A Moment's Respite
Scene: Arriving back at Costa Del Sol
[The sun descends as twilight engulfs the seaside town of Costa Del Sol. Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith arrive back at the town after a lengthy excursion in the Corel mountains.]
TIFA: Man, I'm beat! I was starting to question if we were gonna make it back in one piece or not.
AERITH: I know what you mean. My legs are killing me. I'm gonna need at least a week to sleep this off.
TIFA (laughing): You and me both! Hey Cloud, how about we grab some food and head back to the inn?
CLOUD (unenthusiastically): Fine by me.
[Tifa and Aerith turn to each other, laughing at Cloud's characteristic apathetic response.]
Scene 2: At the Hotel de Sol
[The crew arrives back at their hotel with food in hand, and together with Barret and Red XIII, they eat dinner together in the boys' room, chatting about the day's events.]
BARRET: You guys were gone a lot longer than I expected. I thought me and Red here were gonna have to go on a rescue mission to find you.
TIFA: Yeah, we kind of got caught up in searching for flowers for the necklace Aerith is making and lost track of time.
AERITH: That and the monsters were especially unruly today.
RED XIII: All in all, it seems like you were able to handle things though.
[Barret glances at Cloud, who's caught in a bit of a daze.]
BARRET: You alright, Cloud? You don't look so hot.
CLOUD: Yeah, I'm fine.
[Cloud stands, pointing his body towards the exit.]
CLOUD: I'm gonna call it a night. I want to wake up early tomorrow for some training.
AERITH: Are you sure? Are you going to be ok?
CLOUD (coldly): I said I'm fine. I just need some rest.
[Without another word, Cloud returns to his room.]
BARRET: Did something happen while you guys were out?
TIFA (confused): No… Not that I can remember. Things were pretty uneventful outside of the monsters we encountered.
AERITH (with a concerned look on her face): I wonder if it's something I said.
BARRET: I wouldn't worry about it. That's just Cloud being Cloud. I'm sure he'll feel better in the morning.
AERITH (uncertain): Yeah. I hope so…
[Aerith stares at the ground, a look of concern covering her face.]
Scene: Cloud's Room
[Hours later, Cloud lies atop his bed wide awake, staring blankly at the ceiling as the light of the moon peers through the window beside him. He hears the creak of the door of one of the other rooms around his own. Curious, he decides to check things out. Stealthily, he cracks open his door and peeks quietly into the hallway. At the end of the corridor, he sees the silhouette of Aerith descending the wooden staircase. He carefully follows behind her at a distance to see where she is headed.]
Scene: The Beach
[Aerith arrives at the beach and sits in the sand at the edge of the water, letting the waves caress her feet as they are bathed in the glimmering moonlight. Soon thereafter she buries her head into her are arms and knees, letting out a silent cry. Cloud, watching silently from a nearby staircase, then begins to quietly approach her, uncertain of how to comfort her.]
CLOUD: You know it's dangerous here all alone.
AERITH: Oh, Cloud. I'm sorry. I didn't expect…
CLOUD: Don't worry about it. You alright?
AERITH (drying up her tears): Yeah…Sorry…I….
CLOUD: You don't need to apologize. You haven't done anything wrong.
AERITH: But I…
CLOUD: Look. If you need to talk, I told you I'm here to listen. Just don't expect me to say anything useful.
AERITH (chuckles at Cloud's attempt at humor): Thank you, Cloud.
AERITH: Actually, there is something I would like to talk to you about.
CLOUD: Oh? Is it something I did?
AERITH (flustered): Oh, no! No! Well, it's me actually. Well, not anything I did per se, but I…Sorry. I know how hard these kinds of conversations can be for you.
CLOUD: I mean… They're not exactly hard for me per se, but it's just that I don't know how to act. I'm not used to having to worry about others.
AERITH: I know…You don't need to explain. I get it… It's just that despite how awkward it's been for you, you've always been there for me, but I feel like I am not able to be there for you in the same way.
CLOUD: Oh, that's what you're worried about? You don't need to worry about me. I've just got things that I have to deal with on my own sometimes.
AERITH (frustrated with herself): Sorry. There I go making you feel awkward again… Why do I always…
CLOUD (suddenly): Ok.
AERITH (puzzled): Huh?
CLOUD: I mean, I will… I will rely on you more. I mean, I can't promise anything, but…
AERITH (stares at Cloud with teary eyes as she giggles childishly): It's so cute to see you flustered. It's ok. Take all the time you need. Just know that no matter what, when the time comes, I will be there for you.
[For just a brief moment, Cloud's blank stare gives way to softened eyes on the verge of tears before reverting back into his usual blank stare.]
CLOUD (feeling awkward, he prepares to stand): Well. I'm gonna head back. Don't stay out too long…
AERITH (with glistening eyes): Cloud, wait. The moon looks so beautiful tonight. Before we go back, can we just sit here for a little while.
CLOUD (unable to resist Aerith's appeal to his sympathies): Uh. Ok…
[Aerith scoots slightly closer to Cloud's side as they both glance ahead at the calm waves glistening in the light of the moon. Two hearts content yet uncertain of the future that lies ahead.]
End