He wakes up suddenly, with a start, clutching his hand to his head. The visions he's been seeing — they're finally complete.
He saw it all. Her, hands clasped in prayer. Her, looking up and smiling at him. And then she was gone. He saw her materia fall, watched it bounce until it fell in the lake. He watched himself cry over her body, he watched himself lower her into the water, watching as she sank, lower and lower.
The full vision filled him with revulsion. He felt sick, like he was about to throw up. It wasn't just a dream, he realized. It happened. Or maybe it was going to happen. He wasn't sure.
He grew angry as snippets of conversations and moments replayed in his head. How she knew he was a merc before he said anything. How she told Barret he couldn't stay to go after Shinra. How she knew something bigger than Shinra was there. How she seemed to just know things. How she seems to be hiding something. Why she told him not to fall in love with him, and that if he thought he had, it wasn't real.
She knew she was going to die.
The others are around the room, some chatting, others dozing, no one paying him any particular attention, except for her. She looks at him questioningly, and her eyes widen as she perceived the anger in his glower, directed at her.
"Cloud?" She asks, uncertainly. "Are you alright?" She gets up and walks towards him. In doing so, the others also focus on him.
"We need to talk." He says lowly, for only her ears, once she's close enough. "Alone."
She nods and he gets up. He strides quickly out the door, not looking at the others who have various faces of bafflement, concern, and questions. He does not look back to see if she's following; he knows she is.
His angry strides carry him outside and they walk for a little while until finally he whirls around and says to her, accusingly "you knew."
She is confused at first. "Knew what?" She asks. "You're acting very strange right now. What's going on?"
"You tell me," he retorts. "I've been seeing these visions." He says. "Of you."
"Of me?" She raises an eyebrow.
"Of you, with your hands clasped in prayer. Of you smiling at me. Of Sephiroth behind you. Of your materia bouncing down until it falls into the lake. Of you d-" his voice breaks and he can't continue.
Her playful veneer disappears and she turns away from him. "I didn't know you were seeing that." She says.
"It was pieces at first. Of your hands, of your smile, of the materia and the lake. I didn't understand them at first, but the whole thing came to me just now." He explains. His eyes narrow. "But you knew and you've known this whole time, haven't you?"
She crosses her arms around her chest, and rubs her arms as if she's cold. Her back is still to him. "Yes." She says simply. "I've always known."
"And you didn't say anything to any of us — to me?" He demands, angrily.
"I didn't want to hurt anyone. Especially not you."
"Aerith, I can't lose you." He says as he pulls her to him, burying his face in her hair and breathing in her scent.
He feels her shoulders shake as she quietly starts to cry. "I don't want this either." She whispers. She turns around in his arms soaks buries her face in his chest. He tightens his arms around her.
"This is why you told me not to fall in love with you, isn't it." He asks, already knowing the answer. He feels her nod against his chest. "Did you know it was already too late?" He demands. "Aerith, I'm in love with you. I have been since we first met."
"I'm sorry," she whispers. "I didn't want you to, knowing what was going to happen to me. I never wanted to hurt you."
"Do you love me?" He asks.
"I do," she responds desperately, and warmth flickers within him. "I don't want to die. I don't want to leave you. But there's nothing I can do," she says brokenly. "I-I've treasured every moment we've had together. I'll never forget them."
"I'm not going to let you die." He says, lifting her chin so he can look into her eyes. So she can see the determination in his eyes. So she can feel his promise.
"Cloud.."
"We defeated destiny. I won't let him take you from me, not now, not ever." He vows.
"I don't know if we can stop it. If we can change fate."
"We have to try. You have to let me try. Promise me. Promise me you won't go off on your own trying to stop him. Promise me you won't sacrifice yourself. Promise me you'll let me save you."
"I promise."
He kisses her then; it's something fierce. It is dark, it is deep, it is raw and filled with all of his emotions: terror, anguish, determination, love. It's as if the harder he kisses her, the less likely it is she'll disappear.
She kisses him back, reassuring him she's still there. She hasn't gone anywhere yet.
This time, maybe she will get to stay.