Sorry it took me a while to update guys. It took a little brainstorming to figure out how I wanted this chap to go. I decided to keep it rated T however I just made a new Live Journal that I'm using for strictly fanfiction so feel free to check it out on my profile. I will be putting lemon chaps, extras and drabbles on there as well as news and thoughts. I haven't wrote the lemon yet and I'm still getting familiar with LJ so if anyone knows how to use it feel free to offer me a hand in learning. So for the lemon lovers, you'll get it but after I figure out how to post it on a separate page and link it on my LJ entry…Ok well in the meantime on with the story.
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Chapter 11
The moonlight still pooled in through the cracks of the window. Silence now settled in the room once full of whispers and calls of pleasure. Fingertips walked down the bare slender shoulders of her sleeping curves. He lay on his side, arm draped over her as she slept beside him, flat on her back. Only the sheets stood concealing the intimate flesh they had fed on so progressively throughout the night. His eyes watched her as she slept peacefully, dark strands hanging over her creamy skin angelically.
Axel smiled as he reminisced in the new experiences his body endured within the past few hours, filled with exploring fingertips, wandering lips, and arousing tastes. The way his name passed through her lips and the way her fingertips clutched onto his shoulder blades and through his fiery strands of hair so needing, it was something his mind would never forget. The heat of her body against his and the scent of their sweating skin was eternally memorized.
His fingers gently brushed aside the loose strands of hair resting on her cheek before he leaned in to press his lips against her. Her body did not stir at his touch. He couldn't blame her. She must've been exhausted and now she was deep in slumber in his arms. Nothing would get between them again. Nothing would make her doubt him again. His existence was now something that would not fade for a long time to come. He was sure of that.
However thoughts of regret and guilt were nagging him from the depths of his mind, not thoughts of her but thoughts of something else. Something he had denied and put off for too long. Although his mind tried to push this away, he knew deep down, there was another purpose he needed to fulfill, a purpose other than being with her. This made him uncomfortable, knowing it was something he'd have to face and deal with very soon. In the meantime he leaned into the sheets and held Tifa's body closer to his. For now he'd close his eyes and push it away one last time. For now he'd enjoy the time he had left, the time to be with the one he belonged to, before it came time to leave.
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The rain had stopped some time ago, leaving the night air damp and misty. There was a few cool breezes but nothing too bothersome for the man sitting in the deserted Market Place, always stuck in his own twilight. His blond head leaned back against the cold brick wall as he inhaled, arms crossed and brows furrowed in deep meditation.
After he had been asked to leave by Tifa, he had been doing a lot of thinking. He thought about the things she said to him in her anger. He thought of the things she must've expected from him and he utterly failed. So many years he had spent out of his life, being by her side, pulling her into his darkness without knowing. He caused her tears and buried feelings of unrequited love. He had never meant to do so but of course he had never meant to do a lot of things but they happened either way.
All he ever wanted to do was protect her, make sure Midgar was safe along with the rest of his world. All he wanted was to finally find happiness and peace, although such dreams never lasted that long. Whether he liked it or not, there was a darkness lurking within him that he'd never be rid of. It was a darkness he needed to learn to tame. Now he knew that. No room was left for any more mistakes. He wouldn't allow himself to make any more mistakes.
He shook his head at himself until he heard a familiar set of footsteps timidly approaching him. Without turning he knew by her presence who it was. He tried to form a smile on his face but like almost all things, he was failing.
She leaned in with her hands clasped behind her back innocently, light brown curls framing her smiling face, "It's a bit late to be standing around here don't you think Cloud?"
Cloud did not answer. He just simply nodded as she leaned against the wall beside him. "How's Tifa doing?"
"She should be fine now, it was only a slight concussion" he kept his eyes to the ground beneath his feet.
Aerith nodded in reply. "I'm glad…" There was a long pause as she swayed her body side to side, her arms still clasped behind her. Cloud hung his head, not showing any emotion or body movement. After a while, Aerith stopped swaying. She let her body rest on the cold wall, their shoulders brushing against one another's.
"How-how are you doing?" her voice was low, sincere. They hadn't spent much time together since he had come to this world and she was so involved with helping Leon with the city's restoration. Although everything was busy, she still didn't fail to notice the way Cloud wandered in the Market Place, waiting for something, or stood in the night's darkness, questioning his own mind.
"Hmm, could be better I guess" he tried to form another feeble smile and try not to worry her. Just like Tifa, she saw through his lies and tough exterior. Still she tilted her head and smiled back. She knew when it was better off not to question him. After all he couldn't answer questions he himself did not have the answers to.
"Aerith…" Cloud suddenly lifted his head to face her and she raised her brows in curiosity. "How did you get here? What happened to Zack?"
Aerith took a moment to think before she replied. Cloud just kept his attention on her, waiting for an answer. "Well…I don't exactly know. The last I remember, we were in the Life Stream watching over the planet and ridding the world of the geostigma. I think when the balance between the darkness, the hearts and the worlds began to waver somehow I ended up here. Zack…did not come with me and all my memories of Traverse Town and Sora returned" She lowered her head almost as if slightly disappointed.
"I see…" Cloud didn't know exactly what to say to her. He could understand her worry though. He turned away from her again to look up into the dark sky; still trying to clear away the gray clouds from covering it's light.
Suddenly she spoke again, a glimmer of confidence in her voice, "But I feel- like he's okay. I mean I don't know for sure but somehow I just know that he's fine…I think if anything he was left in the Life Stream and for some reason destiny decided my place was here right now. It seems like we're always running into each other whenever you're in a pinch huh?" She laughed frivolously as she brought her hand to cover smiling pink lips.
Cloud returned her small laugh, "Yeah, you're right". She looked up into the sky with him and after another moment of thought he spoke again, this time more seriously. "I'm sure he's fine too. Just like we knew you were there back on our world, I feel him too" Aerith nodded back in confidence, her curls bouncing gracefully on her shoulders.
"So you're just out here counting stars?" Of course she meant that sarcastically since he was out so late all alone and doing nothing.
"It seems you're doing the same," he accused her.
She laughed, "Well helping to restore the city does get boring at times and it never seems to end. Leon's a workaholic. Sometimes I just tend to drift away without him noticing" Cloud shook his head as he moved to sit on the steps. She followed to join him. The air was getting chillier and bringing bumps to rise on her bare arms. Small droplets of water rested in her light brown locks from the mist.
"Can I- ask you something?" Cloud clutched the ledge of the step he was sitting on even though it was wet. He was nervous but he was tired of being stuck. If someone would help to clear the dark clouds in his mind, it would be her. She had always done so in the past, even in his darkest hours she appeared in his mind and in spirit to share her words of wisdom and encouragement.
"Sure, go ahead" she saw his tense hands and gently placed her fingers on his hand. His body relaxed at her warmth and calming touch.
"I know…that you've forgiven me for my sins but…do you think Tifa would do the same?"
She squeezed his hand firmly; "I think she already has…Maybe it's you that has a hard time forgiving yourself. You've always been so hard on yourself" Cloud nodded in agreement, acknowledging his own flaws and she continued. "I heard the rumors, about the Nobody"
He spun his head to her in surprise, eyes wide. "H- how did you hear that?"
"Well let's just say Leon likes to be kept informed on what's going on in his city. He makes sure nothing slips by him unnoticed," he turned away in embarrassment, heat rushing to his face. He felt naked now, she knew his troubles with Tifa, the troubles he told himself he'd take to his grave if possible but she knew.
"Cloud," she whispered for his attention, raising her hand to move his face to look at her. Slowly he met her eyes, his were so full of doubt, regret, guilt and pain. Hers were always so full of light, confidence, purity and peace. "She loves you, she always will. I just think that she was always lost, waiting for you to reach out to her and you never did because you were lost yourself. Of course you didn't mean it that way but fate has a funny way of working. I think if you really care for her, you'll be glad someone finally reached out to her before she drowned on her own"
His brows bent as he pulled away from her gaze, "I can't Aerith, I admit maybe it was me that caused all this and it was my fault she was lost, but I can't feel safe knowing she's in the hands of a Nobody"
"Cloud I didn't mean-" she reached out to touch him and calm his anger but he moved back. She returned her hand back to her lap. There was an awkward silence between them.
Without waiting for further conversation, Aerith stood up from the steps, brushing the back of her pink dress. She turned to walk away but stopped a few steps behind him. With her back facing him, she turned her face enough so that the side of her jaw line was visible. "I don't sense any evil intentions in that being. I trust Tifa. Everyone needs to find their place in this life. Perhaps you're always looking in the wrong places at the wrong times… You're still lost"
Those powerful words sent a jolt of pain and realization shooting through his chest. Still Cloud did not move or respond and with those last words, Aerith left Cloud sitting in the Market Place.
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He watched as her eyelids slowly fluttered open from deep slumber. She squinted, adjusting to the shapes around her before her eyes finally enlarged to reveal their glimmer in them. A smile spread across her lips as she met the gaze of the man hovering over her, his green eyes admiring her every movement. Leaning on his side, he brought his hand up to shield her eyes from the brightening sunlight, now strewing in and introducing a new day.
"Have you been watching me the whole time?" she smiled at him and he smiled back mischievously. Her fingers lifted the covers higher to her neck. The air in the room was still cold and she didn't want to ruin the warmth wrapped within her sheets.
Axel shook his head at her, "If I told you I was, would you seduce me again like you did last night?" He laughed and she nudged his chin with her knuckles.
He turned back to face her and rose his eyebrows at her playfully. Tifa giggled, bringing her finger to draw a line down the bridge of his nose and poke at its end. The moment became slow as it did so many times the night before and Axel leaned in. He pressed his lips firmly against hers and she responded, bringing one hand into his fiery spikes of hair.
She hummed between their lips, still enjoying the taste of his lips brushing against hers. No matter how many times he kissed her, it was a flavor that would never get old. It still made her shiver and made her mouth water. He broke their kiss momentarily to bring his body over hers, resting on his elbows. He whispered into her ear, "Again…"
She didn't need to question further to know what he meant. She weakly protested, already failing, "I don't think I have any energy left" He broke her will so easily now, not that she minded.
He kissed her again on the lips, then her forehead. He whispered back, "Don't worry, slowly. I'll do it" His hot breath wisped over the tender skin on her neck and she could already feel the desire from her body calling out to him. She gasped even though his lips weren't even touching her yet and released her breath once she felt his lips finally meet her neck. It was just like he said, slowly, maturely, delicately, he was savoring her against him before he would take her fully.
She brought her hands to hold his head against her neck, arching her back and trying to near her body to his. He lifted himself up from her and brought his finger to her face. He wagged his finger at her, "Patience is a virtue" She pouted and his devious grin stretched longer. He hushed her before letting his body rest on hers again, returning to nourish on her sweet skin.
"You're so beautiful" his words tickled her ear and her eyes began to burn. Without looking his thumb wiped a tear forming in her eye, "You've shed enough tears during the night" Their night together, as he touched her, kissed her, held her and whispered to her, she had cried. She cried from releasing the pain she once had, she cried from enjoying the pleasure she was experiencing, she just shed tears unwillingly. He knew they weren't unhappy tears because he would've sensed the darkness. It seemed that she had so much on her shoulders and she had craved so much that when she was finally relieved, she could only cry from it the happiness of it all.
"I can't help it. I just- I-" He brought his finger to hush against her lips. His lips began to graze at the edges of her earlobe triggering her to say one of the things he found himself wanting to hear more throughout their time together. It wasn't exactly what she said but the way she said it, how she said it, the way it sounded coming from her lips during those intimate moments between them. It was his name.
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Cloud clutched the white plastic bags in his fingers. They were full of food and sweets. The Market Place was now bustling with people and voices clamored around him. The sunlight was at its brightest this morning and the gray had long cleared. He headed in the direction of the Inn with a determined look on his face.
Upon walking into the Inn, a small middle-aged woman rested her elbows on the wooden counter lazily. A green handkerchief wrapped around her brown short hair and she wore a white apron over her matching dress. She seemed to be dozing off until she saw the tall man appear through the Inn entrance. As he approached the stairway her eyes widened and she called out. "Oh no!"
Cloud spun his head to look at her in obvious shock from her sudden outburst. She waved her hands frantically in front of her before clearing her throat and scurrying to walk in front of him, blocking the stairway. "Are those for that young lady you brought in the other day?" She pointed to the groceries in his hands and he nodded without a word. He stared at her blankly and clearly confused.
She went behind him, pushing his back to move him away from the stairway toward the kitchen door next to the counter. "Well she seems to be sleeping peacefully and I'm sure you wouldn't want to disturb her so why don't you just take those groceries and put them in the kitchen for now. I'll be sure to give them to her and-" She was rambling nonsense nervously and this only gave him an itch of suspicion.
He pulled away from her grasp and turned to face her, furrowing his brows at her almost angrily, "What is the meaning of this nonsense? You've let me go to her room before when she was sleeping"
The woman brought her fingers to fumble in front of her face timidly. Her eyes darted around the room as if expecting something to happen to rescue her. Cloud kept his intimidating glare on her, waiting for an explanation. "Well umm- I just thought- that maybe-" She stammered and stuttered foolishly in front of him.
She had seen the young brunette run out crying that day because of him. She heard the yells of their heated argument echoing through the hollow ceiling of her kitchen. She also heard the same girl calling someone else's name blissfully through the same ceiling last night. It made her happy to know that the young girl seemed to have found a man worth her heart but now she couldn't bear the thought of this other man coming upstairs to destroy it. There had to be some way to convince him not to go upstairs but her mind was vacant from ideas.
Cloud did not bother waiting any longer, now growing inpatient he headed back to the stairway. The Innkeeper followed him, still rambling and urging frantically for him to come back downstairs. He tuned her out and instead, quickened his steps towards the direction of Tifa's room. His suspicion was at its peak and he demanded to know the reason why he was suddenly denied access to her room.
Finally he came to her mahogany door and brought out the spare key that the Innkeeper had given him days ago. The Innkeeper was running down the long hallway towards him, still pleading. She cursed herself for ever giving him the key. Within a split second he shoved the key into the lock, turned it and slammed open the door.
His jaw dropped and his eyes widened to a scene that his imagination thought too impossible to ever conjure. The Innkeeper gasped in fear and as Cloud's eyes burned and his heart shattered, the bags of groceries fell to the floor, sprawling its contents helplessly upon it. His lungs stopped contracting air and all movement in his body seemed paralyzed at that moment. Yet even though he was immobile and mute, his mind was screaming.
Tifa! Why!
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Lilac Phoenix, when I read your review I laughed at that part when you said "I hope he doesn't walk in" cause I was like damn she hit it right on the nail Lol. You guessed it. Tough situation now huh. Caught red handed Tifa. Stay tuned.
Also I need a Beta reader so if anyone is good at English and writing and wants to volunteer plz let me know. Sometimes I need another set of eyes to spot the things that mines doesn't.
