Chapter 4: Gaia
When they really did awaken, it was in the Chantry—church, her mind corrects—where Aerith has started to grow her flowers. It is both unnerving and relieving to finally be on solid ground again. "That was quite…a trip." Bethany laughs as she stands and dusts herself off as she looks around, studying the building's already crumbling structure. They know this is the right place, the Lifestream showed them this place and it fit the memories to the T. They just had to be patient and wait for her to show up.
"Let's not do that again any time soon." Hawke huffs as she removes her bag and sword, and leans against the altar with a direct view of the main door.
Bethany took to studying the flowers while Hawke worked on sharpening her sword, not having gotten to it on their last night in Merrill's home. She also has a lot to think about now that she is truly awake.
They spend about an hour dawdling before the creak of the door opening resounds through the church, Hawke is instantly on her feet and positions herself a foot in front of Bethany. Hawke lowers her sword the moment she lays her eyes on the person stepping through just as Bethany takes a few steps forward.
"Aerith." Bethany whispers almost breathlessly.
She is older than when they saw her in the void; still retaining her baby fat but taller with very long hair. She wore a light blue, sleeveless dress and sandals. 'She's growing into a woman now; I wonder how long it took us to cross over.'
"You're really here! You came!" She reaches Bethany first and throws arms around her, burying her face into the older woman's chest without any embarrassment. Her childlike action causes Hawke to huff amusedly as she watches Bethany wrap one arm around Aerith's shoulders while using her other hand to pull her head close and she rests her head against the younger girl. She murmurs, "Of course, we said we would."
Hawke comes up beside them and places a hand on each of their shoulders. She has no words to say just yet.
Aerith's tears are flowing freely now as she nods her head and smiles, "I was afraid that it was just a dream." Her voice cracks as her face contorted in pain, "I've dreamt of you for so long!"
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They spent the better part of the day—Aerith kindly informed them it had been about midmorning when she found them—getting to know the young girl on a more personal level and her to know them. She seemed keenly aware of who they were to some extent already; Hawke's guess was that the Planet forewarned her. From the way she spoke, she wasn't afraid of them and what they would do to her. Aerith may have been a bit too brave for the older Hawke's current approval, she had only just met them and already she proudly declared them as her extended family. Not that Hawke or Bethany didn't wholeheartedly agree but still…
Aerith attempted to explain her declaration, "You're like me; I don't know how to describe it but I just know. You came from the Lifestream, you can hear the Planet and you are connected to me. I can feel you, like a part of me is with you. You may not be a descendant of the Cetra of Gaia but where you're from, surely you are a descendant from the Cetra there?"
"I don't think we had a Cetra race in Thedas—just Humans, Elves, Dwarves and the Qunari."
"Cetra and humans looked alike, the difference was their connection to the Planet. The Cetra had spiritual natures and being the original stewards of the planet, they were able to commune with it."
Bethany gave a thought hum as she held her chin in deep thought, "Sounds similar to the Dalish Keepers, they are versed in their Nature magic. I'm not sure they actually communicated with the Planet though, it's not anything Merrill ever mentioned either."
"If it has something to do with being Mages, then I'm sorely lacking. Put a blade in my hand and I'm good to go, but a staff? I'm useless, unless you consider swinging it around to hit people with."
"That isn't what I mean, you don't actually have to cast magic without materia to be a Cetra. All that matters is having the connection, everything else is extra." Aerith was adorable when she pouted. She was determined or just plain stubborn, maybe she is related. Hawke snickered lightly, "Alright, alright. I'm just being difficult with you, don't get your knickers twisted."
She blushes and turns her head away with another pout, "That's not very nice."
"Now stop that, give the poor girl a break." Bethany moved from where she was sitting by the far side of the flowers to where we are near the altar. "Aerith, I've been meaning to ask: how old are you now?"
The young girl turns back to them with a bemused look, "I turned 13 years old not too long ago. Why?"
"Hmm, so we have a little time to get situated. We will need to make a plan for what to start doing." Bethany settles on Aerith's other side and leans back against the altar.
"No need to drag the mood down now, we can start on that tomorrow."
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As the day dragged on and turned to early evening, Aerith invited them back to her home to have dinner and to spend the night. She had warned about her adoptive mother and her very protective tendencies, not liking strangers coming around. Hawke wasn't overly concerned, if this woman was as protective as she sounded for an adopted daughter who was half-Cetra then perhaps she will be of them too. After all, Bethany is technically only a little older than Aerith is now and she always was a likable child.
As they leave the safety of the church, Bethany and Hawke are taken back by their surroundings. It was one thing to see them in memories and another to see them in person. It was ugly, and smelled terrible. Trash and mounds upon mounds of metal everywhere, and high above their heads was the metal sky as Aerith called it, with the real sky beyond it. Hawke gives a fleeting glance around to observe their immediate surroundings, just as she deems the coast clear she notices a shadow inch just out of sight. 'Turks.'
She wasn't surprised, she knew they were going to be here but she had to wonder: how surprised will they be by us? They probably didn't know Bethany and Hawke were in the church before Aerith came in this morning. She can also imagine how their first confrontation will be, for all their subtlety they can be easily prone to lashing out. A smirk tugs at the corner of her lips when she thinks of the possibility of a fight, she will have quite a surprise for whoever challenges her. Technically it would be considered cheating since she already knew a bit about them and their fighting styles but what they don't know… She chuckles a bit to herself as she follows the two younger girls back to Aerith's house.
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It was exactly how she expected it to go. No matter how hopeful Aerith was about her mother liking them, she took a bit of a dislike to the older Hawke. Not that she could really blame her; Hawke would even agree with her. Some random 19-year-old woman strolling up with her 17-year-old sister and just inviting themselves in their lives as distant relatives? Yeah, that would be sketchy on any normal day.
She kept a lot of the information surrounding them vague enough but alluded to the fact that they were friends—Bethany demonstrated a simple ward spell without her staff and proved she wasn't equipped with materia in order to show they weren't planning to steal away her daughter. Elmyra definitely didn't like that wording.
In the end, she relented only because Aerith was insanely stubborn and did not like taking "No!" for an answer. Bethany also made things easier because she is so damn likable and charming, while Hawke was here making an ass out of herself without even trying. 'Maker's Breathe…' Even though she's an adult and it has been some time since Mother's death, it was kinda nice to have another motherly glare aimed at her.
Aerith was ecstatic that they would be staying with her, they would have to make due in the guest room even though it only has one small bed. Hawke had settled for worse sleeping arrangements but she didn't comment on it, for now they would settle down for dinner. Elmyra has also offered them baths and clothes to sleep in; even with all her glares at her, Hawke could just kiss her right now. At the rate they had been going before coming here, she can't remember the last time she had removed her leathers and cleaned herself. 'I can't believe this woman didn't force us into her little lake before we stepped foot into her home.'
Elmyra refused to allow their clothes and armor to be brought back into her house without also being properly clean, she made space for their belongings in a small shed next to empty flower pots and gardening tools. Hawke still kept two daggers hidden on her person when she went to bed that night, no place is always safe.
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In the weeks following their arrival, Hawke and Bethany agreed to work and do whatever jobs they could find. They wanted to establish themselves with the actual residents of Sector 5 before moving on to bigger plans. In order to make the biggest adjustments and have an 'in' so to speak, Hawke herself will have to join ShinRa's ranks somehow. It was agreed that Bethany will stay with Aerith at almost all times, she's better trained in the arts of magic which will be beneficial as well as knowing how to wield a dagger. She was expected to train Aerith in both anyway. It did make Hawke a tad bit paranoid to leave either girl unguarded with Turks lurking about but it was the only plan they could think of at this time.
Bethany kept busy by mixing her time between tending to some of the orphans of the Leaf House, training Aerith in the basics of wielding a staff, a small dagger, and casting magic. She somehow found the time to assist Elmyra with home keeping and gardening. Aerith's training took place in the seclusion of the church; the Hawke sisters discussed and agreed to gift her with Merrill's Keeper Staff. It almost seemed fitting in a roundabout way now that they knew Merrill was alive but they couldn't return her staff, it was easier to give it to someone who would be able to make use of it. Merrill would have approved.
Hawke took to more manual labor and dealing with the occasional monster that wandered too close. Their integration with the people of sector 5 slums flowed smoothly with every seemingly selfless act they did. They barely charged at all for their assistance, sometimes they would even accept items or food in place of gil, or nothing at all. It was easier for Hawke to play the Merc and bodyguard as some people called her, always taut as a bow when she followed the younger girls around on their exploring and quests.
It took longer than Hawke expected for the Turks to make themselves 'known' to her, their agitation showed that they did not know who these two new women were. They haven't approached her yet but she's seen them openly lurking more often, perhaps they were under the impression that they might be able to cow her with their silent stalking and glares from afar. It was mildly annoying during certain moments, mostly involving the younger girls looking vulnerable and as easy prey— 'Perverts watching young girls bathe. Fuckers.' Pretty much every other time, Hawke would smirk and stare right back all while appearing as the perfect image of relaxed and at ease. Oh how they glowered at her, it made her toes tingle in excitement!
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Hawke had just finished slaying a small horde of monsters on the outskirts of Sector 5 when her first Turk came into view, closer than ever before. It was a no-brainer to know who it was with his shock of bright red hair and unkempt appearance—Reno. The easiest Turk to rile up but also what she would consider the friendliest compared to the others. He was cocky and was known to be rebellious—he was still young, 19 if she wasn't mistaken; making him the same age as her. Hawke wondered if this was one of his rebellious acts, he looked ready to engage her whether it was to speak or to fight, it was hard to tell from his stance with his Electro-Mag Rod resting against his shoulder.
He shot her his cocky smirk, "Well hello there…" He swaggered closer when she turned to face him fully but seemed smart enough to keep some distance between them.
"Oh ho… What do we have here? Finally come to join the party?" Hawke raises her hands to gesture to the dead monsters behind her.
Reno chuckles deeply as he turns his nose up at her, "Now why would I do that?"
Hawke smirks right back at him, "Wouldn't want you to get hurt though, better you run along now and go play with your crayons." She has no true reason to be vindictive against this teen, aside from his stalking and 'I'm better than you' attitude. She's just finally getting to her wit's end and ready for a confrontation. Just a small bout, no reason to kill him just yet or bring the rest down on her at once.
"Little women like you should keep their mouths shut. You really want to start a fight with me?"
Hawke throws her head back and gives a sharp crackle before cutting herself off, she turns her head back down and pins him with the look of a predator. Her grin was positively feral, she wastes no time in adjusting the grip in her sword, the reflection of blood dancing in the light. "You have no idea, boy." Referring to him as a child for the second time wipes away his smirk, he is radiating malice as he glares at her.
He is the first to cave into his agitation and charges her, bringing down his rod towards her head. He still seems green behind the ears with his movements and shock crosses his face as Hawke deflects his blow by guarding with her wrist against his. His face screws up in pain as she gives his stomach a solid kick; even though he had clearly seen her fight and defeat these monsters and any time before he obviously wasn't prepared for her to fight back against him. 'What a fool.'
"Come on now, surely you can do better!" Hawke gloats as he's bent over clutching his stomach. That's all it takes before he's coming at her again, she moves into either dodging or deflecting his blows with ease and his frustration is even more apparent as he grinds his teeth and growls at her. "Just. Stay. Still!"
"Now why would I do that?"
This back and forth tarries on for only a minute or two but Reno is winded and slowing, he's putting in too much effort to hit hard instead of fast. Something that Hawke deals very well in, she might be a warrior but she is light on her feet like a rogue, and this is starting to bore her.
Taking the initiative, Hawke feints a strike with her sword and as Reno dodges it he follows the blade with his eyes and fails to see her fist coming in for his face in the next moment. Blood pours from his nose as he falls heavily onto his back, his free hand coming up to grab his face. Hawke watches in amusement as he sputters bloody indignations at her for such a cheap blow.
"Don't be such a baby. Get up. I promise not to cheap shot you while you're down." Hawke steps back to give him space and rest her free hand on her hip, still looking smug.
"You owe me a drink, yo." Reno stops trying to stem the flow of blood as he gets back up. His look of annoyance shifts to something more sheepish, "You have a good hook."
She laughs, "I've spent years perfecting it." She may appear at ease but Hawke still feels the tingles of adrenaline coursing through her, ready to continue their bout. "I hope I didn't break your pretty face."
"You think I'm pretty?" Reno smirks but it's distorted with the blood running down his chin and through his teeth.
"Only when you shut up and disappear."
"Ouch, you're hurting my feelings. When are you taking me for that drink?"
Hawke rolls her eyes, "Maybe some other time, kid. I have other priorities."
Reno crosses his arms and pouts, "I am a priority, yo."
"No, you're a stalker of young girls and lil ol' me."
"Nothing worth seeing anyways." He shrugs his shoulders before turning his back on her to walk away.
She snickers as she turns her back on him too but regards him over her shoulder, wanting to keep at least one eye on him in case he decides to go for his own cheap shot.
"Hn. Names Reno by the way." He keeps walking and she doesn't respond.
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AN: Hello! Thanks for sticking around this far.
As you probably have guessed, I'm fudging the ages for Hawke and Bethany, only because it doesn't make for a good story as both of them are way older than the others, namely Seph, Gen, and Angeal. Hawke will be a year older while Bethany a year younger. Which also means that I cut out the age gap between the sisters too.
Though if someone could clarify Rufus' age for me that would be appreciated. The sources couldn't make up their minds on if he was 25 or 30 during FFVII, but I imagine him to be closer in age to the Sephiroth instead of Tseng.
This will story is taking place roughly 2 years before the events of Crisis Core, so age will be as follows:
Seph, Gen, Angeal: 18
Hawke: 19
Bethany: 17
Aerith: 13
Tseng: 21
Reno: 19
Hopefully that is mostly accurate on the FFVII side.
I always welcome comments, let me know what you think! Also I'm just gonna say it now, I'm sorry if anyone is too OOC, it's been awhile since I've played any of the games (I just started FFVII: Reunion to get some FF refreshers but I'm not that far along yet)
