A/N: Chapter fixed. I had posted Chapter 8 twice. Oops. Thanks AnriMia24 for catching this!
The group made their way out of the theater, back to the familiar noise of the slot machines and dazzling lights. Bodies shoved against them as the crowd rushed to find their next Vegas adventure. Still trying to piece together the evening, Cloud took note of all the strangers leaving the show. They all seem to have their eyes on him.
"Great job!" a man said, pushing past a little too close for comfort.
"Nice dance moves," a middle-aged woman giggled, pointing directly at him.
Cloud could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks, and he immediately wanted to hide in a corner. Unfortunately, the rest of his group members didn't mind the attention and were enjoying Cloud's new-found mini-superstardom far better than he was.
"He'll be here all weekend," Wedge called back to the crowd.
They made their way out of the hotel and eventually to their car, where they continued prying Cloud for more details of his adventurous performance on the drive back to the hotel as the city lights surrounded them.
"Do you remember playing in the orchestra?" Wedge asked.
Cloud gave him a blank look. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"The hypnotist. He had everyone pretend to play in an orchestra, you included."
Aerith piped in too. "You appeared to be playing a violin, it looked like?"
Cloud took a moment to pause, unsure of where the idea of a violin had even come from. He didn't really have any talent playing any instruments before, and he had practically zero music skill to even speak of. If he had to pick an instrument, he might have chosen the drums or guitar. He tried to think of a good reason that hypnotized Cloud had for specifically picking a violin, but he was coming up short. That Cloud that everyone was talking about seemed like an entirely different person.
"I have to admit," Biggs began. "I was a skeptic before, but after seeing you go wild on that stage, you've got me reconsidering everything. Andrea might have made a believer out of me, afterall. I gotta know, though, what was it like? Do you remember anything?"
Cloud searched his brain trying to come up with an answer to appease his friends. "The details are a little fuzzy. It's almost like I… blacked out."
Aerith gave him a playful smile. "You sure seemed like you were having a good time up there. There were other people too, but you definitely stole the show in your gorgeous dress."
"There were other people?" Cloud asked with surprise. He faintly remembered seeing people off to the side in his bright-light haze.
"Wow," Wedge exclaimed. "You really did black out. Yeah, they had a ton of people up there doing all sorts of crazy things. He got one guy to get on all fours and moo like a cow. And another lady was convinced she was completely naked in front of the audience and she kept on trying to put clothes on."
Everyone except Cloud shared a chuckle remembering the onstage antics, and Cloud wondered if those individuals were as embarrassed as he was right now after the show ended. Maybe, they too, were forced to piece together the hazy details in their respective rides back home. Wherever they were, Cloud sympathized.
It seemed like it took twice as long to get back to the hotel. Cloud wasn't sure if it was the increased nighttime traffic, or his growing anxiety. Eventually, the group finally arrived back at the hotel and parked their car. Making their way back into the lobby, the discussion continued.
"I don't know if I'm ready to call it a night yet," Aerith said once the familiar lobby surroundings came into view.
"Me either," Wedge agreed.
Biggs walked ahead of the group and stretched out his arms. "The night is still young. Where should we go?"
"Somewhere with lots of alcohol," Cloud blurted out, and the group laughed in unison.
"Why don't we check out one of the hotel bars?" Wedge suggested. "I read that the Mako Bar has some really good energy. And I think they have live music tonight, too."
Aerith shot her arm up with a cheer. "Lead the way, Wedge!"
The group meandered through the casino and Cloud took note of all the different venues adorning the casino, all bustling with nighttime activity and a different musical genre to suit everyone's mood. One spot had a piano player in the center of the room, couches gathered around, and people swaying to the lounge music with their martinis and cigars. Another place had a very dark interior, pulsating electronic music, and a crowd of individuals both inside and out dressed to the nines. Cloud realized he could spend a whole week testing out a new place every night, and he'd never even have to leave the property. Vegas seemed to be a good place for that sort of thing.
Passing by a couple more venues, the group finally arrived at the Mako Bar and grabbed themselves an open seat. The loud live music enveloped them as soon as they walked in and bright neon lights shone in every direction. The band onstage appeared to play a mixture of pop and rock, and they had a nice mix of folks already on the dancefloor.
Before Cloud made his way to join his friends, he stopped at the bar to order another drink. He had already had a couple for the night, but he definitely needed more to help ward off the post-hypnosis embarrassment. A Long Island Iced Tea sounded like it would hit the spot right about now. Better make it a double, too.
Once Cloud got his drink, he joined his friends. Aerith was watching the band with amazement, bobbing her head along to the song, her pink bow at the back of her head dancing with her too. Cloud stared longer than he should, taking a few sips of his drink and letting it flow through him. Aerith turned back to face the group, and a smile spread across her face upon noticing Cloud had returned.
"I think I wanna dance," Aerith proclaimed. "These songs are too good for me to sit still."
While it was probably an invitation to the whole group, her eyes stayed fixed on Cloud. He tensed up, realizing Aerith was waiting for a response specifically from him.
"You should go dance too, Cloud," Wedge encouraged, sensing Cloud's hesitancy.
Cloud really just wanted to sit and enjoy his drink for a moment. He was still feeling some sense of shame, although it was dwindling by the moment with the alcohol starting to take hold.
"I don't know…" Cloud started, searching the eyes of his friends.
Aerith walked around the table to where Cloud was sitting. "I saw those awesome moves of yours, buddy. I know you've got skills, pal."
"Yeah," Biggs agreed. "You've been holding out on us."
"Let's go!" Aerith said to Cloud, not waiting for a response. Cloud was about to open his mouth in protest, when she reached forward and grabbed his hand. It was as though it happened in slow motion. Their fingers finally met and he felt a bolt of electricity shoot through him. Did she feel it too?
With his hand in hers, Aerith gave him a tug toward the dance floor. Upon seeing the joy in her face, his hesitancy started to fade, and just like with the hypnotist before, Cloud found himself under a trance, unable to speak up. He quickly took one large final gulp of his newly purchased drink, and then left his half-consumed glass behind at the table. He focused his attention back on Aerith and let his feet follow her wherever she led, like he had no reservations at all.
He still couldn't believe she was holding his hand.
On a normal night, he would have glanced back at Biggs and Wedge to see what sort of encouraging gestures they were giving him; but tonight, Cloud couldn't even be bothered to check. All he cared about was wherever Aerith was going.
She guided him to an open space on the dance floor and flashed him a smile. She then tuned to the beat of the music and moved her body along with the melody. Cloud realized he should follow suit, and tried to match her rhythm. It wasn't necessarily the best, but he still would have classified it as dancing. Or at least an attempt at dancing.
Wait, who is this? Cloud doesn't dance. Or at least he didn't dance. But here he clearly was in the middle of a very obvious dance floor, moving his body as though it was just the most regular thing in the world. You know, like a regular person. Something about Aerith made him forget all his cares and throw caution to the wind. It probably didn't hurt, too, that the alcohol continued to flow through his body, providing an extra benefit of liquid courage.
Cloud watched Aerith wiggle in time to the music, a silly grin adorning her face. For a moment, he caught a glimpse of her lips, and his mind started to wander. He imagined taking his hand in Aerith's once more, only this time he would lead, and then he would lean closer. Their faces would meet and be inches apart. They'd have a moment of sweet eye contact before he'd close the space between them with a kiss. Her lips would taste so sweet and the world around them would disappear.
Cloud snapped himself back to reality before he drifted off any further. While he had the liquid courage to dance, he didn't quite have the courage to make that bold of a move. Perhaps he needed a little more alcohol?
They danced a few minutes more, and the song eventually ended. Aerith, seemingly out of breath, walked back to her seat, Cloud following behind. He looked forward to another sip (or several) of his drink waiting patiently for him at the table.
"Nice!" Wedge said once Cloud returned to his seat. "See man, no hypnosis necessary. You were awesome!"
Cloud chuckled, feeling an ease set in with his friends. The night passed, and the group continued to sit and chat. Aerith still got up and danced when a song struck her fancy, and Cloud followed her back out most of the time. She even got Biggs and Wedge to make an occasional dance floor appearance, even though they kept complaining about how sore their feet were for the day. Cloud's feet should have been hurting — in-fact, they probably did — but between the alcohol and Aerith's occasional touch, the condition of his feet were the last thing on his mind.
The night passed, the drinks continued to flow, and the evening began to wind down.
"Well, guys," Wedge started, sneaking a glance at his watch. "I'm having a great time but I think I'm getting tired."
Biggs nodded and began to yawn. "Me too. I think I'm gonna head back to the room."
Cloud didn't want the night to end just yet. He should have been tired with the little sleep he had gotten the night before, but something about tonight was keeping him wide awake. Was it the alcohol? Or was it the euphoria he got from the mere touch of Aerith's hand? Or perhaps it was both. He searched for how to articulate it in words and started to speak, but it was Aerith who spoke up before him.
"I think I'll stay here," Aerith said and turned her attention toward Cloud. "What about you?"
"I'll stay too," Cloud blurted out. Surprisingly, he didn't do his usual pauses beforehand. Talking seemed to suddenly feel a little bit easier, like he didn't need to overanalyze every word before speaking. Aerith gave him a big grin and Cloud couldn't help but smile back. He turned to his friends and they waved goodbye, flashing him encouraging eye movements, too. Cloud pretended not to notice.
Soon, he was alone with Aerith. Well, as alone as one could be in a bar full of people. But it was just the two of them in this space, and this was the first time the whole trip Cloud didn't feel utterly panicked. He still didn't know exactly what to do, but he knew not completely freezing up was a good start.
With her eyes still locked on Cloud, she took a sip of her drink and stared at him a moment. Did she feel this magic too? Cloud searched her eyes and imagined reaching across her face to caress her cheek. Cloud would brush his fingertips across her lips and she would playfully smile. He'd then lean in and replace his fingertips with his mouth, pulling her in for a passionate kiss.
Before Cloud's mind could go anywhere else, he heard her speak, and it broke the trance. "I hope I didn't make you feel obligated to stay."
Cloud immediately shook his head. "No way," he assured her. "I'm having a great time out with you."
Wait, was that a compliment? Since when did Cloud give compliments? He was getting smoother by the minute. Bless this alcohol.
Aerith smiled at his comment and seemed to pause for a moment herself. "Thanks," she said sweetly. "I was worried I was boring you."
Cloud was taken back at her observation. What made her think she was boring him? Where did she get this crazy idea from?
Aerith continued. "You've said more in the past hour than you have the whole trip. I wasn't sure how to read you."
Oh, it was the lack of his social skills that were giving off the wrong impression. Cloud searched for an apology. "I'm sorry, I.. am not always good with new people. It's hard for me to talk."
"I'm glad you're talking to me now. So, I wanna know more about you. I'm searching for you. What's a day in the life like for Cloud?"
Cloud chuckled. "Nothing too special. I'm a computer engineer by day, working in your typical cubicle. By night, I install jukeboxes and occasionally get hypnotized." That last line got a giggle out of Aerith, and he continued. "What about you? Tell me more about your flower shop."
Aerith rolled her eyes. "Like I haven't talked about flowers enough as it is."
"It's cute," Cloud blurted. "I like hearing you talk about them. I'm learning a lot."
Wow, who was this new Cloud? He was throwing all sorts of smooth compliments and jokes around like it was the easiest task. And did he actually say "cute" out loud? She flashed a smile and then darted her eyes to the floor, almost as if she was a little shy herself; he couldn't help but feel it was a sure sign of flirting. Did she feel the spark? Maybe it wasn't all just in his head.
He didn't want the night to end. He stared into her eyes a little more now, and she didn't appear to turn away. With their eyes still connected, he felt himself moving closer to her. Was this it? Was this finally where it all will start?
Cloud took a moment to pause and assess the situation. He wasn't sure who this guy was that he was becoming, but he was sure liking it. This version of Cloud was more confident, more social, and was actually making progress with his crush. It was obviously the alcohol that was the missing link, giving him the courage he needed for even just a basic conversation. Why didn't he drink like this on a regular basis? It sure helped his nerves tonight, and it was about to help even more.
All of the sudden, a sickly feeling developed in Cloud's stomach, breaking his and Aerith's gaze. Cloud turned his attention down and rubbed his abdomen. He wasn't feeling too hot anymore. The events of the night were finally catching up to him. He needed to find a bathroom, soon.
And in a moment of clarity, the magic of the night faded away, his stomach turned, and he remembered that this was why he rarely drank. But it was too late to go back now.
A/N: Some quick IRL notes.
A few of the nightlife venues they pass are actual places at the Bellagio, but the Mako Bar is actually based on Carnaval Court at Harrah's, which is a couple hotels down and has some flair bartending and good live music. Although there's no shortage of lounges and live music venues anywhere in Vegas. Carnaval Court holds a special place, because it is where I had my Bachelorette Party (and also had a little too much to drink, just like Cloud).
Also, the traffic really is twice as bad at night in Vegas, so be prepared when you leave a show. But the view is gorgeous, so it makes up for it.