Stay For Me [Cloud]

[Aerith]

Listen to the earth sigh.

In times like these, often the only comfort to be found was in nature.

Aerith was grateful to have her own private space in which to think and, this time, to grieve. She had halfheartedly gardened for a little while, but now that the sun was creeping past its zenith, she had taken to simply sitting in the midst of her flowers.

Despair still hovered like a pale ghost over the Borough, and it had steadily crept to other parts of the town, even if most of the people did not understand it. Aerith could sense the world itself succumbing to this despair, as well. She closed her eyes and sighed softly.

She didn't like feeling so ineffective. Being unable to help her friends through this fog of sadness was tearing little pieces out of her heart. But the anger that was stirring against the Champion disturbed her far more. Zexion had told her about the Keyblade Graveyard and what would happen there on the 25th. She had, of course, relayed that information to the others. Now, there was talk of a battle.

She wished they wouldn't speak of such things. Fighting would lead nowhere. Right?

[Cloud]

Hey

Ever since that Nobody had shown up with the bad news, Cloud had been feeling even more depressed than usual. It wasn't just the death of King Mickey or learning what the Champion was up to either. His friend's usual cheeriness was something that usually made feel better, so it only made sense that their current states of despair would do the opposite. He wished there was something he could do about it, but he was the last person to be trying to cheer people up.

Not very surprisingly, Aerith was to be found in her garden. Cloud stopped several feet away from her, standing there silently more a minute. He had wanted to come talk to her, but he wasn't sure exactly what he ought to say. It didn't really look like she was gardening, just sitting there. Thinking about the same thoughts that were probably troubling everyone.

"They're pretty." he told her, mostly just to alert her of his presence. Of course the bright colors of the garden were a pretty sight, even if a strangely out of place one. The radiance of the flowers, which grew nowhere else that he knew of, seemed to clash with the rest of the world. Ironic, since it was supposed to be "Radiant Garden".

[Aerith]

I'm glad you like them.
--------

Cloud's voice shook Aerith out of her musings. She turned to face him, though she remained sitting on the ground. While she took some comfort in his presence, she had a feeling she knew what this visit was going to be about.

"Hello, Cloud."

Despite the general mood of the town, she managed a smile for him. "Thank you. The flowers appreciate the compliment. And so do I."

She motioned to an open spot next to her. Of course, this was out of the path of any flowers. She wouldn't have him or anyone crushing them underfoot. "Do you want to sit down?"

[Cloud]

An Unusual Switch

Aerith was friendly, as usual, but he could tell her attitude wasn't the same as it normally was. Regardless of the circumstances, she never really let it get to her. Even after the Champion first attacked, she had still managed to maintain her optimism. This time it was different though. You can't exactly pretend everyone is going to be okay when someone was just murdered.

He nodded slowly at the invitation. "Okay." He lowered himself down next to her, careful to avoid damaging any of the flowers that she spent so much time working on. Examining a patch of bright yellow ones near him, he sat there for a moment wordlessly. After a while, he turned his head to look at her, trying to decide what exactly he wanted to say.

"How're you doing?" he asked finally. It occurred to him that he rarely asked her anything like that. Way too often it seemed like he allowed her to center their conversations solely around him. She was always so busy worrying about him that he never really stopped to see how she was.

[Aerith]

You're asking about me? That's very sweet of you.
--------

Aerith brightened a little when Cloud agreed to sit next to her, and she was silently thankful he was mindful of the flowers. They were her pride and joy, after all. She cared for them as if they were her own children. In a way, they were. The others might find her concern for the planet itself a little strange sometimes, but for her, it was quite normal.

His question took her by surprise, and she glanced at him with raised eyebrows. In all of their conversations, she couldn't recall him ever outright asking about her. Of course, this was a very special circumstance. The focus of their meeting this time was not him, and it was not even her. They had lost a very good friend and ally. A powerful one, at that.

She played with her fingers in her lap as she thought about her own feelings. While she wanted to put on a brave face for Cloud especially, keeping things bottled up inside would eventually begin to affect her. And not in a good way.

"I'm... as well as can be expected, I suppose. Part of me still can't believe it's true. Or maybe it's that I don't want to believe it."

[Cloud]

Tomorrow

"Yeah..." he replied softly, formulating what to say. "I know what you mean. It's hard to believe that someone could have killed the King... And it probably won't be long until he decides to come after Sora." The moment that last bit came out of his mouth he regretted it. Sure, it was true; it was only a matter of time until the Champion came for the younger keyblade wielder. But there was no point in worrying Aerith about it by pointing that out so bluntly.

"Not that we'll give him the chance." he quickly added. And they wouldn't. "Tomorrow we'll stop the Champion for good." In only one day, hard as it was to believe, they would be facing the Tool of Darkness at the Keyblade Graveyard, wherever that was. From what Cloud had heard, he would have to return there to get rid of Mickey's keyblade, and when he did they would be there to take him down.

Organization XIII would be fighting alongside them, apparently. This wasn't something he had been too happy to learn, for obvious reasons. He guessed they did need keybladers for their master plan, so it only made sense that they would want to prevent the murder of them. But still... They were hardly someone who he wanted to ally himself with. "Do you really think we can trust them, though? The Organization-- I mean."

[Aerith]

There will be much to do. I hope I can keep up.
--------

When Cloud mentioned the Champion seeking to destroy Sora, Aerith couldn't hide the worry lines that creased her forehead. They had to protect Sora. They simply had to. If the Champion killed him, too...

No. She wouldn't think like that. It was not acceptable. Everything would turn out for the best. She just knew it. Why? Because it had to. Her optimism was far too persistent to let her believe otherwise.

Organization XIII. They were an odd bunch. Although, she guessed they planned to fight with them against the Champion to prevent him from killing anymore Keybladers. Without the Keyblade, they would never be able to regain their hearts. So, it made sense on that level. But it was still a drastic change in activity.

"The Champion is slowly taking away their only chance at being whole again. I don't think they would play at an alliance just for a chance to kill us." Even without a resolute desire to constantly paint everything in the best shades, Aerith could say that with all logical certainty.

Still, despite the added strength of the Organization to stand with them, Aerith worried. They had only seen a small portion of what the Champion could do. Who knew what else was up his sleeves?

"So many people will be there. And I don't think the Organization has a healer. I will try my best to work quickly."

[Cloud]

Maybe...

"I guess you're right..." Just like them, the Organization had their reasons for wanting to stop the Champion. The difference was, theirs' were selfish. They didn't care about the keybladers as people, they couldn't care less about them. They were only worried that they might be loosing some precious tools that they needed to accomplish their goals. That was all the wielders were to them: tools to manipulate. Just thinking about it made Cloud angry.

Hearing Aerith talk about how busy she would be healing everyone sort of bothered Cloud. His mental image of this battle was going to be a very dangerous one. And personally... he didn't want her there. Unfortunately, her implication of how needed she would be sort of complicated this, but he still felt he needed to say it. "Maybe... you should stay here."

He knew she wouldn't like the idea, but he didn't want her to be in danger of the Champion. She might have been the kindest and most likable person he knew, but she was by no means a physical fighter. Though he didn't really know how to put that well, and he didn't want to make it sound like he just thought she would be getting in the way, so he figured he ought to go with a different approach.

"With everyone else gone... Well-- I mean, maybe it would be best to have someone stay behind to make sure everything is... okay." Wow, what a convincing argument.

[Aerith]

I'm allowed a moment of weakness every once in a while.
--------

She had known this was coming. On the one hand, she was grateful that Cloud cared about her so much that he wanted her out of harm's way. On the other hand, she didn't like being told what to do. Her facial expression should have told Cloud as much.

"I'm not staying here while you go risk your life far away, Cloud. You need me, and you know it. What if... what if something happens to you?"

She couldn't bear the thought, and her lips trembled a little as she pushed it away as best she could. Losing any of her friends would crush her, but Cloud... Cloud was special.

Suddenly overcome with emotion, she leaned against him, wrapping her arms around one of his own. Her voice was little more than a whisper now.

"Please, don't go. Stay here... with me."

[Cloud]

I'm Sorry

Resistance was something Cloud had expected from Aerith. She would want to come to the Keyblade Graveyard, want to be there to help everyone, even if that didn't actually mean engaging in the fighting itself. He hadn't expected her to insist so specifically on wanting to be there for him, opposed to much more generally saying all of their friends, but this was not something he was given too much time to contemplate.

What really caught him off guard was sudden change in demeanor, as she suddenly leaned against him, deciding that she did want to stay. Only she wanted him to stay there with her. He was speechless at first, unsure what to say to her. Immediately he was filled with the urge to say yes. To agree to her request, crazy and unexpected as it might be. Hey-- he wanted her out of harms way, and if making that happen meant having to stay there with her, was that really so bad? Besides, she would probably even safer with him here to protect her.

And more than a matter of just staying with her because it was something he'd be compromising with-- "I guess I'll stay if it'll make her stay"-- he wanted to stay. Part of him would honestly rather just not go face the Champion. Sitting happily in Radiant Garden with Aerith, where he wouldn't have to worry about her getting hurt, and leave stopping the forces of evil to someone else. But... "I... can't." He looked away, not wanting to meet her gaze.

"I want to, but... I can't." There was no way he could not go, and help from feeling like a coward. Letting all his friends, Leon, Yuffie, Sora, leave to face the Champion without him? No. What if something happened to one of them, that his being there could have prevented? Would he be able to live with himself if one of them died and he hadn't been there? "The Champion has to be stopped, and I can help, so... I have to."

[Aerith]

Choose your words carefully.
--------

Aerith closed her eyes and nuzzled her cheek against Cloud's shoulder. He had given the answer she had expected. He was far too honorable to stay here while the rest of their friends were off risking their lives.

"Cloud... if you can't stay here because of those reasons, what makes you think I can stay here and not feel the same guilt?"

She looked up and fixed him with a pleading look. "I want to go, Cloud. I can help all of you. Please?"

She figured throwing in an added promise wouldn't hurt. "I... I'll stay as far away from the fighting as possible, and I won't get close unless someone needs me."

[Cloud]

Not Fair

Cloud wasn't sure exactly what to say in response to this question. "Well..." How could he try to stop her from going, but insist upon going himself? For one thing, there was the whole matter of him actually carrying a weapon and being capable of defending himself against the Champion. Whereas all she was ever armed with was the power of friendship, and that probably wouldn't be doing her too much good in the Keyblade Graveyard. Of course he was worried about her.

When she looked up at him with those pleading green eyes, he could feel his resolve fading. Combined with that "please", he wasn't sure how he was supposed to be able to say no. He couldn't. Not like it was even his decision to make. "Fine." he conceded, looking away with a feeling that he had been cheated. "Can't really stop you, I guess."

He still didn't want her to go. Why couldn't she just stay there where she wouldn't be in danger? Part of him knew he was holding a double standard and it wasn't completely fair, but... At least she said she would try to stay as far away from the fighting as possible.

[Aerith]

If anything happens to you...
--------

Aerith felt a tiny surge of triumph. Cloud said she could go, although she could see the great reluctance in his concession. Still, the words had come out of his mouth, and there was no taking them back. She had every intention of keeping her promise, though. Without any way for her to defend herself, she was obviously very vulnerable. Staying away from the heat of battle was the logical course of action.

"Thank you, Cloud." She hugged his arm gently and looked up at him. "Please be careful tomorrow. I know it's important that we take care of the Champion, but don't do anything reckless."

[Cloud]

Better Me Than You

Though Cloud still certainly didn't want her to go, Aerith seemed happy to be hearing him agree to it. He didn't say anything in response to her thanks. Making her happy was nice, he guessed, but he couldn't help but feel like he shouldn't be conceding to her wishes. But too late to take that back now.

"I will." he assured her simply, pausing for a few seconds before adding. "Unless you end up getting yourself into trouble... Then I might have to do something a little reckless." He would try to be safe for her, but if it came down to his safety or hers it wasn't hard to guess which one he felt mattered more.

[Aerith]

Everything will be okay. Do you hear me?
--------

Cloud wanted to protect her. Aerith smiled at that. "I'll try not to put you in that position. I want everyone to be all right."

She spent the next several minutes in silence, simply enjoying Cloud's presence. She might have a unique connection to the planet, but that connection did not include psychic powers. Even she did not know how the events of tomorrow would play out. In the aftermath, things could end up being very different than they were right now. But Aerith hoped that no matter how different things might be, everyone would still be fine. Losing any of her friends was not an option.