eat. The canteen was, he noticed, almost empty. Curtly ordering her not to leave this place, he went off in search of fresh water.It took him longer than he had anticipated to locate such a source. A fair distance from where he'd called a halt he found a small pond just within the boundaries of the jungle, and after sampling the water himself he refilled the waterskin. It was almost an hour later when he returned to find that Aerith, weary from the days exertions, curled on her side and fast asleep in the sand.
He gently set the canteen down beside her, and stepped away. He wanted nothing more than to lie down with her and hold her, kiss her ...He snarled at himself. He was a man, and not a slave to emotion. Swiftly, almost violently, he divested himself of his coat, flung it down on the sand, and walked out to the waves rushing into shore.
-----It was the sound of the ocean which brought her to wakefulness. She sat up, blinking, to find that the sun was just sinking below the horizon. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, had in fact meant to wait until Sephiroth returned in order to speak with him. Immediately she noticed the canteen beside her and the crumpled leather and metal pile that was Sephiroth's coat. Casting a glance around and finding him nowhere near, she lifted the waterskin, uncorked it, and drank deep. Her thirst quenched, she set about unlacing her boots, wanting to feel beneath her feet the sand. That done she stood, and wondering where her captor had gone she headed for the water.
The reflection of the setting sun off the waves was achingly beautiful. She was almost to the water when she saw him, standing not far out, the water rising around his thighs He was facing away from her, as if he too were watching the sun set. Sitting on the shore, safely away from the water, were his tall black boots. Slowly, hesitantly, Aerith approached the waves. As the ocean closed around her skin she sucked in a breath; the water was refreshing, cool, and after a moment she waded a little further. Sephiroth had not turned, and she was unsure whether he was ignoring her or if he could not hear her approach. This close she could see his entire form was wet; his hair hung in sopping tails to his hips. He was naked from the waist up; water on his pale skin caught and reflected the last of the sun's light.The very sight of him took her breath away.
For long moments she stood there, the waves lapping gently at her knees, watching him, wanting to commit this image to memory forever. When finally she found her voice, she called softly, "Sephiroth?"He turned his head then, to see her standing behind him and to the right. He watched as she drew closer, wading slowly through the waves that tried weakly to push her back, until she stood at his side. His eyes held a speculative light, his demeanour contemplative, and after a moment he turned back to watch the sunset.
"Leave me."His words were quiet, but Aerith winced anyways. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to wind her arms around him and lose herself within his being. She replied just as quietly, "No."
She watched as one corner of his mouth curved upwards mirthlessly. The water was above her waist now, but it was warm, pleasant. She said then, "I'm sorry."Luminous green eyes returned to her, measuring. "You have no reason to be."
"Don't I?" She asked. She took a step closer to him, hesitant. "This is just as strange to you as it is to me. I'm afraid, but I'm not afraid of you. Not any longer."He didn't answer, his gaze unwavering.
"Understand," she said, "That wanting to be with you goes against everything I am. We are opposites, Sephiroth, like the sun and the moon. What you serve, what you believe in, is everything I was raised to despise. I cannot just forget that.""I know." He agreed, surprising her. "But here we are, together, and there is nothing that either of us can do about it."
And that was the absolute truth of their situation."I never once questioned Mother's will," he continued, "I accepted because she and I are connected. We are alike as nothing else on this Planet is or will be."
Aerith shook her head. "The one you call Mother is an abomination, a monstrosity.""So say the Ancients. So say the Cetra. But Mother is power; Mother seeks to free this world of all the pests that riddle it."
"Is your faith so unwavering?"It was a simple question. He looked at her then, and his expression was one she had never seen him wear before. He seemed lost, isolated. "It used to be," he said, "But not any longer. I don't know what I believe, now."
His words stunned her, inspired her to move towards him, reach for him. He caught hold of her like a drowning man, burying his face in her neck, and for a long while they remained thus, the only sound the rhythmic rising of the waves around them. When he raised his head and fiercely claimed her mouth with his own she was willing, eager. Her hands came in contact with the hard, sculpted muscles in his chest and ran over them lightly; he made a sound then like a contented cat. She giggled, and he lifted his head with a smile.He swung her into his arms so swiftly she let out a startled cry, and turning he carried her to shore. When they reached the spot where the canteen and his coat lay he set her upon the sand, ever so gently, and followed her down. Again, their lips melded, and she met his passion with trembling eagerness. He was so careful with her, as if she were something fragile, something unreal, and the way it made her feel was indescribable. In turn, she treated him like some sort of marvel she had only just discovered, something she'd always searched for and had just now found.
Later, when the sky was well and dark, and he'd reined in his desire with great and forcible effort, they lay intertwined beneath the stars. Nothing was said, for words could only mar this moment, this instant that neither of them ever expected to have. Different as they were, in their own ways this was a type of salvation.In that they were well matched.