Unspoken
By mihoyonagi
Chapter 19: Smile
Though the night before was certainly the most heavy thought residing within his mind, Sephiroth would be damned before he brought it up prior to the flower girl in conversation. When the dark was settled over the world, and her warm tears staining her face, Sephiroth felt as though what he had done was the right thing. Now that light had brightened the world, however, he felt silly; more so than when Zella had placed the flower crown upon his head, though far less content.
Aerith had suggested they go out to eat breakfast, as nothing in the house would have kept for so long. Sephiroth agreed, of course, but noticed that Aerith refused to make eye-contact with him for a full hour. This both frustrated and pleased him, for he too wasn't yet comfortable with making eye-contact with the flower girl, though he saw her look at him through the corner of her eyes.
He hated it.
Sephiroth had figured that at some particular point in time he would have become used to awkward situations involving Aerith. The more time he spent with her, however, the more new emotions made themselves present within his mind and body. Unwillingly reacting to a situation was still not something he was completely comfortable with.
But, that was life, no matter how slowly it was going to take both body and mind to adapt.
"I suppose we shouldn't stay here too long," Aerith mused on their walk back to sector five. The small bag of food swayed in her hands. She looked toward what would be the sky were it not blocked out.
Sephiroth pulled out his notebook, something he had become accustomed to, and scribbled his question.
'Why?'
Looking rueful, Aerith let out a sigh. "Midgar is no place to live, and if we can help it I don't want to stay here much longer than we have to. It might once have been my home, but living back in Mideel made me realize how awful it is just to be here. That, and neither of us would be able to find jobs right away, so money would be a major issue. We collected quite a bit of Gil from those monsters back on the plains, but it wouldn't last us more than week here."
'Very well then, we will set off in the morning.'
Aerith smiled at him, placing her hands behind her head. "You know, when I was little I always wanted to travel the world, to get out of this dingy town and see what life was really like. This is going to be exciting!"
Sephiroth watched as she skipped a few paces ahead of him, bright smile on her face. She turned around and smiled at him, waiting for him to close the small distance she had created with her exuberance.
'What about before?'
The question caught her a little off guard, and it took a moment for her to prepare an answer. "Before, when I was with Cloud, I really wasn't enjoying very much of the scenery. Between you and me, I was scared witless that the world could be such a big place! Now that I am more familiar with the land I don't think it will be so bad."
He was pleased she would be enjoying herself, though a little troubled by it as well. The world, for the most part, was not a restful place. War and conflict ruled the land, not peace and serenity. Nature was law, but man was defiant. He hoped she understood that, for the last thing Sephiroth wanted was for Aerith to be troubled by what they would come across on their journey.
"Should we be getting supplies then?"
Her voice ripped him out of his train of thought and placed him back into reality. It was a moment before he understood her question. He nodded.
That night, after spending the majority of the day shopping and most of the evening with the children in the church, Aerith and Sephiroth arrived back at home. Sephiroth was pleased by how their normal routine was easily transferred from the cabin back in Mideel to Aerith's home in the slum; she prepared dinner, and he cleaned up afterward.
After their stomachs were full and the dishes had been neatly stacked away in their dusty cupboards, the two spread their supplies upon the kitchen table and surveyed what they had bought; a tent, several hi-potions, four ethers, six tranquilizers, as well as six hypers, an extra healing, fire, lightning, and earth materia, two sleeping bags, and enough food and water to last the better part of a week. Needless to say, they were out of money.
"I think I have just the thing for this stuff," Aerith mused, placing her hand on the side of her face as she lost herself in thought. "But where would it be?"
Sephiroth watched as she spun on her heel and headed for the closet, digging through the topmost shelf. A cascade of junk fell from the shelf, toppling Aerith over, but she recovered before the general could rush to her side, two tattered bags in her hand.
"It's not much," she shrugged, looking down at what she held. "But it will get us by."
Sephiroth gave most of the small supplies to Aerith and decided to carry the heavier objects himself. Despite her protests, Sephiroth stood firm in his decision and gave her no reason for being so stubborn. Deep down, however, he merely didn't want Aerith carrying anything that might wear her down while they walked. And, of course, Aerith was the healer in their small party- it would be better if she carried the majority of items in case she ran out of stamina to cast magic. Even if she was knocked out in combat, there was hardly a monster that posed a threat to the general.
To Sephiroth's surprise, however, Aerith narrowed her eyes and glared at him. "I'm not as weak as you think I am."
Sephiroth shook his head, letting out a heavy breath, and pulled the notebook from his pocket.
'I do not think you to be weak; I am doing it to be a gentleman.'
He felt very silly after writing it, but it was either feel silly or have Aerith cross with him.
Her expression lightened considerably, and a small smile tugged at her lips.
After everything was secure in the bag, Sephiroth and Aerith made their way up the small staircase. Aerith paused outside her bedroom door, waiting for the general to reach for the knob of his own. He paused, though he didn't look at her, knowing she had something to say to him as she always did.
She took a deep breath. "Thank you, Sephiroth."
Not being her usual before bed comment, he looked up at her, surprised. She smiled at his expression, tilting her head to one side. "And, of course, I forgive you."
Aerith closed the door to her room, disappearing inside.
Sephiroth stood in the door way, confused.
It was the first time she had ever told him that she forgave him with a smile on her face.