A Touch of Rain
By Crystal Snowflakes
"It's not as much fun dancing alone," Aerith says, tilting her head.
Cloud grimaces. "I don't really dance—"
It's the excuse she's waiting for, and she quickly interjects. "That's not true at all! I've seen you dance before."
Written for Clerith Week 2023 - Day 2 [Caught in the Rain]
It doesn't rain in Costa del Sol.
At least Aerith doesn't think it does—with the way everyone ignores the dark clouds looming above them as they continue to enjoy the ocean breeze and salty air—which explains why the sudden unexpected onslaught of rain catches them by surprise.
It's a torrential downpour, and for a few seconds, she blinks in confusion at the sky above them. By the time she looks around, the streets and sidewalks are almost deserted. The entire world is hidden beneath a thick curtain of rain—a storm that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
She feels a tug at her elbow before her brain fully processes the information.
"C'mon. Let's find somewhere dry to wait out the rain." Cloud's voice is calm and soothing and comforting as always. "We can finish getting the supplies after."
And just like that, Aerith's worries fly away on the wind along with the raindrops. She laughs as she pulls away from him and does something she's always dreamed about doing, but never had the chance to do—she dances. The heels of her boots click against the cobblestones as she twirls and spins, arms raised above her head in joyous abandon.
She barely registers how the cold rain contrasts sharply against the warmth of her cheeks as it falls onto her hair and upon her skin and into her eyes. Somehow, none of it bothers her—not when Cloud looks at her like she's crazy, though his gaze still holds a hint of fondness and affection that makes something inside her ache.
…Not when everything in the world suddenly feels right.
The music is still playing faintly in the background as her long, flowing skirt flares dramatically in the light breeze, and when she turns back towards him and extends her hand out towards him, he shakes his head, the crease between his brows deepening slightly, an unusually pensive look taking over his face as he continues watching her.
And then he sighs.
It makes her laugh all the more louder.
Undeterred, she takes a step closer, wrapping her fingers around his. Cloud gives another small shake of his head again, a trace of a smile gracing his lips despite himself. It shouldn't hurt so much, Aerith reminds herself. Not when she knows that the inevitable is fast approaching—that this is just a stolen moment in time.
And yet, it does.
In fact, it hurts more than she thought possible.
But before her mind can dwell too deeply, she pushes her thoughts away and lets herself forget about the impending future—if only for a fleeting moment.
Aerith squeezes his hand and looks up to him, a teasing smile on her lips. Something about the rain makes her eyes sting, but instead of focusing on that, she relishes in being surrounded by the scent of him.
"I've always wanted to dance in the rain," she forces the words out in a playful tone. "Ever since I was little."
Cloud snorts out a laugh at that, a soft smile forming on his face, and it warms her heart. "Of course you would."
"So you'll join me, right?" she asks, tilting her head. Her smile widens at the obvious reluctance that flickers in his bright blue eyes. "It's not as much fun dancing alone."
"I don't really dance—"
It's the excuse she's waiting for, and she quickly interjects. "That's not true at all! I've seen you dance before." Her thoughts drift to their evening in the Honeybee Inn. She's sure he would rather she forget about that night entirely, but it's an intimate memory—one they both share—and just the thought is enough to make her smile.
Immediately, there's a dark flush that colours his cheeks and the tips of his ears. Cloud opens his mouth, almost as if to say something, but nothing comes out and eventually, he closes it and lets out a small, exasperated huff of breath. "Fine. Just for a minute."
Aerith smiles widely, her chest filling with delight, and it feels like victory.
"You can't dance for just a minute!" She flutters her lashes up at him playfully. "How about one song? Pretty please?"
He only has a second to roll his eyes good naturedly before she starts pulling on his hand in earnest, urging him forward. With another reluctant look, he goes along with it, and soon enough, they're swaying side to side in the middle of the street. For all his protests though, Cloud doesn't try to pull away as his arms wrap loosely around her waist.
Selfishly, she wants to stay like this forever—in this strange, magical time where it's just them—where there's no imminent danger and the world isn't about to come crashing down around them.
The end of the song comes too soon, but just for a moment, it was nice to forget what the future would hold.
His hand is strong and warm when he guides her along beside him, pulling her into a tiny alcove between two buildings—a small pocket of privacy. His hand lingers on her wrist, and she shivers involuntarily, goosebumps breaking over her skin.
It suddenly feels cold, and the fabric of her dress does little to protect her against the chill, but she's not about to complain. Not when she's the one who insisted on staying in the rain. Plus, she takes comfort in the silence; the space between them feels intimate somehow.
Instead of acknowledging that, however, she tucks stray hair behind her ear as her eyes drift out onto the quiet streets. Somehow, everything looks dull and muted, and she marvels at how quickly the rain can wash away the vibrancy and colour of Costa del Sol.
She's not sure how long they stand there like that, but it seems like an eternity has passed before Cloud speaks, his voice low and gentle as it breaks through the stillness, echoing off the walls of their secret haven.
"Hey…" he says, his grip tightening around hers, but not in a way that's unpleasant. As a matter of fact, it's oddly reassuring and she revels in how comfortable and natural it feels having Cloud here, next to her. "You okay? You're shivering."
Aerith lets out a shaky laugh, and her tongue feels thick in her throat as her heart pounds loudly in her chest. "Just a little cold," she mumbles, glancing up briefly to meet his eyes.
There's something different in his expression now, although she isn't quite sure what—maybe it's just a reflection of how tired he looks—and in response, she flashes a sheepish grin his way. "Maybe dancing in the rain really wasn't the best idea."
It takes her a second to realize that Cloud is smiling at her. It's subtle, but it still spreads across his features, and she feels a sudden surge of happiness well up inside her, leaving her breathless.
"Probably not," he agrees.
It's dangerous territory, but she can't help herself—not when he's looking down at her like that, full of exasperation and care. Not when her heart is beating so loud it's drowning out the pitter-patter of the heavy rainfall. She should probably make an excuse to pull away, but every part of her skin is buzzing with excitement and anticipation, her stomach feeling light and giddy—
Part of her realizes at that moment that she's being selfish and impulsive, but she's not sure she cares.
"Well," Aerith starts, trying to keep her voice light, "I've heard sharing body heat is an easy way to warm someone up!"
His eyebrows rise, and he looks like he's about to ask for her to elaborate. But then her stomach tightens when she sees realization dawning in his eyes, and for a fraction of a second, her courage wavers and she finds it hard to breathe.
Cloud clears his throat, breaking eye contact momentarily. "Uh," he manages to stutter out, a faint tint of pink dusting his cheeks. "I—uh, what?"
She has to bite back a grin at the way he's fidgeting, and just like that, her own panic dissipates as she watches the colour seep into his face. He's adorable when he's flustered, and it's even more endearing when she's the one who causes it.
"Body heat!" she repeats, and she can feel the corners of her lips quirk up despite her effort. "Are you really so stingy that you won't share a little body heat?"
The way he stares at her—incredulous and disbelieving—only makes her laugh. "Of course not! I'm not too—"
"Good," she cuts him off before tucking herself closer to him. "I wasn't going to ask anyway!" The warmth is comforting—familiar—and she leans her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes, careful not to look at him because her stomach was fluttering with nerves.
Cloud's arm shifts next to her, and for a split second, she's afraid that he's going to pull away. He's not the type to enjoy being in close proximity with others, and she understands why, but it doesn't mean she wants him to go and—
But then his arm wraps around her shoulders instead, she feels her heart jump in her chest, and for the first time in her life, she finds herself completely speechless.
She knows they probably look ridiculous, both of them pressed together underneath the thin shelter to avoid the rain when they're already drenched. But there's something calming about simply existing next to each other—just standing in silence together, and she lets herself indulge and enjoy the peaceful moment.
When the rain finally starts to ease up minutes later, she doesn't pull away, and neither does he.
Curious, she tilts her head slightly and looks up to him. "Cloud?" Her voice is soft as she places a gentle hand on his forearm.
"Yeah?" he glances down at her, and there's some sort of emotions swirling behind them—something she can't quite put a name on.
"Thank you."
Cloud's not smiling, but she catches the slight upturn of his lips and something inside of her warms at the sight. "Don't mention it."
Soon, the rain leaves as the clouds disperse overhead, and in wake of its departure, the sun reappears. If not for the wet cobblestone beneath her feet, the cold fabric of her dress, and the damp strands of hair stuck to her forehead and temple, she might've wondered if the last fifteen minutes had been a feverish dream.
The warmth of the sun envelops them as Aerith stares up at the blue sky, basking in its gentle glow, neither of them seeming to want to go just yet.
And they stay there, under the alcove, tucked together for a while longer.
Author's Notes: Cliché, but I don't care :) I honestly haven't done much writing in the last couple of months (procrastination is one hell of a drug), but just wanted to thank Mintpaper for sending the clerith week prompts my way and encouraging me to write something—anything.
Completed: April 11, 2023