A/N: OMG, I can't believe that almost a month has passed since I last updated this. OK, I'll try to update faster… I really don't want to update so slow when it comes to this fic… this is actually my fav FF7 story that I've written so far. Of course, it being a C/A is part of it. I've been away on vacation, & kinda busy trying new things on the net lately, been addicted to Hikaru no Go, and busy with my job also. =)
To answer some of your questions from the review, this fic is NOT going to follow the whole FFVII story. It's going to be focused on Cloud and Aeris' relationship. So there's not gonna be much fighting and stuff… sadly, I don't think I have room for the other characters also… I'll add them in, but this fic is going to be mainly about Cloud and Aeris.
Many thanks to those who reviewed the previous chapter and to those that are following this fic. I hope that I'll keep all of you happy until the end of this fic… thanks for your reviews!! You guys have been awesome. =) /hugs/ I'll be sure to write some thank-you notes on the next chapter.
Random FFVII Quote: "Grossness! Don't mess with me old man! You don't even have any materia!" ~ Yuffie Kisaragi (to Don Corneo)
When The Soldier Meets The Flower Girl
Chapter VIII: Like Father, Like Son
Cloud finally sighed in relief as he stepped out of Aeris' house. He had only been caught by the young flower girl just once when he had first tried to make an escape. Luckily, on his second try, he made it out without Aeris.
The young SOLDIER strolled down the dark slums, continuing his way down to the dark streets. He thought about AVALANCHE… and Tifa. He wasn't sure whether Tifa and Barret had made it through the explosion. That mission seemed like a long time ago, but it had only been last night since it had happened. A lot had happened… a lot has changed.
And yet the young soldier was not aware that he too was changing…
Before deciding to head off, Cloud took this time to stock up on some useful supplies. Hey you never know what kind of people you're gonna meet on the road… He bought a couple of new materias and a new armor. Once he was through with his errands, he continued his way down, his blue eyes fixed ahead of him.
Suddenly he halted as he squinted at a rather familiar figure ahead. She was a pretty girl, wearing a pink dress… Cloud was too far to recognize the young lady, but he had a weird feeling about it already. The girl didn't budge from her spot. It was as if she was waiting for Cloud to come to her. Looking around, Cloud couldn't find anyone else besides himself and the girl.
Shrugging, Cloud decided to move on. As he was getting closer to her, the girl finally ran up to him, wearing her beautiful charming smile.
"You're up bright and early, Mr. Cloud Strife," Aeris Gainsborough slightly bent down, her hands behind her back, flashing the young SOLDIER her best grin.
"Aeris!" Cloud exclaimed.
Aeris nodded and looked toward the road that would lead them to Wall Market. "Let's get going if you want to get to Sector 7 on time."
Before Aeris could run away from him, Cloud stopped her. "Wait, Aeris, please!"
She turned to him, her arms crossed over her chest. "Are you ready?"
"Aeris… I just…" Cloud scratched his head. He wasn't really used to dealing with something like this before. He had never encountered a girl who was as stubborn as the one in front of him right now. "How could I ask you to come when I knew it's going to be dangerous?"
"Are you done?" she asked.
Cloud sighed. It was impossible to argue with her.
"The road will be tricky, but I'm sure an ex-SOLDIER like you could manage," Aeris answered. "Let's go!"
This time Aeris didn't even let Cloud speak as she went on ahead. Cloud sighed and just followed the stubborn pink-clad flower girl.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Oh look! I can't believe it!" Aeris exclaimed in excitement as she pointed over to the slide. They reached an empty park after traveling a twisted road that had got them to this location. She turned her shining green eyes on him. "Cloud, I'm tired. Let's go take a break okay?"
Aeris climbed up on the top of the slide as Cloud just stood there, studying her. She sat down on the top and waved over for Cloud to come. "Cloud, over here!" she called out.
He blinked, finally breaking his staring. Nodding his head, he also climbed up to follow her example. He sat next to Aeris trying hard not to stare again at her. He wasn't sure why his blue Mako eyes had suddenly wanted to stare at those innocent green eyes of hers. There was something about her eyes that had touched a part of him somehow, somewhere deep within him, hidden in his heart.
Was there another part of him that wanted to meet Aeris?
His thoughts were interrupted as Aeris asked him a question. "So… what rank were you?" she softly asked.
He looked at Aeris in confusion. "Rank?"
"You know… in SOLDIER…" she reminded him.
"Oh… I was…" Cloud blinked. "…First… First Class…"
Aeris hugged her knees tighter together and sighed sadly. Zack… he was definitely a lot like Zack. "Just the same… just the same as him."
Cloud turned to Aeris and noticed her sad expression. "The same as who?"
"My first boyfriend," Aeris answered.
Cloud turned to look away from Aeris. "You were… serious?" he asked. He wasn't sure why he was suddenly interested to know about her past love life, but Aeris seemed willing to share.
"No, I was only sixteen, but I did like him for a while," she sighed, looking down. "Cloud Strife. First Class… just like him…" she smiled weakly and then shook her head. Aeris looked at Cloud. "What about you, Cloud?"
Cloud bit his lower lip as he remembered his childhood crush, Tifa Lockheart. Now that he thought about it, he really couldn't remember any good memories with her… except he could definitely still remember his last night with her when he made that promise to her at the well. Other than that, nothing else. He looked over at the curious gaze of Aeris Gainsborough, who was sitting right next to him.
From the moment he saw Aeris since that time at Wall Market, he knew that there was something special about her. She was different than any other girls… she was an Ancient…
He stared down at his hands. He hated to admit it to himself, but he never really had any luck with women.
"Aeris I…"
"Oh?" Aeris suddenly looked up when the gate to Sector 7 opened.
Cloud rose to his feet and there he found a chocobo with Edgar riding on it… behind him was Tifa Lockheart…
"Tifa?" Cloud squinted. He was sure it was Tifa. It had to be her.
Aeris rose to her feet as well. "That's Tifa? What would Tifa be doing with Edgar?"
Cloud shrugged. "I don't know and I don't like it."
"Hurry, Cloud! We gotta go save Tifa! Edgar's a dangerous man. Let's go! They're heading to Sector 7!"
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
(a/n: this part is… kinda… umm… weird…)
"Hehe, are you excited yet?" Edgar asked the quiet Tifa Lockheart.
Tifa remained straddled there as Edgar dismounted. He looked over at Tifa and offered his hand to help her get off the yellow-feathered chocobo. Tifa Lockheart was supposed to be meeting up with his father, Don Corneo tonight. But he had managed to sneak in and kidnap the beautiful girl. If he couldn't have Aeris, then he might as well use Tifa for some fun. Besides, Edgar had a thing for brunettes.
"Thanks but no thanks, I can get off myself," Tifa answered as she expertly dismounted. Her feet reached the ground and she stood there with confidence. She eyed Edgar from head to toe and looked away. "Hmph."
Edgar laughed. "Haha… so, you're gonna be my bitch for tonight. How does that sound?"
Tifa only ignored his remark and patted the chocobo's back.
Edgar took out something from his backpack. He revealed a bottle of wine and two glasses. "So let's have some fun. I brought some alcohol."
"You're so cute, Choco," Tifa commented at the chocobo.
He scowled at Tifa. "Hey! Maybe we can, like, sit together and drink… then we can start the real thing you know…"
"Chocobos are so cute," Tifa said more to herself.
Finally Edgar could no longer take it. "Hey! Are you ignoring me on purpose?!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.
For the first time, Tifa finally looked at Edgar's ugly face. "Yes I am. Why, does that bother you or something?" she tucked her hair behind her ear, rolled her eyes, before resuming to pat the chocobo.
"You!" Edgar suddenly grabbed Tifa's wrist, forcing her to turn around. "I will get what I want!" His eyes wandered all over Tifa's beautiful features. He started at her ruby eyes, down to her breasts… He was just about ready to put his lips on hers when his cheeks met with her hard slap. But Tifa Lockheart wasn't finished yet as she unexpectedly kicked him on his crotch. Edgar cringed and quickly backed away from her, moaning at the pain. "B-Bitch!"
Tifa got her fists ready as she stood in front of Edgar. "You asked for it, you disgusting jerk!"
Edgar looked at her for a while, staring at Tifa's readied fists. "Oh, so what are you gonna do? Strike a punch with your girly hands? Haha! What a joke!"
"Tifa!"
Tifa quickly turned to look for the source of the voice and found Cloud and another girl running up to them. Tifa quickly recognized the pink-clad girl as the one that Cloud had been with at the park. Knowing that she couldn't worry about that now, Tifa turned her attention back to Edgar. Without hesitation, she gave him her strongest blow right through his gut.
"Ugh!" Edgar groaned and fell on his knees.
"Take that…" Tifa said. "Hmph."
Cloud approached Tifa. "You alright?" he asked. He turned to Edgar who was lying on the ground, trying to catch his breath. "Looks like you didn't need our help after all."
Aeris giggled as she glanced at Edgar. "You sure know how to take care of yourself, Tifa," she said. Aeris came up to her and smiled. "Hi Tifa. My name is Aeris Gainsborough. It's nice to meet you."
Tifa nodded. "I'm Tifa Lockheart… y-you're… you're the girl at the park… with Cloud?"
"Yes… with Cloud," Aeris replied.
Tifa avoided her gaze and looked down on the ground. "I see…"
"Oh don't worry about it. We just met…" Aeris told her reassuringly, noting her faint blush.
"It's good to see you again, Tifa," Cloud told her. "Where's Barret? And tell me what you were doing with this pervert." He gritted his teeth and scowled at Edgar, who took no notice of him because he was in so much pain. He just couldn't believe the nerve of this guy. Not only was he coming after Aeris but he was also coming after Tifa.
"You see… I…" she stole a quick glance at Aeris. When she noticed Aeris pushing the fallen Edgar away from the road, she turned back to Cloud. "I wanted to investigate, so I decided to go to Wall Market. I wanted to hear it from Corneo's mouth. I just want the truth… I've found a way to get in to Don Corneo's house…"
"Don Corneo?" Cloud asked.
"He's Edgar's father," Tifa answered. "I had managed to get in, but Edgar took me instead and brought me here. But Cloud, what about you? I thought you were dead… what happened?"
Cloud glanced at Aeris. "Aeris brought me here. But I'm all right. Where's Barret?"
Tifa lowered her gaze on the ground. "I… he's with the rest of them back at Sector 7. According to Edgar here, Shinra is planning to bomb the pillar."
"What!" Cloud exclaimed in surprised.
With this, Aeris jumped up as well and approached Cloud and Tifa. "The pillar? But then that means Sector 7—"
"You're right, Aeris," Cloud cut her off. He then turned to Tifa. "We have to get to Sector 7 immediately."
"We can use Edgar's chocobo to get there," Tifa suggested.
"Great," Cloud agreed.
"The road here is dangerous. I know a faster way to get to Sector 7 with this chocobo. There's a shortcut on the next turn," Aeris announced, looking at Cloud.
"Aeris, I can't let you get involved in this. This is dangerous," Cloud told her.
Aeris almost smiled. She was just expecting that out of him. Funny, she had only met Cloud, yet she felt like she could read him like an open book. But she knew that there was more to Cloud. "I'm sorry, Cloud, but I'm already involved in this."
"Aeris."
Tifa nodded. "I think we should bring her along. She knows a faster way anyway."
Cloud was just about to argue when Aeris mounted up on the chocobo's back. "Then come on! We don't wanna be late, do we?"
Tifa giggled and followed Aeris' example. "I'm with you, Aeris."
Cloud sighed in defeat. There was nothing else to do. Two girls were ganging up on him. With a shrug, he reluctantly mounted up.
And what of Edgar?
"Oh, oww… ugh… m-my chocobo…!" Edgar faltered, stretching out his hand as the chocobo disappeared with Cloud and the two lovely ladies that he could only dream about. "A-Aeris! T-Tifa!"
He punched the ground, but that only put him into more pain. Edgar shook his head. Now he could understand why his father, the biggest pervert in town had no luck in women. He was exactly just like Don Corneo. And that was not good. Heh, like father like son eh? Well first off, I'm gonna follow that SOLDIER, Aeris, and Tifa until I get what I want.
"Just you wait, SOLDIER! I'm getting your women!" Edgar screamed at the top of his lungs, his loud shriek echoing throughout the dark slums.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Elena of the Turks opened up her blue eyes and stared up at the ceiling for two seconds before finally deciding to get out of bed. Still in Sector 7 slums, she was only able to spend a night at a tiny shack inn. But surprisingly, she was not totally complaining about it. She only worried about the inn's inconvenience and lack of service at the back of her head. Besides her thoughts were somewhere else.
She had been ordered to get out of this area first thing in the morning. But Elena had something else in mind. No, she was not about to get out of Sector 7 yet. There was something else that she had yet to take care of. Glancing down at her watch, she realized that it was only five.
Out of the room, she walked. She wasn't really paying much attention to where she was going for her thoughts were filled with something else. She was only able to snap out of it when she finally arrived outside. Her skin brushed against the cold breeze, the air whipping her blonde hair gently. Taking a deep breath, she fixed her blue eyes on Seventh Heaven bar.
She still couldn't get her mind off the little girl, Marlene that she had met earlier that day. After that chance of meeting up with a cute little girl, Elena had some time to talk with the girl. Marlene had told her about her father's life. The girl had basically told Elena about her life, and she had no idea that Elena was actually a Turk, whose mission was to expose the AVALANCHE for their "evil" deeds.
But Elena could not help but to like the little Marlene. She was too… innocent. Not to mention cute. She couldn't help but be fond of the girl. There was just so much to like about her. That was why she knew that she just had to get Marlene out of Sector 7 before it was to be destroyed. If what Marlene had told her were true, about the AVALANCHE trying to save the Planet, then she couldn't possibly let the Shinra destroy the AVALANCHE. But then again, she knew that she would be powerless to stop them. Besides she was a Turk now. She had a job to do.
Yes, a job. This was her job. This was the career that she had dreamed of since infancy. As she took a step, she glanced once again at the sign that said Seventh Heaven. Taking a deep breath, she slowly approached the empty bar.
= end of chapter 8 =
A/N: Ok, I really liked the part where Cloud cross dressed, but unfortunately I had to get rid of it b/c I don't want this fic to be long & I really wanna finish this… More pain and suffering to come on the next chapter! (just kidding)
~ Kristine