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Huge fireworks lit up the night sky at the Gold Saucer's famous Skywheel. Colorful chocobos ran across the air, bright lasers and sparkling stars flashed around the ferris wheel cabins. Every burst of light reflected in Cloud’s mako-filled blue eyes. His heart was pounding too fast in his chest for him to feel at ease. But it wasn't because of the lightshow. Slowly, he glanced to the side.
Aerith’s brown hair slightly hid her face as she rested her head on Cloud’s shoulder. Her enchanting green eyes were closed, her long lashes resting softly. Her face looked peaceful, yet a faint blush colored her cheeks.
The blond boy swallowed, his throat felt a little tight. His gaze drifted downward to where their intertwined fingers rested on his thigh. He felt both grateful and ungrateful for the gloves he wore on his hands. Grateful that they hid his sweat from nervousness, yet he longed to take them off, to feel the silky warmth of her skin. This was the perfect moment to sense the softness of her hand. Only the thin layer of fabric kept him from it.
In his head, only her words echoed, like a record stuck in place. “Because right now, I want to be with you…” A shiver ran down Cloud’s arm, raising goosebumps all over his skin.
He lifted his eyes back to her face, unable to get enough of the sight. Brown, wavy strands hid her long dark lashes. It was a calm moment, her chest rose and fell gently, her lips curled in the faintest, secretive smile. Cloud’s hand moved almost on its own, subconsciously reaching to brush away the lock of hair in his way.
Aerith’s lashes fluttered, and then her brilliant green eyes met his. A trace of confusion showed in her gaze as she blinked questioningly at him.
Cloud quickly pulled his hand back, his eyes dropping at once. As their gazes crossed for that fleeting moment, the near-accidental kiss from earlier flashed in his mind. Seeing Aerith’s face so close unsettled him completely. He even wondered what it would feel like to kiss her lips. But as quickly as the thought surfaced in his mind, he shooed it away as soon as it came.
His throat burned inside; he knew he had to say something to her. No, not just had to, he wanted to. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst through his ribs any second and run away. He felt the weight of her confession pressing on him, but the right words refused to come. For the planet’s sake, why was it so hard to express his feelings? Words raced through his head, but he was too nervous to form even one proper sentence.
“Aerith… I…” he started clumsily. "I..."
His gaze lifted slowly, carefully turning his head towards her. But Aerith looked back with such a gentle smile, as if to whisper, “Take your time, I’m listening.” He felt a sudden warmness in his chest because of her gesture. A wave of calmness washed over him, softening the tension in his muscles.
Their eyes locked, and Cloud was completely enchanted by the shimmering kindness in hers. Even her eyes smiled with radiant charm. Behind her, a burst of dazzling color exploded in the sky, framing her perfectly in that moment. His heart skipped a beat as he gazed at the girl beside him, bathed in beautiful colors. He couldn’t take it anymore, if words would not come, then he would show her what he felt through action.
With that impulse, he gently placed his hand under her chin, lifting her head slightly. He leaned closer to her, but hesitated. He figured he shouldn't act too hastily. What if Aerith wouldn't want this? He simply shouldn't force himself on her. His eyebrows furrowed, and his jaw tightened visibly on the side of his face.
Aerith, always such a perceptive girl, noticed his hesitation right away, and a small, knowing smile curled at the corner of her lips. She understood how delicate this moment was for Cloud, and she had no intention of teasing him now. She loved playing with him in gentle, playful ways, but this wasn’t a moment that could be brushed off with a joke, and she knew it very well. Her soft fingers came to rest along the tense line of Cloud’s jaw, making the boy glance back at her in nervous silence.
Their eyes locked once more, and for several long seconds they simply watched each other. It was like they spoke without words; only the tiny flickers of their expressions and the flutter of their lashes became the language. Cloud felt himself drowning in those emerald eyes, his heart continuing its frantic rhythm.
Then, with a deeper breath, he gathered his courage anew. He could see it in Aerith’s face, she didn’t mind if he took the next step, and it warmed his heart. He wanted to apologize for his hesitation, but the girl's gentle smile told him there is nothing to be sorry for.
His fingers were already tracing the curve of her cheek, but now he gently guided her closer. Aerith offered no resistance, in fact, quite the opposite. She closed her shimmering, lash-framed eyes and leaned in. Their lips met slowly, carefully, testing one another as if they were afraid this beautiful dream might vanish the moment they pressed too firmly. At that moment, halfway between the earth and the starry sky, in the gently rocking gondola surrounded by fireworks, it was just the two of them. Aerith's floral scent completely enchanted the guy, and his emotions almost overwhelmed his brain. His instinct was to pull away, to hide again behind his walls, but the warmth of her hand kept him there.
Cloud lingered there for a few seconds, him still brushing her sweet lips even as they parted, though he couldn't believe that she was real. Outside, another firework burst into the shape of a star, and Cloud swore that the universe itself was celebrating that girl before him. She shone a million times brighter than any firework.
For a long, but calm moment, neither of them moved an inch. Their breath mingled with each other. The world outside was loud and bright, but inside the gondola there was only warm silence. Then Aerith pulled back just enough to meet his eyes again. A faint, rosy blush painted her cheeks, while she softly smiled at him.
"See?" she whispered, her voice was quiet and sweet. "That wasn't so hard..." she teased softly, though it carried more affection than mischief.
Cloud nervously swallowed, his chest rising and falling quite quickly. He wanted to look away, but he couldn't. Not when those beautiful eyes held him so lovingly. His stomach was practically doing somersaults in his belly, but a faint and shy smile curled on his lips.
Before he could even answer, the ferry reached its destination, and it was time to get off. He thanked heaven for saving him from this situation. He had mixed feelings; part of him wanted to kiss her again, perhaps never let her go, while another part of him, very embarrassed, wanted to run away. But in the end, he just got up from the soft seat and reached for the door handle of the cabin. The handle opened with a dull click, and Cloud stepped out onto solid ground with a slight leap. With that momentum, he turned his body halfway, raised his arm, and reached out to Aerith. He offered his hand to help her out, which she gladly accepted. Their fingers touched once again, and millions of butterflies fluttered in their stomachs at the same time.
"Hey... Thanks for tonight." She started as she walked away from the cabin. Cloud's gaze was fixed to the side, but he followed the girl.
"You're welcome, but... I didn't do anything." There was a hint of confusion and embarrassment in his voice.
A giggle escaped Aerith's lips, then she took a small leap forward and stood face to face with the blonde. She opened her mouth with a broad and encouraging smile.
"Wall Market Warriors, you and me!" Her hand gestured with excitement as she spoke. She was practically beaming with delight. "We'll show 'em tomorrow!"
Cloud couldn't help but smile back, so a half-smile formed on his thin lips. Aerith's enthusiasm was almost contagious, and it was this trait that Cloud greatly admired in her. He couldn't understand how Aerith could be so full of life and radiance most of the time. She always showed how much she loved being alive; she was a ray of sunshine next to his gray clouds. The light that brings warmth to hearts, arriving after the downpour.
"Yeah!" He nodded, in his eyes her brightness reflected back.
They walked back to their accommodations hand in hand. Along the way, their earlier nervousness faded away, replaced by lively conversation and laughter. Aerith continued to be her charming self, pointing out interesting things about the events taking place in the corridors and large halls as they walked. The evening lights, soft but upbeat music and the murmur of people filled the entire main square. Young children ran around with stuffed animals and balloons, while their parents hurried after them, calling out that it was time to go, that it was late. On the other hand, for others the evening was just the beginning of fun.
As they approached the hotel, the crowd began to thin out, fewer and fewer people were hanging around, and the noise slowly died down. When they got into the elevator, the only other person besides the two of them was the strange elevator guy. Cloud felt that this wonderful evening was coming to an end, and he felt a lump in his throat. Their fingers were still intertwined between them, but without the large space and noise, it now felt much more intimate all of a sudden. The elevator arrived at their floor with a loud chime, where their rooms awaited them. Cloud fixed his eyes on the elevator doors opening in front of them, then on the parquet floor in front of the elevator. He had a feeling that if he stepped out of the elevator, this dreamlike evening would come to an end. His stomach felt nervous again; he didn't want it to be over. His fingers tensed slightly, causing Aerith to raise her eyebrows a little, but she said absolutely nothing about it. Cloud hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should just stay in the elevator, but why would he want to stay here with Aerith in the company of this odd elevator dude?
So they stepped out of the elevator, the doors closed behind them, and for a moment neither of them moved. The quiet corridor stretched out ahead, dimly lit and empty. Aerith tilted her head, looking at him with that same gentle smile that had him shiver many times before.
"Cloud...?" she said softly, her voice carrying an unspoken question.
The blond guy shook his head, indicating with a grunt that everything was fine, then took her by the hand and they set off down the corridor. After about 10 meters, they reached the door that hid Aerith's room behind it. Cloud's room was at the end of the hallway, and between their doors were the rooms of their other comrades, lined up one after the other.
Cloud hesitated once more, his hand still held hers. He felt his throat tightened. He knew that he should say goodnight and let her rest, but his heart screamed for more time with her. She gave his hand a small and gentle squeeze to pull him back from his storm of hesitation. Instead of reaching for her room key, Aerith turned to the boy and raised her green eyes to him. His heart fluttered in his chest.
He opened his mouth slightly, ready to say goodnight to her, but the words caught in his throat. He couldn't just end like this, he thought, not yet. This is not how it is supposed to be!
Before Aerith could even reach for her key, Cloud gently tugged on her hand, pulling her closer to him. He was determined to act upon his feelings, he was done running away from them. Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second, completely surprised, and then Cloud leaned in. Their lips met again softly, but no hesitation this time. The kiss was tender, filled with everything he hadn't been able to put in words. Aerith's surprise gradually wore off, replaced by a pleasant and excited feeling. She quickly closed her eyes and gently smoothed her free hand over Cloud's chest. Their lips moved a little more boldly than in the gondola. In this kiss, the tension of the last few minutes was released.
When they finally parted, they didn't speak a word. The couple simply gazed at one another, eyes locked, their foreheads almost touching. Cloud felt a pressure in his chest that only Aerith's closeness could ease. And the girl felt the same, it was unbearable.
It was as if their silence spoke louder than words. The urge swept over them in waves. In the next heartbeat, neither of them knew who moved first, but suddenly their lips crashed together again. It was fiercer this time, desperate and hungry for more. Cloud's back hit the doorframe as Aerith pressed against him. The metal plate on his shoulder gave out a big thud as it met the wall. Her hands tangled up in his blond, spiky hair, pulling him closer. With clumsy steps, they stumbled towards the door even more, lips never parting. Aerith fumbled with the key in one hand, giggling sweetly into the kiss. Then the door lock finally clicked open. Breathless against each other's mouths, they stumbled inside and the door shut behind them with a soft thud.
"Aerith..." His voice was low, he could hear his heartbeat in his ears. Cloud's gloves brushed against the curve of her waist as he pulled her closer, the gloves' fabric only fueling his frustration at not feeling her properly. Now Aerith's back pressed against the door, their kisses turning uneven and clumsy in their eagerness. She let out a soft laugh against his lips, the sound sending another rush of adrenaline and heat through him. He didn't want to stop, but he still broke the kiss and pulled back just enough to see her face. She was flushed, her smiling lips were rosy and a little puffed from kissing. Their eyes met, emerald and mako-blue, filled with the same longing. The butterflies in his stomach were multiplying by the second, and he could hear the pounding of his own heart echoing in his head. His eyes fixated on her, absorbing the gorgeous view that was before him. He pulled the thick gloves off his hands while trying to figure out exactly how he felt, finding a way to articulate the feeling he was going through. It was hard for him to communicate the thoughts in his head.
But Aerith saw it in his eyes, she saw right through him as usual. With his hand free from the gloves, he reached up to touch her face, his fingers tracing her red cheek, her soft jawline. He ran a thumb gently over the side of her swollen lips. He swallowed, gathering the courage to finally say what was in his heart.
"Aerith..." he tried again, his voice desperate almost and rough with emotion. Her name trembled at the edge of his lips. Instead, his touch and movements spoke for him. He caressed her face with gentle strokes, while he pulled her closer by her waist with his other hand. Aerith leaned into his hand with a soft sigh, she was ready to melt into his arms.
"You don't have to say it." she whispered, her breath brushing against his skin. "I know. I feel the same way."
Cloud's chest tightened at her words. He closed the distance between them once more, kissing her with all the unspoken feelings he carried for so long. His chest ached, filled with longing. The florist answered him just as eagerly, she wrapped her arms around his neck to hold him close, as if she never intended to let go. Cloud's grasp on her waist tightened , his fingers digging into the softness of her skin through the fabric of her light pink dress. His mind was fogged, his thoughts completely occupied by her and her only. Her breath hitched as she felt his fingers brushing against her neck, as his hand wandered downwards from her face. She felt her knees weaken under the weight of the moment, but she did not pull away.
The room around them seemed to blur into nothingness, all they felt was the warmth of their bodies pressing each other. Aerith's heartbeat raced beneath his palm. His gloves might have hidden his trembling before, but now his bare fingers traced her collarbone with shaky but determined movements. She was perfect, Cloud was sure about it, her skin felt warm and soft, and her floral scent drove him crazy. Every sound and every sensation was heightened. He heard her cute gasps against his lips, the quickening of her heartbeat beneath his fingers. He could taste her on his tongue, that intoxicating sweetness that was uniquely her. It stirred something deep inside him that he never felt before. For once he didn't try to fight his feelings, didn't try to hide. He let himself drown in this moment, drown in her, the way she clung to him, the way every breath she took seemed to sync with his own.
Aerith broke the kiss only to rest her forehead against his, her lips still brushing his as she whispered.
"Cloud..." Her voice carried both a plea and a promise. "Would you... stay for the night?" she asked quietly, her voice hesitant but hopeful, as if she feared he might refuse.
His breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened. His first instinct was to retreat, to shake his head and leave, but when he looked into her eyes, he found himself nodding instead.
"...Yeah," he muttered, more to convince himself than her.
Their kisses grew messier, tongues meeting halfway, hands wandering as they pressed against the door, rattling it softly with every movement. His hands glazed her sides and hips eagerly, resulting in her making those sweet melodies he liked. He wanted all of her, his hands roaming over her body with an overwhelming need, as if he was trying to memorize every single part of her. On the other hand, she was busy grabbing his shoulders, pulling him close, kissing him passionately. Suddenly she broke the kiss and started planting soft kisses on his jawline. It left Cloud surprised, he let out a raggedy groan.
"You drive me crazy, Aerith..." A sincere sigh came from the boy.
"And you like it!" She responded between two kisses with a grin.
"I... like you."
Their lips found each other again, her laughter muffled against his mouth. Neither of them cared about the world around them, until a sudden sharp knock and a familiar voice made them freeze in the spot.
"Aerith?! What the heck are you doing to the door?!" Yuffie's unmistakable voice came from the hallway. Both of them looked at each other with wide eyes, completely frozen. Then the florist slowly pulled back, her face burning red, while Cloud's breath was uneven, his lips swollen from their desperate kisses. His face screamed "what now?!". They stared at each other for a long, mortified second. The girl, being her adaptive self, quickly straightened herself and cracked the door open just enough to peek out, while brushing stray hair strands out of her face. She forced a smile.
"Hi...Yuffie...!" she started rather theatrically. "Nothing weird, Cloud was just..."
"Cloud?" Yuffie immediately furrowed her eyebrows. Aerith wanted to slap her mouth for giving away that the boy was there.
"Yeah! Hahah, he was... fixing the door for me! It was, um... a little stuck."
From inside the room, Cloud muttered something incoherent, and for this Yuffie grabbed the door and opened it so she could see the boy too. His arms immediately crossed before him, as if the gesture might hide his crimson red face. The ninja raised a brow, smirking as her eyes jumped between the two. She saw the signs, meaning the red cheeks and the swallowed lips with messy hairs. She was a little silly, but not stupid.
"Fixing the door, huh?" she asked with a suspicious look. "With your lips?"
Aerith's jaw dropped.
"Wh-what?! N-no!" she stammered, waving her hands frantically while looking at Cloud, requesting some help. But she was looking for help in the wrong place. Cloud looked like he had seen a ghost, his face almost turned dead pale.
"Uh-huh," Yuffie hummed, grinning ear to ear. "Try not to break it next time."
Then she skipped down the hall, leaving Aerith groaning into her palms while Cloud just wished the floor would swallow him whole. As Yuffie's footsteps faded, Aerith peeked back into the room, shutting the door with a groan. When she turned, she covered her face with her hands.
"This is so embarrassing..." she muttered.
Cloud still flushed, looked at her, trying to lighten her mood. "...The door really was a little stuck."
This sent Aerith into helpless giggles. She stepped away from the door, looking at the blonde with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Next time," she whispered, her lips curling into a smile, "let's stay away from doors."
Cloud's cheeks flared up again, but nodded. His heart still raced, knowing there would be a next time.