Of course, I would have to write a Clerith fanfic while playing the remake! While I ship both Clerith and Cloti even Clessie (I'll ship Cloud with any tangible female, let's not lie here), Aerith just shined in my eyes in this remake. Not a popular ship (correct me if I'm wrong) but that didn't stop me from writing a fic about them. Something cute and light! Hopefully there is a resurgence of Clerith readers with the remake and all that. Do let me know how y'all feel! hehe

A beautiful maiden sat at the edge of the window in her room, eyes gazing at the greens of her home while a hopeless sigh passed between her lips easily. It was uncountable, the number of sighs she had given out since the morning her eyes fluttered open. Despite the beauty of the world around her—the sunshine, the birds singing, the winds whistling—the boredom that encased the remainder of her day was nothing to look forward to.

"Milady, do you mind if I come in and change your bedsheets?"

Aerith glanced at her door before huffing another uneventful sigh.

"Go on ahead."

The door opened and in came two housekeepers with fresh white linen sheets in their hands. They bowed respectfully towards Aerith for a moment before they entered the busy work. Not wanting to awkwardly feel their presence in complete silence while she sat with her thoughts, Aerith excused herself to go find refuge within the gardens. She skipped past the small bridge leading to the flower beds and took a huge breath, gratefully taking in the smell of nature—her nature.

Aerith bent down at a flower bed dazzling with yellow flowers: her favorite. Since spring was at its greatest bloom, the petals seemed to glisten underneath the sunlight, all brimming with good health and vitality. She reached over to grab the basket that always sat by the edge of the bridge and began to gather the ripe flowers. It pained her a bit to take them away from where they first sprouted, but she knew they would also be happy in a vase at a different home.

Elmyra didn't like how the young woman pranced around the different sectors as a flower peddler since it was "too dangerous for a pure soul like hers to explore around the unknown unattended" but that never stopped Aerith from sneaking past her eyes and spreading her beautiful bouquets to the farthest distances they could reach. Flowers were a rarity in the sectors, but they weren't at her home; selling the beauties were less of a chore and more of side hobby as well as some side hustle. She never thought that anything would really limit her from going out as much per her adoptive mother's wishes—the world wasn't that scary—but Aerith never knew Elmyra's concerns meant a lot more than just a simple discretion.

Until he came.

"Excuse me?"

Aerith's hand froze from the flower picking as her green eyes shot upward to seek the voice. Her inner instincts instantly told her to make a run for it the moment she spotted the large sword swung behind the man's back; rarely anybody she didn't know would cross by her residence, much less anybody who carried such a glamorous weapon. It was the curious green-infused blue eyes that made her steel her ground—they spoke question.

"Hello," she said as she stood up and patted her dress down, "how may I help you? Ah, would you care to buy some flowers?" The slightly startled expression the young man adorned was enough to cast her fears away. "They are at the peak of their bloom, perfect for homes!"

When she popped her inquiring face closer, the young man swiftly took a step back. Aerith tilted her head at him, wondering what it was that made him so jumpy. Her?

"Is the Gainsborough Residence near?" he curtly asked. A little pout formed on her face at the way he completely dodged her question. Nonetheless, she dropped it with the flowers.

"Why, yes, but what is your business here?"

"I was hired by Elmyra Gainsborough." He looked past her head, trying to find the house that hid behind all the green that surrounded the place. When he did, he gave a small nod to Aerith. "If you will excuse me."

"Oh, wait, wait," she fussed, ears instantly perked about this "hiring" business. She didn't hear anything about this; if Elmyra ever had a concern about anything, especially new workers at their rather large house, she would be the first to know. Aerith quickly side-stepped, blocking the blond's path. No hulking sword was going to scare her away from this one. "Hired? Who are you?"

With a closer look at his eyes, she could see the green in more detail. Mako. It startled her, honestly—such eyes only belonged to a SOLDIER, and SOLDIERs don't ever come around here. Rather, they shouldn't. With the demise of Shinra Electric Power Company some years ago, the training of SOLDIERs also came down with it. The young man couldn't be any older or younger than her, so there was no way he could be a SOLDIER with his age.

Aerith didn't beat around the bush, so she directly asked, "Are you a SOLDIER?"

The young man didn't make an effort to hide his discomfort. It seemed like he had experienced this question numerous of times already. Instead, he looked away to prevent her from studying his eyes any longer and shook his head.

"I'm a merc. Here for the job." His gaze shifted back towards her figure to study it briefly. With all the questions she threw at him, he took an educated guess at who she was. "Are you… Aerith Gainsborough?"

"That's me," she nodded, but she quickly clasped a hand over her mouth. Elmyra always did warn her from disclosing her identity so easily to strangers, but it wasn't as if Aerith ever listened. However, she found the current situation more fitting for her warning than ever before. A sheepish smile spread across her face, as if doing so could make the young man forget, but he didn't return it. He just let out a sigh before crossing his arms.

"Cloud. Cloud Strife."

"Um, excuse me?"

"My name."

"Oh." Aerith blinked. What was this progression? Was she supposed to introduce herself to a stranger? More importantly, was it wise to even lead this rather handsome stranger into her homely abode? He could've been lying for all she knew. Maybe he was a SOLDIER spy sent from Shinra disguised as a merc. They were desperate for her before; just because they lost their power didn't mean they couldn't go after her again. Where was Elmyra when she needed her?

Aerith bit her bottom lip. Should she bring out her magic staff and beat him up? So many different scenarios played within her head, enough to distract her from the utterly confused mercenary in front of her.

"I'm your bodyguard from now o—"

"Look, I may seem like I can't fend for myself, but I am perfectly armed and I will—excuse me?" Aerith spluttered the last part, getting a little bit too caught up to let him finish his sentence. However, she heard enough. "What? Bodyguard?"

Cloud rubbed the back of his head, looking unwilling to explain anything to a person who obviously wasn't informed. "I start the job today."

"Maybe you are mistaken?" Aerith tried. Pieces of the puzzle started to align themselves. Elmyra's warnings had been quite excessive as of late, but Aerith simply took it as a response to her more frequent escapes away from boredom. Despite this, a bodyguard seemed way too out of hand. Where was the decency to inform her first before hiring a mercenary? Even the young man looked reluctant—how much was he paid?

"Miss, uh, Gainsborough," Aerith couldn't help but shiver at the idea of anybody calling her by her last name like that, "Things would perhaps be sorted out if the three of us talked. If you could lead me to your residence, that would be make the job a lot easier."

At this point, Aerith just knew that every word he spoke was the darn truth. Elmyra had a lot of explaining to do. In the meantime, teasing the new worker seemed to be delightful idea.

"It's not wise for me to just lead such a man like you into my home," she cheekily replied. "It comes with a price!"

Cloud looked at her, unamused. She bent down to grab her unattended basket of flowers and reached her hand out towards him with a lily. "The offer still stands! These flowers only come during the spring, so once a year do they bloom."

"Sorry, not interested," replied Cloud. Despite his refusal, Aerith giggled and tucked a flower into one of the straps of his sleeveless uniform. He took another step back, surprised at the suddenness of her movement. His eyes looked at the flower confusingly, as if he never saw such a thing before. Aerith laughed; the flower did not compliment his hard look at all.

"I like to give service to my new customers," she winked. She patted him on the chest where the flower stem sat for good measure. Again, he let out a sound of surprise. "This one's on the house. Don't be so cold towards the flowers next time, hm?"

"If there is a next time," he gruffly said before moving past her and towards her home. Aerith settled down the basket of flowers and followed closely behind. With full view of his large sword strapped on his back, she studied the blade. She could already imagine herself trying to carry the weapon, only for her thinly arms to give in and drop it onto the floor.

"Want to tell me when you got the job?" Aerith continued to clobber him with questions.

"Three weeks ago."

"Three weeks?" That was nearly a month! Now a bit more offended with how Elmyra kept all of this from her, a frown graced itself on her gentle face. "Now, why would such a man like you take on this sort of job?" She playfully felt the hilt of the sword. He continued walking on, not bothering to stop her. "You look like a tough guy fighting evil—or the opposite—in dark alleyways."

"More than you could ever imagine," he let on.

"Sure, of course, of course. Bodyguarding must be a tough cookie on the list too."

"Who knows. Never done it before."

When they reached the front of her home, Aerith skipped past him to block him one last time. A grin stretched across her face while his adorned a raised brow. While she wouldn't mind gracing the presence of such a mysterious and handsome man, a bodyguard was the last thing she needed. Her adoptive mother had another thing coming if she thought she would accept this unnecessary situation so easily.

"Cloud, I'm sure there are many other jobs that are much more deserving of your time. I know quite a bit of connections, if I do say so myself," she reached a hand to feel his biceps. Surprised, he instantly flexed his muscles. "I'm confident that I'll land you a job that would be worthwhile for you too. How about it?"

His hand grasped hers to pull it away from his arm. He let go before saying, "I got a rep to live up to, especially when I've already been paid ahead of time. Maybe next time when the job's done. Now if you'll excuse me." Aerith gaped at him as she automatically let him knock on her door. Paid? Already? Elmyra was desperate.

The door opened to reveal the one and only. A smile lit on her face when she saw the merc, confirming Aerith's suspicions. Obviously been expecting his arrival, Elmyra invited him in. "You've come earlier than I expected. And it seems like you've met my daughter!"

"Mom," Aerith said underneath her breath. All her questions were voiced out in that single word. When Cloud entered the house, Aerith let the questions show in her eyes as she stared at her adoptive mom. "What's all this about?"

"You probably answered your own questions during the walk back here," Elmyra simply answered. "As the last living Cetra on the Planet, one would think you would be a little bit more concerned about your safety."

"Mom, I'm fine. Honestly," Aerith glanced over at Cloud, who stood at a respectable distance to remain out of earshot from their conversation. "No one is going after me. Shinra is down, and the place is safer now. I can even defend myself. You think my magic staff is just a metal stick?"

"Child, just because Shinra stopped their chase doesn't mean other people have. Your identity remains low, but there's no predicting what can happen."

"I get it, but you hired a SOLDIER? That's a little bit counterintuitive." Even if he said he wasn't one, there was no other way to explain the mako-colored eyes. "Ever heard of a background check?"

"A very good friend of mine recommended him to me, and I trust her more than anything. He isn't a SOLDIER—just a mercenary who truly is working alone."

"But his eyes—"

"Aerith, dear," Elmyra's tired eyes gazed into Aerith's, "Call me silly all you want, but do this for me, hm? My heart can't stay worried for a second longer. With a bodyguard, I can worry less every time you go out."

Aerith couldn't fight her mother any longer with the way her she looked so tired. Realizing how her frequent trips to the different sectors took a toll on her dear mother, Aerith gave up trying to refute the idea. Nothing seemed to be reversible now. With Cloud already here and paid, putting up a fight seemed futile.

"Does he… know?"

"That you're the last Cetra? Why, of course. The urgent need for your safety must be made apparent. It would seem rather ridiculous for a man like him to just guard a nobody. Cloud, come here and join us. You mustn't stand by yourself like that."

Cloud wordlessly came over to join the two. His entire presence felt so awkward in her house with his bulky sword and his battle gear. The awkwardness radiated from his posture and the small frown that was present on his forehead as well. He seemed unfamiliar in a home setting, which didn't seem too surprising—the floor seemed to be a regular companion of his.

"I'm sure you've already heard what the job entails, but it's simple enough. Please be watchful of my daughter by accompanying her whenever she goes away from home, which I'm sure is a daily occurrence. The schedule is flexible in your favor, but perhaps not Aerith's."

"What do you mean?" the brunette asked.

"What I mean is this: you aren't allowed to go outside of Sector 5 without his accompaniment."

Aerith rubbed her forehead, her head already spinning from the sudden freedom that slipped by her hands so fast. Nevertheless, she accepted the terms, just for her weary mother. His presence shouldn't affect her daily life too much. The eyes that would constantly be on her might strike as uncomfortable, but it couldn't be as worse as some of the things she experienced as an unknown flower peddler on the streets of Midgar.

"Sounds fine," Cloud simply answered.

"There's a guest room here already set up for you. I'm sure traveling around between Sector 5 and 7 can be tiring sometimes. Feel free to rest up in there whenever you need to. Thank you for your future diligence. Now, if you'll excuse me, I got some grocery shopping to do." And with that, Elmyra left through the front door with a smile. Aerith was quick to tilt her head towards Cloud again in question.

"Sector 7?" she whistled. "That's far. The money must've been really worth it, huh?"

He looked away, something Aerith noticed he did frequently. Eye contact must've not been his thing. "Something like that." And it wasn't just his eye movements; he was a man of very few words.

Aerith giggled and circled him, much to his bewilderment. Oh, she could tell she was going to have fun with this. "So, how do you feel?"

"About?"

"Guarding the last Cetra on the Planet. Well, half-Cetra, but details, details! Oh, but do make yourself at home. Relax!"

Cloud let out an "oof" when she circled behind him and grabbed his shoulders to steer him towards a table. She seated him and sat across from him. Her hands clasped together on the table in mirth; it had been so long since she last sat down and talked about her origins with anybody. Elmyra always did caution her from advertising her bloodline so frivolously.

He cleared his throat before he spoke. The mannerisms really needed to go away. Him being uncomfortable made her uncomfortable. "Nothing much to it."

"Oh, please, I'm sure you're much more interested than that. Don't be so shy. Ask away!"

"Why ask when there are books on your people?" he countered. "Unless I am misinformed."

"I can always correct you."

"Heard you can speak to inanimate objects."

"Nature is not inanimate," Aerith huffed jokingly. "Sorry to disappoint. Would you like me to talk to your sword?"

"I get it," he roughly said in response to all her teasing. He stood up, not interested in any of the small talk she planned to have with him. "Are you planning on going out today or no?"

"Considering how I no longer need to escape unseen," she stood up with him, "I'll gladly take the open door out. Shall we head to Sector 1 today? I haven't been there recently to sell my flowers since it's such a long way about."

Cloud didn't say anything as he followed her out the door and back to the flower beds. Once she gathered enough flowers for the trip, they headed down to the train together. It irked Aerith how he refused to walk by her side and instead walked behind her from a good distance—was this what bodyguards did? The looks he garnered were obvious. She could hear the light whispers dancing among the people they passed; there was no way such eyes could look past the gigantic blade he had.

"Do you mind walking any slower?" Aerith turned around and narrowed her eyes at him. He caught up to her and sighed—he sighed way too much.

"I prefer it that way, Ms. Gainsborough."

"Oh, please," she shook her head instantly. "Aerith is fine, you uptight stick."

It was clear that Cloud was not used to anybody talking to him the way Aerith did as his eyes widened slightly. Was that supposed to be an insult? He didn't know. "Would you rather me call you Mr. Strife?"

"… Please don't."

"The feeling's mutual then," she grinned. She went by his side and hooked her free arm around his elbow, startling him greatly. "Now if you don't want people to suddenly report you to the guards around here, stick by my side, why don't 'cha? Either that, or you'll get some of this treatment from me."

She laughed when he wiggled his arm away from her grip. "The former it is then. And would it kill to ditch the sword?"

"You're basically asking me to be jobless," Cloud deadpanned as they continued walking through her hometown. Aerith raised a quizzical brow and threw punches in the air. He warily eyed the way the flowers nearly bounced out of her basket from her erratic movements.

"You got these babies, don't you? There's no murdering around my turf here. Your sword is, dare I say it, a big overkill. You remind me of another person I once knew. No one would ever approach the likes of you guys."

"Makes my job easier, then."

"And mine harder! But oh poosh, we'll see how business will boom today. And you," Aerith tapped the flower that still, surprisingly, sat at his chest, "shall be my handsome model. A man with a flower—how absolutely dashing!"

Cloud didn't say anymore. Aerith couldn't tell whether he was speechless or if he was just tired of all her rambling. A bit boring, his company, but it was better than none.

After a couple of hours on the streets of Sector 1, Aerith called it a day when it began to get dark. Business remained the usual since Cloud preferred to stand somewhere far, but not too far, to observe her. He must've liked to do his job undercover and out of sight, and Aerith wasn't going to peg him to stand by her as she sold her flowers. His rigid figure probably would've scared off some of the customers anyway.

"You don't get bored just standing there?" Aerith inquired on their train ride back to Sector 5.

"It's peaceful," he answered. "Something the jobs I do rarely are."

"I'm sure they're action-packed. Must be a real pain, hm?"

"This job is painful in many other ways," he muttered, and she doubted it was supposed to go unheard.

"Just think about it," she mused as she stuck a hand in the air for dramatic effect, "Cloud Strife, the merc that protected the last Cetra ever living on this Planet. Doesn't that sound so heroic?"

"Good for the rep."

"Oh, and of course for the rep too, no doubt. But!" Aerith wagged a finger in front of his face, which he retracted away from, "You can't go advertising who I am, no matter how much I pick at your skin. I live a life of somewhat-secrecy!"

"Uh huh, by selling flowers out on the streets. Real secret."

Aerith laughed once more before she gave Cloud a break and remained quiet for the rest of their trip back home. Once they reached the front of her house, nighttime had already fallen over, and the lights that lit up all her flower beds shined like playful fireflies.

"Are you gonna be using the guest room tonight? It's right next to my room. We could have the most wonderful chats all night long," Aerith joked, already knowing what his answer was going to be. During the whole day, his discomfort with her teasing never failed to ease away. She took back her earlier thought from this morning; it was his sighs that were uncountable, not hers.

"I'm going back. Tell me when you plan on going out next time, and I'll see if I'm free."

Aerith was impressed—she swore that was the longest phrase he spoke all day.

"And how am I going to do that?" she questioned. Without another word, she fished out her phone and waved it.

"Oh. Right."

Before he could take it and enter in his information, she pulled it away at the last second.

"Not until you promise me you're going to take good care of that flower. Before you put it in a vase, you gotta cut the stem," she motioned a pair of scissors with her other hand, "Diagonally!"

"What? Ah." He didn't realize how he had it on the entire day. "The flower or your freedom: choose your pick."

"You're no fun," she pouted, and she handed him her phone. He entered his digits before he handed it back to her. As he turned around to make his way back to Sector 7, Aerith hooted after him. "Good night! Safe travels."

"… Good night."

And he went off.

~.~.~

"Well, what do we have here: a sissy!"

Cloud took a shot out of his drink, completely ignoring the unwanted commentary by Barrett. "His new job is being a flower boy, eh?"

"Don't tease him so much," Tifa chided, but she couldn't help but giggle as well. "I guess it comes with the job."

"Maybe sniffing the flower might give him a romantic bone or two," Jessie joined in as she sat beside the blond and hugged her glass.

Having enough of the endless teasing, Cloud tore off the flower from his strap and handed it to Tifa, who took it in mild surprise.

"You can have it for all I care," he scoffed, but his eyes fleetingly glanced over to see the raven-haired beauty's reaction. Tifa blinked before laughing.

"Maybe the effects are already settling in, Jessie."

"Oh, poo, you didn't think of me?"

Cloud sighed. "Wasn't voluntary."

"How is it, guarding the last Cetra on the Planet?" Barrett asked, finally changing the topic. "Was damn surprised to hear you got picked for the job. Who knew we could ever have a connection to the famed gal?"

"Was it pleasant?" Tifa inquired. "So much better than the usual, isn't it?"

"Depends," he answered. "First day of the job. Wouldn't know yet."

Tifa bit the bottom of her lip before smiling. "I'm really glad you took this job, Cloud. I really am."

He pulled his gaze from his drink to meet her ruby orbs, which smiled gleefully at the news of his uneventful yet successful day of work. His lips pursed into a thin line—his definition of a smile. With a nod, he said, "Of course."

When Tifa began to rummage the shelves of her bar for a vase. Cloud remembered Aerith's advice.

You gotta cut the stem diagonally!

"Hey, Tifa, got scissors?"

Tifa perked up an eyebrow, but didn't verbally question it as she filled a small vase with water and handed him the scissors. With a short snip, he cut the stem and placed the flower into its new home.