Chapter 7: Coincidences and Inevitabilities
Disclaimer: Square Enix owns Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, its predecessor and all their characters.
"Because You Live" – Jesse McCartney
"Why…?"
Completely spellbound, Cloud blinked once. Then once more. But the angel didn't disappear nor fade.
Slowly, he took a shaky step towards her. He could feel the rain pelting down his back and the splashes of mud peppering across his jeans as he made his way across the puddles. He was drenched in rain and blood to the bone; he looked a complete mess… But he couldn't give two hoots on such minor details. Apparition or not… She's still HER… I don't care if she's just a dream… I don't want to wake up… As long as I can be with her…
Staring out at the rain with a heavy heart
It's the end of the world in my mind…
All that mattered to him was HER.
She was staring wide eyed right back at him with those beautiful evergreen orbs. The chilly spring rain had completely drenched her as well, her hair dark against creamy skin but to Cloud; she couldn't look any more breathtaking… A fallen goddess… "Cloud…" she whispered. Oh it had been so long since I'd last heard her voice… It warmed him… Touching the glacial recesses of his heart. Cloud felt his defenses crumbling away.
Then your voice pulls me back
Like a wake up call…
Stumbling a little, Cloud looked like a man possessed as he staggered towards her, his brilliant cerulean eyes reflecting his shock and incredulity. He was drawn like a moth t a flame… His heart was fluttering madly now, like the wings of a hummingbird in flight. His entire being was washed over by his longing for her
Standing directly in front of her, he stretched a trembling hand towards her face. Her delicate hands reached out at the same time, grasping his and holding it between her palms. Warm… Cloud thought dizzily and immediately assumed that he had REALLY gone delirious. It must be a dream… It… Can't… Be… I must be dreaming…
But a voice… Zack's voice… As soft as the whispers of shadows, yet as clear as crystal was telling him otherwise. "Believe Cloud… And live."
I've been looking for the answer
Somewhere…
Slow as a dream, he reached out and stroked her cheek with his knuckles. The familiar smooth texture and warmth that radiated from the contact was all Cloud needed to convince himself of his sanity. I'm not dreaming… She's… Real…
I couldn't see that it was right there
Trembling with elation, he gently brushed his fingertips against her face, afraid that the slightest pressure would cause her to shatter into a thousand pieces like a delicate porcelain doll. She gave him a blissful smile and nuzzled her face into his palm, her eyes shinning like stars with emotion. His fingers moved on, tracing her features one by one, as if to savor and brand each and every detail into his soul. The touch followed the delicate curve of her eyebrow, trailed down her soft cheek and to her chin. She seemed to shiver as his fingers sketched the delicate line of her jaw, and then moved to her lips.
The rosy skin there was incredibly soft, much softer than he'd imagined. Cloud's fingers traced the outline of her lips, the join between upper and lower and watched as they parted slightly, kissing the very air she breathed, tempting Cloud to claim them in his. She was nothing short of beautiful, a sculptor's dream perfectly chiseled in ice, as lovely as a blushing rose. How long have I waited… How many nights have I dreamt of this moment…?
But now I know what I didn't know…
Looking straight into those verdant eyes that haunted his every moment… Everyday… Cloud felt himself drowning in those green pools as he croaked out a single word, a word… A name… That meant more than the world to him… A name he could never forget. "A... Aeris?"
Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
When nobody else can help
Tears glistening in her eyes now. She nodded her head and threw her slender arms aroundhis neck, laughing happily as her tears mingled with the cold rain and streaked her face. "I'm back… Cloud… I'm home…" Then she smiled against the skin of his neck. "You remember me…" His name on her lips was something he had not heard in ages.
Because you live girl…
Cloud buried his face into her sweet smelling hair and wrapped his arms around her. Her warmth enfolding him like the light flutter of wings of an angel; Cloud held her tighter and feeling the thudding of her heart against his own felt his own tears starting to flow. "How could I…? Aeris… I…" But she pushed him back gently and placed a single finger on his lips. "Cloud… You're crying…" Cloud felt a smile spread across his features and gently, closing his blue eyes, his body trembling, kissed her lightly on the forehead. "That's because I thought I'd never see you again…I thought you were just another figment of my imagination..."
My world…
"I'm here now…" She assured, gently caressing the perfect contours of his face. "I'm real…"
Has twice as many stars in the sky…
"But… How?"
It's all right. I survived. I'm alive again
'Cause of you, made it through every storm
Cloud saw what seemed like fury than sorrow flicker through her eyes before it disappeared and was replaced by a nervous, distant gaze. Her facial muscles seemed to tighten as her delicate brows furrowed. This is completely unlike her… Cloud thought and realised that Aeris seemed almost… Scared.
What is life? What's the use?
If you're killing time
However, before Cloud could probe any further, Aeris gave him a sunny smile that threw all doubts out the window. "I'll tell you some other time ok? It's a…. Long story." There was something in her voice that made Cloud stop and nod. Was that… Despair? He gave her a knowing smile and ruffled her fringe comfortingly. "Anytime you're ready… My angel…"
I'm so glad I found an angel
"Angel?" she parroted, giggling and socked him playfully across his muscled chest, her mood seemed to lighten considerably at his show of affection as she went into one of her famous laughing fits. Cloud smiled at her so sincerely and seriously that Aeris actually stopped laughing and blushed shyly. Cloud felt his heart soar at the sight. "I couldn't think of you in any other way…"
Someone who…
The rain was finally letting up; the dark clouds were being shooed swiftly by the wind, finally clearing to reveal a vivid orange sky. See… Even the heavens react to your presence. Cloud seemed to say as he solemnly pointed to the heavens. Aeris giggled and replied by squeezing his hand. "It's beautiful… I'm glad I came back for this…"
"Are you real?" He asked suddenly. Sensing and understanding Cloud's doubts and insecurities, Aeris nodded and gently assured him "I'm as real as you want me to be…"
Was there when all my hopes fell
The fiery orange rays of the sun blended with his skin, lighting his face up into an incredible comeliness, Cloud tugged at her hand, remembering the promise he had made to Zack. "I just remembered… I want you to meet someone…"
Aeris gave him a quizzical look as he led her towards the large rusty buster sword stuck in the ground. "Someone?"
I wanna fly looking in your eyes
Because you live… I live.
"That's right… Let me introduce you to someone…" Cloud smiled, wrapping a protective arm around her slim waist, and gesturing towards the buster sword. "Without him… I wouldn't be here today… He spilled his lifeblood for me."
Because you live, there's a reason why
I carry on when I lose the fight
I want to give what you've given me
Always…
"Hey Zack… I want you to meet the most important person to me. This is Aeris…" Cloud spoke as he dropped on a knee respectfully and touching the earth. "Aeris… I want you to meet my best friend, Zack. He was in SOLDIER… 1st Class."
Aeris seemed to be momentarily frozen, her face as pale as a bar of ivory soap. "Did you say… Zack?" Cloud nodded and watched Aeris as she reverently touched the handle of the rusty buster sword that marked his grave. "So that's why… You never came…" She whispered softly, the sorrow evident in her hushed tones.
"… You knew him?" Cloud asked, feigning a little ignorance.
Aeris hesitated before she replied, equally hushed, "He was my boyfriend, remember?"
"Zack..."
"Young lady, you know him?"
"I remember he wrote us 6 or 7 years ago saying that he had a girlfriend. Could that have been you?"
Cloud turned towards Aeris, her face was white, almost completely ashened and her slender hands were trembling. "That can't..." she whispered, her voice filling with emotion before turning on her heel abruptly and running out of the house.
"What happened to you two?"
Worried, Cloud ran after her, ignoring the curious glances from his friends. He found her just outside the house facing a large rock her expression obscured from his eyes. "Aeris..."
"What a shock... I didn't know Zack was from this town." She murmured softly, trying to sound cheery and force out a laugh but failed.
"You know him?" Cloud probed carefully.
Glistening green eyes filled with unshed tears turned towards him, begging for comfort, for understanding… "Didn't I tell you? He was my first love."
"..."
"Zack... SOLDIER First Class. Same as Cloud."
"Strange, there aren't that many who make First Class, but I've never heard of him."
Aeris sighed barely audibly and turned back to the rock, touching the cool surface, leaning against it lightly for support as she spoke. She was trying so hard to be strong, but her tone gave her sorrow and despair away… "That's all right. It's all in the past now. I was just worried because I heard he's been missing."
"Missing?"
"I think it was 5 years ago. He went out on a job, and never came back." "He loved women, a real lady's man. He probably found someone else..."
The distant memory slapped Cloud so hard he thought he hallucinated. How could I forget that? "Are you sure?" She simply nodded and dashed into Cloud's arms, clutching him tightly and sobbing. "Everything seems so surreal… Why did things have to turn out this way?" She sobbed.
Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
When nobody else can help
"There's no such thing as coincidences… Only inevitabilities." Cloud stated simply, staring straight out at the horizon, holding her close to his heart. "But… He loved you very much, he told me before… That you were the reason he settled down. When he died… His last words to me were, "Find… Tell… I love her… I'm sorry… Goodbye." I never understood what they meant… But now I do… They were meant for you." The sun was setting… Its chrome, peach and scarlet rays basking Midgar, giving it an almost… Peaceful look. "Thank you Cloud…"
Cloud let her grieve for Zack for a while, patting her back and soothing her as her body heaved and hiccupped with sobs. Eventually, she calmed down and rested her head against his shoulder, inhaling his scent, that musky smell of sunbeams, the earth and dew. "Cloud…" she whispered, Cloud nodded and held her close. He knew… Zack knew everything… Zack knew she was alive and wanted to bring us together again… He realized sadly, overwhelmed by a deep sense of guilt and gratitude. I love her Zack…More than life itself… I promise on your grave… I'll always cherish, love and protect her… "Look… The sun is setting. Shall we go?"
Because you live girl…
Aeris shook her head and smiled, "We" That word had such a nice ring to it. Wiping away the remnants of her tears away and shifting to hold his hand. "Let's stay like this a while longer… Together."
My world…
"Thank you… Zack." Cloud whispered sadly.
Has everything I need to survive.
A young man with gravity defying spiky black hair stood a short distance away from the couple. "Look after her for me… Cloud… I trust you. I know you'll make her happy… Because she loves you too… Far more than she ever loved me." his voice echoing as soft as the whispers of the wind. With that, he turned on his heel with a contented smile and vanished without a trace into the night.
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YAY! Another completed chapter! Hope everyone didn't die from sappiness!
Ha ha ha…. Hope that wasn't too cliché or anything! And I'm sorry to all the Cloud X Aeris fans out there for taking so long to finally let them meet! Ha ha ha…
Okay!
Points to ponder everyone! The mystery of the italicized lyrics! WHOSE thoughts do YOU think they reflect?
A Cloud
B Aeris
C Zack
Ha ha ha… The correct answer will be featured at the end of the next chapter! (evil laughter) Be prepared for more fluff!
Shouts To!
Last Cetra: My favorite part has absolutely got to be during the fight with Bahamut and he grasped her hand! The look on his face! The open adoration! SQUEE! It's like finally full stopping the ending from FF7 when all the CloTi fans were claiming it was Tifa's hand… Sticks out tongue at them
The flower field scene was beautiful too! Goes all sappy eyed I watched it like… 5 times? Cried in every one! Hides my head in the ground
That chappie actually gave me a bit of a headache writing… So I'm well… Relieved and glad that you said it was my best yet. : Thanks… For everything… And sorry to have kept you waiting for so long…