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For all that he was terrified of getting Aerith hurt- because everyone he loved left him eventually- Cloud was slowly acclimating to having a friend.

It was hard some nights, to lie in bed and imagine all the things that could go wrong and how much Cloud did not deserve comfort. Cloud would wake up grimly determined to avoid Aerith until she came to her senses and left him alone. Of course, that lasted for all of about twenty or so hours before for the cheerful young woman would blithely burst her way into his day and drag him off to parts unknown at her whim.

Aerith never pushed too far- she never told him to 'get over it' or forced him to talk about what had happened to him- but she gently and patiently prodded at him until he relaxed. Cloud hadn't really noticed how hyper-paranoid he had truly been until he looked back at how he had been before he had met Aerith.

It was truly pitiful, but for the past month he had not woken up at least four times a night- either from a nightmare or a loud sound that permeated his uneasy sleep. It was not the 'waking up' part that had been killing him, though, it was the hour-long perimeter check he would have to do before he could even think about going back to sleep, no matter how exhausted he was, every time he woke up. Many times, after the second unexpected return to consciousness he would sleep in a semi-ready position beside his bed, with the handles of Jonesy's trench knives curled tightly in his hands, just in case. If he just lay in bed after awakening, he would lie there and slowly wind himself up into a full-on panic as his mind spun with scenario after scenario of things that could go wrong and ways he was being useless. Consequently, he would be unable to get back to sleep at all.

Just last night had managed to cut his perimeter check down to fifteen minutes and had only woken up once. Cloud had gotten nearly six hours of uninterrupted sleep. Six whole hours. He had overslept, even!

Cloud woke up this morning with a strangely clear head and unusually ordered thoughts. That day, while he walked around the Slums doing his odd jobs he noticed things he had not noticed before. Things he had largely overlooked in his numb, exhausted, hyper-paranoid haze. Empty buildings, piles of rubble that became monster breeding grounds, the way the children looked so downtrodden.

Strangely light, Cloud nodded decisively to himself and went to find Aerith.

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Aerith had been startled when the door to the church opened during the mid-afternoon, but when she saw her favorite blond enter she was quick to hop up and greet him. "Cloud!" She cheered excitedly, bouncing over to him and throwing her arms around him once she noticed the relaxed glint in his eyes.

She had been working on getting Cloud used to hugs for nearly two weeks, and she was especially pleased when Cloud shyly wrapped his good arm around her and pulled her close. They stayed like that for a long moment. Aerith with her nose buried in the hollow of Cloud's collarbone, greedily soaking up the comforting, steady aura the blond constantly gave off ; and Cloud with his chin resting on top of Aerith's head as the scent of flowers and earth mixed with the faintest hint of her perfume soothed him.

Reluctantly Aerith stepped back, but not quite far enough to dislodge Cloud's arm entirely. "So~, what's the occasion?"

Cloud shuffled a bit in place and absently tugged lightly on the ends of her hair that brushed over his hand, but Aerith just waited patiently for him to work things out. Well, she was feeling a bit needy so she hummed and rested her forehead against the curve of Cloud's bad shoulder. Aerith smiled softly into the fabric of his shirt when he tentatively moved from tugging and twisting the ends of her hair to rubbing soothing circles on her back.

Eventually Cloud spoke. "I…had a thought."

"Hm?" Aerith tilted her head just enough so that she could peek at him with one bright green, highly inquisitive eye.

"Well." Cloud floundered a bit, but he took a deep breath and calmed himself before he continued. "You know how most of the lots on the side streets and stuff are mostly just empty 'cause all of the manufacturing moved Above the Plate? They're all pretty much common ground 'cause no one really owns them anymore, not since Upper Plate Midgar abandoned the smaller towns the Plate was built over, anyways. Well, what if we cleaned a couple of them up and made places for kids to play? Maybe you could even plant some flowers. But only if you wanted to." Cloud shuffled around a bit more and a flush crept up his neck and spread over his face, making his splash of freckles stand out, which caused Aerith to giggle.

"Let's do it!" She cheered excitedly, giving him a wet, sloppy kiss on the cheek before she pulled back to grin brightly up at him.

Cloud's shyly pleased expression was too adorable for words.

"We'll corrupt the Slums with flowers! It'll be a complete takeover!" Aerith sang brightly as she twirled in an excited circle before bounding closer to Cloud once more. "Most folks don't like the junction points where the sunlight filters through because the air down here tends to be heavy and hot anyways." She chirped out as she dragged Cloud over the main flowerbed so they could begin their ritual.

"I was thinking about that." Cloud replied softly as he dug into the well-tended earth easily. "We could use that to our advantage. Set up some shelters and frame the roofs to hold the flowers, while giving the kids some shade."

"That's brilliant, Cloud!" Aerith gasped with a proud, silly grin as she lightly bumped him in the shoulder. "I don't know why no one has ever thought of that before now, it makes so much sense!"

"Most people don't have a flower fairy for their best friend." Cloud teased her good-naturedly, his voice sounding nearly normal despite it still being a bit quiet. Then what he said registered and he quickly attempted to backtrack. "I mean-

"Nope!" Aerith chirped cheerfully as she pumped a fist with a flower in it in the air. "I am now Aerith the Flower Faire." She waved the blossom under Cloud's nose imperiously. "All shall look upon me and….love flowers?" She finished a bit lamely, pouting a bit as he grand speech derailed.

Then Aerith forgot how to breathe because Cloud laughed.

An honest-to-Gaia, full out laugh. The kind that causes your eyes to slip shut and triggers the involuntary upwards tilt of your head as the mirthful sound bursts forth unexpectedly from your belly.

Cloud leaned on his good hand and laughed for a good minute before he looked at her- with bright, lively, happy eyes that made her heart melt even as it soared- and poked her gently in the arm. "All hail the almighty bouquet?" He asked her with a grin.

Aerith sniffed pompously and reached forward to plant her prop flower behind Cloud's ear. "Indeed, plebian." Aerith leaned back and offered the same silly, sage-like nod she had given during their first meeting.

Cloud's lips stayed curled into an impossibly warm smile, but Aerith pouted that she didn't get to hear his lovely laugh again.

Ah, well. Needs must and all that.

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Feel free to leave me a note on your way out~!

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