Between grief and nothing, I will take grief.
—Faulkner
Perfect
"But whatever happens... you can't fall in love with me. Even if you think you have, it's not real."
Aerith saw the hurt wash over Cloud's face, and it tore her apart on the inside. She had forced herself to say the words, slowly and painstakingly, going against everything that she truly wished for. Seeing his anguished reaction, however, she was already beginning to regret her decision.
She turned away from him, unable to bear the look on his face. No, she convinced herself. It was the right choice. Better to break his heart now, than to rend it asunder completely when...
Her thoughts were interrupted as he caught her by the wrist.
"Ah... Cloud? What are y-"
She had only a moment to stare at him in puzzlement before he drew her closer, enveloping her in his arms and pressing his lips against hers.
"Mmmff..."
The sound of her muffled question quickly died away, replaced by delighted giggles and sensual moans as they shared their first kiss. She brought her arms around him as well, wondering when he'd grown so bold all of a sudden. But it didn't matter. There was no time to think any of it through. All she cared about in that instant was meeting the intensity of his kiss as he took her into his arms, wrapping her in a powerful embrace, as if to ensure that she'd never disappear from him again.
She leaned in closer, kissing him back with everything she had, madly, deeply, passionately, no longer denying herself what she most desired. When it was over, she was left breathless, having forgotten all sense of time and place.
"Do I get a say in all this?" Cloud murmured as they finally parted, his voice husky.
Aerith tried to fight back the tears welling up in her eyes. It made her so happy to know how much he loved her. A fierce, unrestrained love that she returned with every fragment of her being. But... had she failed to protect him? Would it be worth the cost? How much would he have to suffer for this brief moment of happiness? The thought was too much for her to bear.
"...I was too late, wasn't I?" she asked, smiling through the pain, knowing what was to come.
"Yeah... you were," he replied, gazing at her with a hunger and intensity that made her feel naked, vulnerable, entirely his.
"Then shut up and kiss me," she whispered in his ear.
He pulled her close once more, and again she found herself lost in those icy blue eyes of his, staring deep into her soul. They kissed again, more tenderly at first, then with growing fervour and lust as they slowly gave themselves over to each other, completely and absolutely. The world melted away, leaving just the two of them, enveloped in each other's embrace, in a state of rapturous bliss, forever.
So be it, she thought. If it meant going through all of that pain again, all that heartache, just for this one fleeting, perfect moment, it would be worth it.