Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Serendipity
Aerith is dreaming. She knows it, but she can never wake up from it. She’s with people she loves and cares for deeply. She gets impressions of them, but more so feelings of who they are, than a clear visual. She understands what they mean to her. They’re on some... Adventure? She knows it's extremely important, whatever they’re doing, but never knows why. The dream always starts cozy and sweet, with some warm feelings, and love(?) buds, but ultimately, the end of the dream is always the same. She dies, and everything is cut short, suddenly and violently. She’s killed by some man with cold, blue-green cat eyes. Pain, blood. Her friends fighting furiously. Anguish. She was cradled by a sobbing woman with the most red eyes she’d ever seen, pleading for her to come back. Fading into …light?
She wakes in a cold sweat. It always feels so real. She can never remember what the people in the dream look like when she wakes up. All she remembers are everyone's eyes. For some reason, it’s always the eyes. She used to have the same dream all the time as a child. But it became less as she got older. There was a stint when she didn’t have it at all during college.
Now, the dream is returning. Oddly, it came back with her moving day getting closer, but Aerith chalks it up to nerves. She had a corporate job in Junon and hated every moment of it, and when she quit it’s like she could breathe again. The money was great, but the monotony, a cubicle, killed her soul. She wasn’t made for a desk.
Aerith rubs her eyes before getting up and going to the bathroom to prepare for her day. Like always, by the time she’s done showering and dressing the looming feeling from the dream is long forgotten and she’s focused on her tasks for the day.
Her small studio apartment is all packed up. The movers would be there soon, and she would hitch a ride with them to her new place since she didn’t own a car. Her new home was going to be in a sprawling provincial-style city called Kalm. It wasn’t far from the very large, bustling capital city of Midgar. Aerith had heard of the capital city, but never been.
Her adoptive mother, Elmyra, had recently moved to Kalm and opened a shop that had a flowers and gardening section that was becoming very popular and Elmyra couldn’t keep up with it, along with the rest of the business, on her own. Elmyra was also stubborn and refused to hire someone she didn’t know or trust to run her business with her.
Honestly, it was perfect for Aerith. She hated the job she just left, didn’t have any real direction, and getting away from Junon, going somewhere more green seemed like as good a choice as any. Besides, she was excellent with flowers, plants, and gardening in general. And she enjoyed doing it too. She was very excited about the whole thing. A fresh start.
The movers arrived shortly, and Aerith helped them move her small home onto the 8-foot box truck in no time at all. Honestly, it probably took her longer to pack than it did for them to move her out, and felt oddly telling of how she never really settled here. Never set real roots. She didn’t even spare a second glance at the small studio apartment as she closed the door and stepped outside.
She climbed into the passenger seat of the truck, emblazoned in red on the side: “Cid’s Rental’s and Movers”. She smiled as it began driving her from her old home of Junon to her new future, in Kalm.
—-
Five hours of driving later, Aerith was marveling at the beautiful greenery around her. Cliffs, steppes, hills, trees, rolling fields of grass, wildflowers and so much wildlife peacefully exist all around. Junon was naturally a drier, more deserted terrain full of cliffs and rocks, and it had a rugged beauty to it, but this… her soul felt like it was coming home here.
The truck ambled up a hill, breaking from the shadow of tall trees in denser forest, and into warm, full sunshine. They rumbled past a Chocobo farm. Aerith sat up in her seat, turning fully to the glass, unashamed of her childish excitement of finally seeing a Chocobo in person. She made an internal promise to come out and see them up close. Aerith rolled her window down, the comfortable breeze carrying the smell of flowers and faint whispers of the nearby sea.
Farms, windmills, and small homes dotted the landscape. Aerith folded her arms on the door and rested her chin on them as she drank in the scenery around her, immersing herself in the smells, the warm sun like a blanket instead of a harsh beam like in Junon. She was going to love it here. She began mentally noting all the wildflowers’ general areas to go harvest some for seeds and noted good areas for a picnic or hike. She’d need to get a bicycle or something. She wanted to get out and do more, and this landscape offered plenty of opportunity for it. Thankfully she had a very good savings built up from her time at her old corporate job. She didn’t do much but work and garden and cook, so she saved a lot.
The truck began working its way uphill, small stone walls, old and crumbled with time and other large natural stones dotted the landscape. Kalm was provincial all around it, and the buildings near it were staggered, alternating between one or two-story buildings. The main portion of the city sat perched atop the cliff, the winding road to get to it surrounded by shops, homes, apartments, and all sorts of small parks, trees, alleys, and bike paths one could imagine. The buildings were all different colors, warm, and cool, but all so unique and inviting. Flower pots adorned the streets, and hung from the lampposts. She already loved it here.
As the truck made it to the top precipice it drove into a wide archway to the inner city. The old walls of the original city still stood and were beautiful, covered with ivy, flowers, and planned overgrowth. People walked atop the walls and Aerith was determined to explore every inch of this city. She was in awe of everything around her.
Finally, the truck pulled up to a small two-story home, with white-washed walls, warm red-brown roofing, and blue shutters. Green planters spilling over with flowers were on the first-floor windows. Ivy crawled up the front-facing wall. Stone stairs on the left side of the building led up to a red door. The second floor was larger than the first floor, creating an overhand of the front sitting area for the first-floor occupant. The second floor had several windows and a small terrace in the roof area. The planters in all those windows were empty, ready for all of her plants. Aerith’s heart soared with excitement as she bound up the stairs two at a time. She unlocked the door with the key that was previously mailed to her.
The floors were wood, the walls a warm, off-white. A large square living room. The wall along the windows had a built-in bench-style ledge and it was only three feet off the ground. Ready to be adorned with pillows and blankets for seating, or with plants and nick-nacks for decorations. The ceiling was tall, around 10 feet, with exposed wooden beams, and several dangling lights that looked like teardrops ensconced in thin tree roots hung from the ceiling.
A spiral staircase to the right of the front door, tucked in the corner, wound upward into the ceiling out of view, the hole framed in the same exposed wood beams. Aerith wandered upstairs, as she heard the movers coming in with her boxes, “You can just put them all there in the main space, I’m just looking around. Thank you!” She smiled cheerfully at the workers, who smiled and nodded, returning to work.
“You got it, ma’am!”
She made her way to the top, and it opened to a cozy, narrow room, with skylights that she couldn’t see from the street. The front wall was two large French-style doors that opened onto the terrace on the roof. It had a long small planter on the metal fencing. There was enough room for two chairs, a small table, and some standing planters. Maybe she would hang some Edison-style lights. She smiled as she ran her hand on the wrought iron guard rail, and took in the view.
She looked down on the cobblestone street. She was on one of the outer rings of the central city. Lantern lights crisscrossed the streets to her leftover two or three cafes, street seating all set up under their cloth awnings with light business and city bustle. A small shop was down to her right, selling small quantities of fresh produce and general grab items. Street food carts could be smelled but not seen, they had to be nearby. A lot of the other buildings on this street were housing or apartments. All of them are adorned with flowers and some with warm lights.
Aerith went back inside, down the spiral staircase, and turned back to the right, through a four-foot-wide arched opening to the kitchen. On the left side of the wall was a bar with three stools. The countertops were a polished stone of light grey striated with red-brown and some white. The cabinets were a dark redwood color. The right wall was all pantry space and there was plenty of counter space. A large window above the sink and one on the far left wall. Skylights lit the kitchen well along with two upside-down bowl-shaped glass lights. She didn’t cook much in her old small kitchen, but maybe this kitchen would help her change that.
She went back to the living room and into the bedroom on the left. There wasn’t a door to the bedroom, it was just a large, six-foot-tall square entryway into the bedroom space. The wall to her right had two large windows. Across from the entryway was a large bay window centered and flanked by two smaller bay windows. Behind closet-style doors to the left, next to the bathroom door, were a hidden washer and dryer. Aerith clutched her hands under her chin and twirled, a sound of giddy joy escaping her. Amazing lighting, layout, and no more lugging her laundry to the local laundromat. Be still, my heart.
To the left was her bathroom. A clawfoot tub was on the left wall, a window beside it. There was a few feet of space between the window and the wall of her kitchen, so even without a curtain, no one could see in, perfect. A small door next to the tub opened to the toilet in a small separate room with enough room for a small storage cabinet to be kept in it. The cabinet in front of the bathroom entrance had a large mirror, a single sink, and moderate counter space. Ample storage underneath and enough space for her to add storage to the wall if needed. A window to the right allowed ample light to spill into the room.
Aerith was marveling at her place and the town. It was a space made for two people, but she didn’t mind. She worked hard for years and lived frugally. This place was more expensive than her studio, but still less than she would be paying for something like this in Junon. She was reeling and looking out the bay windows, to a small garden below when the workers came in with her bedframe and mattress.
“Oh! You can put that right here, please! Centered on this bay window would be perfect.” She smiled sweetly and was so gracious for their help, even if she was paying for the service.
“Of course. How’s that ma’am?” They stepped back.
Aerith stepped to the entrance to examine. “Perfect!” She clapped her hands together in one final way and reached into her pocket, pulling out a very nice tip for each of them. “Thank you so much. I really can’t express how much all of your help made this painless and such a great experience for me.”
The men were taken aback by the generous tip, “Oh! O-Of course! We’re happy to do it! Is there anything else you need ma’am?”
Aerith inquired about her mother’s shop, “Floral Fantasies”, and they gave her directions on how to get there. It was in the center area of town, somewhere near a clock tower. Should be easy to find.
Aerith also asked them about local events and things to do or see. They recommended the theater, a new bar called Seventh Heaven that took over since the old one went under, the market early in the morning for the best pickings of produce, some good view locations and to keep an eye out for fliers with events and festivals since spring was only a few weeks away.
They chatted for a bit before they left. Aerith closed the door behind them and looked at her small pile of boxes and the myriad of flowers and plants that outsized them.
She laughed to herself, she would own more plants than personal items. She set to putting her plants out first. Her flowers she put in the planters on the window sills, but still needed more to fill them all. She didn’t notice before, but there were already several white hooks in the ceiling from whoever lived there before. She was grateful, less work for her!
She used her desk chair to hang her macrame-saddled plants in the living room and bedroom. She hefted, slowly, two medium planters up the spiral staircase and set them in the corners of her terrace. After using her handheld watering can to water all of the plants, she set to her meager personal belongings. She had various small knickknacks, a small end table to her bedside, a small work desk and sitting chair she put in the living room, a small dresser, several pillows and throw blankets, and a small but comfy two-person couch. And… well that was it. The rest of it was some kitchen appliances, bathroom stuff, and general household items.
—
Aerith flopped onto her freshly made bed. She lifted her head to look at the analog clock she mounted above the bedroom entryway. Where had the day gone?? It was already 7:50 PM. Her stomach rumbled in protest to her general fatigue.
Sighing, Aerith pushed herself up and stripped off her sweaty and day-worked clothing from her body, tossed it into the hamper by the bathroom door, and enjoyed her new clawfoot tub, even if she was just taking a shower for now. She dried herself and her hair with a towel and tied it into a braid with her favorite ribbon. Instead of pants and a t-shirt like earlier, she put on her favorite spaghetti strap pink dress and red jacket, with her well-worn and belted brown leather boots. The final touch was her favorite wrist bangles. She smiled and twirled once in her oval standing mirror. Time to grab some dinner, maybe take an evening stroll. She didn’t have to work until Monday, and it was only Saturday night.
Aerith locked up her apartment and bobbed down the stone steps of her apartment with joy. The neighbor below her was exiting her apartment as Aerith stepped onto the sidewalk, narrowly avoiding turning and bumping into the woman.
“Oh! I’m so sorry! You must be my neighbor, sorry about any noise I made while I was unpacking. I’m Aerith!” She smiled and waved at the woman in front of her.
The woman was young, around Aerith’s age, had long dark hair she pulled into a ponytail, and was wearing a green thin strapped shirt with form-fitting jeans and black boots, a small backpack slung over one shoulder. She smiled warmly at Aerith, “Hi! I’m Jessie, a pleasure to meet ya! I didn’t hear a thing! These buildings were made pretty soundly.” Jessie smiled at her terrible pun and Aerith couldn't help but laugh. “First time in Kalm?” Jessie held the strap of her bag with one hand, but her posture didn’t indicate she was in a rush or needing to leave.
Aerith clasped her hands in front of her and nodded, “Yep! Just got here today from Junon. Took a job at my mother’s flower shop, Floral Fantasies. Hoping to just finally find a place to call home and lay some roots down, ya know? What about you? Have you lived here long?”
“Oh, I know that little shop! It’s really starting to take off quickly, got some great stuff from what I’ve heard. Some of my friends have told me about it. I’ll have to check it out.” Jessie tilted her head recalling the memory.
“Please do! If I can bring in new customers before I even set foot in the shop, I could always use it as ammo against my mom. I gotta take every bit of advantage I can get.” Aerith laughed and winked playfully.
Jessie joined in her laughter before continuing, “And yeah, I get what you mean about settling down. I work at the local theatre! I used to work at the theater in Midgar, and The Gold Saucer. I loved the fame, but I missed my friends and family. I’ve been here for about 8 months, I’d say. My parents have been here for a few years, and a couple of my friends opened their bar here in Kalm. It’s called Seventh Heaven. I’m headed there now. I work some shifts here and there when I’m not working at the Theater. Wanna come?” Jessie was open, upfront, and amicable. Aerith liked it.
“I’d love to! Er-wait, do they have food? I’m super hungry and that’s why I was going out.” Aerith smiled somewhat sheepishly.
“Only the best food! Ok, that’s arguable... But I think it is! Come on, let’s get you some grub!” She slung her arm around Aerith’s shoulders and began walking. Aerith laughed. There was something about Jessie that Aerith found magnetizing. If she had a sister, she imagined it would be like this.
They made their way through the colorful and warmly lit city streets. The Saturday night crowds were out and the city was bustling. Aerith drank in the sights. If the crowd wasn’t there, getting to the city center wouldn’t have taken so long. It wasn’t that far.
Jessie pointed to Aerith’s mother’s shop, but it was closed and the curtains inside the business were drawn closed. It was set beside stairs leading up to the second level. She knew her mother lived above the business, but she had already planned to see her tomorrow. Aerith stopped to read the store hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday, Saturday 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Closed on Sundays. Aerith wished she could see inside, but she’d see it tomorrow.
Jessie gently tugged her along by her wrist with a smile, “You’ll have plenty of time to work yourself to death, right now, food and fun!” Jessie’s smile was contagious. She was so lucky to have such an awesome neighbor.
Jessie guided her to a recess between two buildings, near a set of stairs, there was a wooden sign affixed to the front face of the building, “Seventh Heaven” written in yellow lights, just bright enough to attract attention to such a dark corner, but not too bright to be offensive.
The large double doors were propped open, the bar sprawled to the right, the concentration point of the crowd. Seating filled the space to the left. Two pool tables, a few dart boards, and a pinball machine fill out the corner spaces of the bar. The lighting is warm and dim like a bar usually is. A large man wearing a red bandana is carrying drinks to a table, smiling and bantering with people. The crowd is pretty large, but it is Saturday night, and it’s still early.
“Wedge!” Jessie calls over the crowd with cupped hands, standing on her tiptoes and waving to get his attention.
Wedge looks up, momentarily lost before seeing Jessie. His face shoots into a friendly smile and he waves back. He makes his way over after setting down the last drink and the table of friendly patrons, deftly maneuvering the crowd despite his size.
“Jessie!” He scoops her up in both arms, easily lifting her and hugging her, “How’s it goin'? You workin' tonight?” Jessie is hugging him back and he gently sets her down, “I can never remember. Your days always change.” He smiled amicably.
Jessie rolls her eyes, “They don’t change that much.” (They did change that much)
Wedge just stares at her, blinking once.
“Anyway! Yes! I am working tonight, but! I ran into my new neighbor and she’s pretty cool, so I brought her along to meet everyone, her mom runs the flower shop, and she’ll be working there, this is Aerith! Another soon to be local so we might as well take her into the fold. Aerith this is Wedge.”
Wedge turns, offering his hand and a very welcoming smile. “It’s nice to meet you Aerith!”
Aerith smiles, she likes Wedge’s energy, he seems like someone she’s met in passing before, but never really knew. It’s an odd feeling but she can’t place his face. She takes his hand and there’s a little trill, not quite static electricity, but adjacent in a weird way. They both jump a bit, silent and then laughing, reclasping hands, “It’s nice to meet you, Wedge! That’s likely not gonna be a first impression I’ll forget anytime soon.” Wedge laughs along with her.
“Me neither. Well! I know your mom's shop! We go there to get syrups made for our drinks. Fresh and custom ones have set us apart. The customers love it! Elmyra is a nice lady. I’m sure you’ll fit right in. Come on and meet the others!”
Hearing that he knows her mother helps her feel more at ease with fitting into this group. Not that she was ill-at-ease before, but it feels a bit easier somehow.
Aerith follows Wedge, and Jessie takes up the end, making sure Aerith makes it to the bar with ease. She doesn’t seem the type used to navigating a crowd like this at first, but the girl deftly maneuvers through people. Jessie is impressed. Tifa and Barret are working behind the bar, Biggs is probably working in the back doing food prep.
Wedge and Jessie procure a prime seat for Aerith at the center of the bar. Wedge grabs some drinks to run, shouting to Barret and Tifa, “Hey guys! Jessie’s here!” before turning and moving into the crowd.
“Bout time!” The one Aerith assumes is Barret has a large voice, and when he speaks it reverberates her soul. Weirdly, it’s so oddly familiar, but way more than Wedge. She’s only seeing the back of him, but she has this weird feeling, excitement almost, like seeing an old friend but... She’d never met him before. Aerith zones out, trying to search her memory for any time she might have met this Barret person before.
“Hey! I’m actually on time today! See!” Jessie points at the clock on the wall. Barret looks at it and stutters a bit before going silent, “Well fine. Still, the place is a madhouse! Good for business, but we need the help catchin’ up. Tifa hasn’t stopped making drinks for the last hour.” Barret points with his thumb over his shoulder.
At the far opposite side of the bar, Tifa is working in a flurry of fluid movements. Check the ticket, crimson eyes scanning, twirling around. Glass. Ice. Alcohol. Syrups. Into the mixer, Shake. Pour. Garnish, Serve.
Jessie sees this and snorts a laugh. When Tifa gets into her work zone she fades everything out except her line of drink tickets. Jessie loves shocking her out of it and she’s currently trying to plan out a new, fun way to do it.
Barret turns and his eyes land on Aerith. He feels a sort of electric line from his stomach. A cold warmth that settles into a wave of chills over his body that settles into a strange sense of relief. He can’t explain it. He’s also not one for emotions or feelings, so having such strong, and sudden feelings of a bond or kinship, and a desire to protect, he isn’t sure what to do with it. She looks up at him and freezes.
Aerith doesn’t know how or why, but she recognizes him. It's his eyes... But for the life of her, she can’t place where she’s seen him before. She smiles at him though, all the same, she really is excited to see him for some reason, and instead of questioning it, she lets it happen. Why not?
Barret feels his chest tighten before it blooms into a huge feeling of joy. He smiles and strides over. “Hey there! I’m Barret, don’t think I’ve seen ya here before, but it’s nice ta' meet ya.” His hands are on his hips. “What can-”
“Hey!” Jessie full-on rushes up and uses Barret’s considerable size to stop her momentum. He, unsurprisingly, doesn’t budge but still looks miffed. “This is my neighbor Aerith! She just moved in today. Her mom runs Floral Fantasies! She’ll be working there too.”
Aerith laughs, Jessie just seems intent on sharing what she knows about her with everyone she introduces her to. But Aerith knows she means well, and wants her to be accepted, so she doesn’t push it. Plus it saves her from having to explain, right?
“I’m Aerith! It’s nice to meet you, Barret! Not to sound weird but… Have we met before? I can’t shake this feeling..” Aerith’s eyebrows knit together trying to recall.
Barret’s does as well, he looks down rubbing his chin, “Ya know. I can’t explain it, but I had that same sort a’ weird feelin’. Can’t recall ever meetin’ ya before tho.” He shrugs.
Aerith hums and shrugs, “Well, maybe it’s just serendipity and that’s what we’re feeling!” She smiles and exhales a small, breath of a laugh.
Barret shrugs, “Sure, I’m good with that I guess. Well, what can- Hey!” Barret’s head jerks to the left, into the crowd. “No fightin’!” he sighs, “Excuse me a moment.” Barret lumbers from behind the bar into the crowd. Aerith holds onto the edge of the bar to lean back and watches Barret go over to two young guys chest bumping and posturing. He looms over them, there’s an exchange of words before Barret appears to sigh, grabs both by their collars, and throws them out the front.
Aerith laughs heartily despite her attempts to contain it. There’s something, again, weirdly familiar and oddly comforting about seeing Barret go into big parent mode and handle business. She turns back to the bar and suddenly a large group of people have gathered on her left, standing on the foot bar and leaning forward on the bar, waiting for and trying to get a bartender's attention.
Tifa, in the middle of her working rhythm, freezes. She heard a laugh that struck an odd chord inside her. Chills shoot up her spine, bloom in her chest, and cascade over her shoulders and down her sides. Her head snaps up. She has this unexplainable, sudden, urgent need to find the source of that laugh, but the bar is so crowded and she is so focused on making drinks, that she can’t recall which direction it came from. Tifa shakes her head. She’s being ridiculous. A large group has formed around the center of the bar. She’s all caught up on tickets, and Jessie is over there. She’ll give her a hand.
“Whatcha need?” Tifa calls as she’s walking over.
Jessie calls back three drinks and takes the other three. Tifa nods and pivots to look at the back wall, scanning with her finger before finding the alcohol she needs and preparing the drinks.
Jessie, who’s working beside her, gently hip-bumps her, “Hey! Bummed I didn’t get to scare you out of your work zone like usual.”
Tifa smiles and rolls her eyes, “How will you ever survive?” They share a heartfelt laugh as they continue their work.
Aerith, who was just looking around the room behind her, feels a tingle behind her ears before its echo ripples up her spine and blooms out from her chest. That laugh... She swivels her chair around back towards the bar. Looking left and right, but she can’t see anything to the left of the large group beside her. She sees part of Jessie around them, working, and Barret on the right side, also working.
Why is her heart pounding? Why is she so desperate to find out whose laugh that was? Why did it sound so familiar? What is going on tonight?? Aerith shakes her head. She’s being ridiculous.
Barret comes back over. “Anyone take your order yet?” He sounds slightly annoyed but somehow Aerith knows he’s just.. Mother Henning.
Aerith smiles and shakes her head no. “It’s ok though. I’m mostly interested in food anyway. I moved in today and haven't eaten besides breakfast.”
Barret crosses his arms, his eyebrows raising, “Well, that won’t do!” He slides her a menu, “What would ya like? Biggs is in the back, and he’s a great cook.”
Aerith smiles and puruses the menu nibbling her lip. “Hmm.. How about the Fish and Chips, and a small side salad, please!” She holds the small menu back to him. Barret grunts with a smile and nods, takes the menu, “Comin’ right up!” He turns and punches the order into the computer.
“Somethin' to drink?” He calls back over his shoulder, looking back at her.
“Hmm… best-mixed drink you have, please!” She sits up straight and smiles, her hands folded in her lap.
Jessie serves the three drinks she made to the group and takes two that Tifa made, she’s still working on the third, “That’s easy!” She interjects into Aerith and Barret’s conversation, “Tifa! Cosmo Canyon for the lady with the long braid and red jacket!”
“Copy!” Tifa calls back without looking back. The crowd to Aerith’s left takes their drinks and peels back from the bar. Aerith looks over to this Tifa woman who’s making her drink.
Time slows. Black leather kilt style skirt, suspenders, mid-thigh black stocking, red boots, long dark hair tied with a red band at the end, fingerless gloves, toned muscles, soft looking skin. This woman is stunning. Aerith is taken aback. She’s found people attractive, but never has she had such an internal visceral reaction to seeing someone for the first time. The woman, Tifa’s (she intently recalled her name) well-toned arms worked fluidly, with speed and ease.
Then she turned. The woman was looking down at the drink as she walked over, adding the garnish, careful not to spill. Her eyes, concealed by long dark lashes, look up to find who the drink is for, they drift from the right and then lock onto hers, intent. Crimson eyes. Dark lashes. Why does she know those eyes so well? Aerith doesn’t remember if she’s breathing. She’s just frozen. She can’t explain or take the bombardment of the absolute myriad of feelings washing through her and over her right now. If Barret seemed familiar, she felt in her soul she knew Tifa. Her heart is pounding, she feels..heartbreak? Happiness? Relief. Like relief, after a long wait for something important she didn’t know she was waiting for. She can’t put into words everything else she’s feeling. All she knows is she wants to laugh, cry, and hug this woman, and never let her go. …What the actual fuck is going on with her right now?!
Tifa freezes, and her breath leaves her like a gut punch. She sees those emerald green eyes; impossibly green, doey eyes, locked onto her. Initially, she has a stabbing pain, like a great loss remembered deep in her chest, but she doesn’t know this woman. She knows she‘s never seen her before... She wouldn’t forget her. The pain shifts like ripples in the water to a huge, desperate need to protect her, to never let her go. Tifa swallows. She feels batshit crazy. Those bangs, that braid. Her ribbon...the jacket, the dress... The choker, the bangles. All of it screams of familiarity. She feels so much fondness. Unrequited? No, that doesn’t feel right. It feels like never spoken.
Jessie turns with a beer for another patron. She does a double take. Tifa is standing mid-stride, stock still, just staring at Aerith. Aerith is clutching the bar, ramrod straight, staring right back at Tifa, with the same pinpoint look. But it looks like they know each other, maybe? Either that or she’s the Cupid from fuckin heaven and she just did the Lord's work by bringing Aerith there.
Jessie had a small chuckle to herself from her thought before walking over, gently taking the drink from Tifa, and setting it down in front of Aerith. “Uh, you two ok??”
Tifa shakes her head, blinking rapidly, a blush forming on her ears that she easily pushes down. “Oh, y-yeah. Sorry about that.” She smiles apologetically at Aerith, her eyes closed as she minutely bows her head.
“N-No! It’s ok. It was rude of me to stare.” Aerith smiles and nervously laughs, the flush on her cheeks barely visible, but there. She swallows and smiles, shaking off whatever that initial overwhelming feeling was. Just be normal, right? She wants to know her better, so just... Be normal damn it. “I’m Aerith.” She smiles, finally feeling herself getting her footing.
Tifa smiles back, and seeing Aerith calm down helps her settle for some reason. She holds Aerith’s eye contact for too long, “Tifa.” and holds out her hand. She’s interested in Aerith immediately, she doesn’t think anyone would deny that from that interaction. She’ll chalk it up to immediate strong attraction and leave it at that. If Tifa was a betting woman, Aerith either found her attractive too, or she was extremely uncomfortable under Tifa’s gaze. Tifa was betting on it being the former. Aerith takes her hand. They’re impossibly soft.
Aerith takes Tifa’s hand. She’s wearing fingerless gloves, but the tips of her fingers are soft, her hands feel strong, but her touch is gentle.
“Well?” Jessie leans on the bar with her forearm next to Tifa, her other hand on her hip.
“What?” They both look to Jessie, speaking in unison. Aerith seems genuinely lost, and Tifa seems confused, her tone inflecting for Jessie to say what she means.
“The drink?” Jessie chooses not to call this whole thing out. Not yet. She wants to see how the night goes, and her teasing ammo against Tifa could only go up from here. She smiles as Aerith. “The Cosmo Canyon is our best drink, hands down, and ownership of its creation and perfection, belongs to Tifa here.”
Tifa was waiting for Jessie to tease or jab, but cajoling was not on her list. Tifa must have had a confused look on her face because Aerith and Jessie both laughed. Tifa turned away blushing, glancing out of the corner of her eye, watching Aerith. She couldn’t help herself smiling, and relaxing, allowing herself to snicker and lightly laugh with them both, “Sorry. Not used to Jessie being-”
“Fabulous. Wonderful. The best friend you’ve ever had.” She smiles and twirls as she steps away, making exuberant jazz hands, laughing at her ridiculousness, and moving to make another drink order.
Tifa touches her fingers to her brow, smiling as she groans. She exhales a laugh and leans forward on the bar on her forearms.
“Yeah. I’d say I either lucked out or have no idea what I’m in for with having her as my neighbor.” Aerith laughed, lifting the drink to her lips. “Oh wow! This is delicious Tifa! And dangerous.” She giggles, “That’s way too delicious to not be dangerous.”
Tifa smiles, proud of the drink and enjoying Aerith’s genuine response, “Glad you like it. Even at our old place in Midgar, it was a hit. I’ve got way better ingredients and supply her in Kalm though, so it's way better now.” Tifa stands up and smiles, holding up her finger, “On sec, I’ll be back. Don’t go anywhere, ok?” She smiles, holding Aerith’s gaze.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Aerith breathes back, staring, her heart feeling like it might flutter and stop any second.
Aerith takes another drink and palms her cheeks. Ok. She finds Tifa attractive. So she should just go for it. But she just got here.. And they’re all locals. What if it goes wrong and then she’s soured everything as soon as she got here? Ugh. Aerith scowls, taking another drink. It really was the best mixed drink she’s ever had. She sighs, forcing the doubts from her mind. She was getting ahead of herself. How about she just enjoys the night, and sees where everything takes her one day at a time? Yeah. That’s what she would do.
“One fish and chips!” Barret smiles and sets it down in front of her, “Sorry ‘bout the wait. We got busy all at once.”
Aerith puts her hands together, “It's ok! This looks delicious! Thank you!”
Barret smiles with a grunt and nods once, “Enjoy” and steps to the side to take the next person's drink order.
Tifa comes back with another Cosmo Canyon. Aerith notices she drank the entire thing without realizing it.
Tifa smiles and goes to set it down but hesitates, her brow knitting together, “Um. I assumed you wanted another one, but I should have asked. I’m sorry. I'll take it-”
Aerith giggles and reaches forward, gently touching the hand holding the drink, “I’ll take it. Don’t worry, I don’t think you’re trying to take advantage of me, yet.” She winks and giggles, popping a fry into her mouth. Tifa blushed.
It was almost smooth. The fry was piping hot. And as soon as it hit her mouth she let it drop right back out, holding her mouth and her eyes screwing closed.
Tifa set the drink down, concern in her voice, “You ok?”
Aerith opened her eyes and removed her hand from her mouth, her tongue slightly sticking from her mouth, “The fwy was hawt.” Her eyebrows frown and a giggle bubbles over into a laugh. It's infectious, the whole thing is funny. Tifa can’t help but laugh.
Aerith took a drink of her new beverage, the general din and atmosphere of the bar around them crowded but allowed a weird sense of privacy in a way. No one was paying attention to them.
Tifa smiled, leaning forward on the bar again as Aerith ate. Jessie watched them, and though she’d make a gagging noise to Tifa’s face every time, she liked what she was seeing. The two of them hit it off completely, and it seemed natural. It was busy but nothing she couldn’t handle. Tifa would come out of her reverie and Aerith’s entrancement to make drinks, but she wasn’t on her usual game. Jessie and Barret both noticed but neither said anything.
Ever since Tifa and Cloud broke up a year ago she’d been cold-hearted. Their relationship didn’t seem to click for the year they dated, but the breakup was messy anyway. Neither communicated well with the other and it all boiled to a head. When Barret announced he was closing down Seventh Heaven to re-open in Kalm to offer a safer, better life for Marlene instead of downtown Midgar, their whole crew tagged along. They all had their reasons, but regardless, they all went. Except Cloud. He was a mercenary, and all of his work was centered in Midgar. So he stayed. It was fine, Cloud always sort of kept his distance anyway. Jessie was just glad to see Tifa happy, even if it was just for a moment. She deserved it. So she and Barret picked up the slack for the night.
Tife poured herself a shot of tequila and chased it with pineapple juice. Aerith looked surprised. “What?” Tifa smiled and sort of laughed the question, wiping the corner of her mouth with her thumb.
Aerith smiles, incredulously, “Can you drink while you’re working?” She whispered the question, looking over towards Barret and Jessie, to make sure they didn’t hear her.
Tifa laughed. “It's ok. We can have a couple, we just can’t get hammered is all. This is my first shot of the night. I should eat something though.” Tifa said the last bit like a thought out loud to herself.
Aerith smiled, “Here, have some of mine! There’s a lot here, and no way I’d finish it all on my own.” She gently pushed her plate so it was halfway between the two of them.
Tifa looked at it, contemplating, and then smiled, “Ok. Thanks.” She took a piece of fish and popped it in her mouth, humming. “This is good. But mine is better.” She winked playfully at Aerith.
“Oh really now?” Aerith smiled, “Sounds to me like you’ll need a taste tester, and since I’ve already sampled his, I guess at some point I’ll have to sample something you’ve made.” Aerith winked playfully, taking a bite of a fry, her chin propped on the opposite hand, elbow on the bar.
Tifa squints playfully, seemingly thoughtful, “Challenge accepted.” They shared a brief contested stare before devolving into a fit of giggles. Tifa served Aerith her third Cosmo Canyon and took another shot between making some more drink orders.
It was getting busy and Tifa came back for snatches of small conversation every time she passed, even if it was a brief joke, quip, or a funny look, perhaps a wink. Tifa had never been a good flirt, but for whatever reason it came easily with Aerith. She didn’t make her feel nervous. She made her feel at ease. Which is weird. Usually, the minute Tifa found someone attractive and tried to flirt, she failed miserably.
Aerith was happy to be there. She shared jokes and friendly banter with Jessie, Barret, and Wedge, and even Biggs came out to say hello. She didn’t know why, but she was glad to meet him, and even happier still that she didn’t get that weird feeling of knowing him like she did with the others. She still liked him. He was laid back, easygoing, and charming. He also clearly had a thing for Jessie. Aerith would dig into that with Jessie later.
A little while later, patrons seemed to settle into their cups and the pace of the orders died down.
Tifa wiped her brow with the back of her hand with a huff. She put her hands in a wide stance on her side of the bar and leaned forward, “So, not to be creepy, but I recall you saying you were Jessie’s neighbor now. So I assume you’re gonna be a local, not just passing through?” Tifa’s tone was even.
“That’s right.” Aerith smiled, “My mom owns Floral Fantasies, I’m going to be running it with her. I just moved in today. I have to say, it's been a hell of a good day. But yeah, you’re stuck with me.” She smiled and winked, “All of you are.” She added on to the end, not wanting to be too suggestive.
Tifa smiled, “Well. It isn’t punishment if you like it, right?” She blushed a timid but playful smile, briefly looking down before looking back up at Aerith.
Aerith locked eyes with Tifa. Her crimson eyes were entrancing, she swore they sparkled. Tifa seemed to be equally stuck staring into hers. “..Y-yep.” Was all she could manage. Aerith was emboldened by her drinks. She was briefly worried about getting enough sleep and being hung over, but then she remembered she was off work tomorrow. Her mom could entertain her hungover, it was fine.
Jessie smiled to herself as she watched them. She just remembered that Tifa wasn’t closing, but she was, and she couldn’t walk Aerith home. Fucking perfect. Jessie smiled to herself like she was the Cheshire fucking cat.
“Hey!” Jessie said nonchalantly, leaning against the bar to talk to them both. Both smile back at her easily, awaiting her next statement. “I just remembered I’m closing tonight, and that’s super late. I don’t want to keep you here late just to walk you back to our building. You must be exhausted. Do you remember how to get back?” In her head, Jessie was revering herself as a fucking cupid, a goddess of fucking romance, a supreme master of setups. Ok, she may have had one too many shots. She noted to not have any more to herself.
Aerith perked up, “Oh. Um... I don’t know the way back so, I guess I’ll just have to stay until you’re off work.” She smiles, but Jessie can tell she is tired. The high of flirting is the only thing keeping her awake, more than likely. It's almost midnight.
“I can take you home. I know where Jessie lives, so- um...if you’re ok with that. I can walk you home. I’m off at midnight. Just so you don’t have to wait around and don’t get lost on your own.” Tifa blushed. She started genuine and at ease. As she noticed how her offer could be taken she became quickly uncomfortable. She liked Aerith and wanted to see more of her, but she wasn't trying to come off too strong.
Aerith smiled, a small blush forming, she found it incredibly sweet and thoughtful, and also really enjoyed watching Tifa get hot under the collar. “I’d like that, actually. Thank you.”
Jessie swore she could see steam come out of Tifa’s ears and gritted her jaw stifling a laugh with a slow, unnoticed inhale. She was going to grill Tifa later for weeks. She couldn’t wait. “Perfect! It’s settled then.”
Barret interjected, “You can go ahead and settle up Tifa. It's only 15 minutes to midnight, you can cut early. Aerith’s had a long day, and she looks like she could use some rest. Uh, no offense.” He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.
Aerith giggled into a smile, “None taken. I am starting to feel tired actually. It has been a long day. But such a good one.” She smiled at them all, but lingered on Tifa, her eyes conveying her interest. She was long past being shy about her interest in her. Or maybe it was the drinks talking. Tifa seemed to be interested too, in the way she was smiling. She didn’t think she was reading it wrong, or hoped not, anyway.
“Alrighty, just give me a few minutes, and I’ll walk you home Aerith.” Tifa smiled, tapping the bar, holding her gaze as she turned until she had to break it to walk away without tripping.
Aerith waited patiently, and in quick order, Tifa had settled up, collected her tips for the night, and grabbed her jacket, a black leather jacket with a little lining and a grey-white faux fur collar. She slipped it on before they headed out the door.
Aerith found it a little cool, but her jacket was enough. Given how little Tifa was wearing though, the jacket made sense. It was still early spring, so the nights still had a bite to them. Aerith blushed when she looked up and realized Tifa was smiling and had caught Aerith unintentionally checking out her legs.
Aerith’s head shot up to look at literally anything else. “Sorry! Got stuck in a thought and-”
“Don’t be.” Tifa smiled, her tone forgiving and easy. “Come on. Let’s get you home.” Tifa explained where they currently were and decided to show her the most direct route to and from the city center to her apartment. It wasn’t a terribly long walk, but their gentle pace lengthened it out. Both of them were happy about it.
“So. Floral Fantasies, huh?” Tifa smiled, “You like gardening?”
Aerith hummed into a smile, “I do. I left a corporate job to move out here. I was miserable there. I always loved gardening. Actually,-” She laughed a bit, “I realized today when I was unpacking that I had more plants than moving boxes.”
They shared a laugh, and both of their hearts felt light. “Well, good. You should do what you love. That way it never feels like work.” Tifa smiled, enjoying the night air and the easy conversation. Being alone with her was so easy, intoxicating. She found she was dreading having to say goodnight. Why was this girl so magnetizing, why did she feel so absolutely drawn to her? Like she knew her before tonight?
“What do you love to do?” Aerith asked spinning and walking backward, slightly in front of Tifa, her hands clasped behind her back, smiling innocently, genuinely interested.
Tifa wanted to swoon but kept her composure, clenching her fists in her jacket pockets.
“Well, I enjoy working at Seventh Heaven. But I’m also a martial artist. So I guess I love to fight. I enter tournaments when they come around and I train at a local gym. It's nice because it's a show of strength and skill, not a fight for survival. That’s different.”
Aerith smiled, sensed there may be more there, but didn’t think asking right now was the right time. “That explains a lot about your physique. Not complaining! Just saying. I’d love to see you fight. I’d be your biggest fan.” Aerith leaned forward, her green eyes sparkling as she smiled warmly.
“I’d like that.” Tifa held her gaze, she felt her heart melting, she meant every word of that statement.
Aerith stopped and stood up, “I would too.” Tifa paused, her gaze flickering between Aerith’s lips and her eyes.
Aerith was locked onto Tifa’s eyes. She saw her looking at her lips, and she knew it was crazy, she just met her, but already she wanted to kiss her. Who was she right now?!
They were both locked into each other, both contemplating this undeniable magnetic pull, this unexplainable feeling of a pre-existing connection, of a want for more, something strong but unrealized.
‘The four feet between us could be closed with two steps.’ Tifa worried her bottom lip, contemplating.
‘I really want to know what she smells like, what her lips feel like.’ Aerith didn’t move forward but she felt her weight ever so slightly shifting more on her toes.
A crash made them both jump and look down the street to their right. A couple of drunk guys laughed as another one of them tried and failed to get up off the ground after falling against a trash can.
Tifa exhaled, the sobering moment allowing her to come to her senses. As long as she didn’t get lost in Aerith’s eyes, she’d be ok. It’s when she held her gaze that she completely lost the helm. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
Aerith nodded, “Yeah, let’s go. Those drunk guys are all fine now, but I don’t wanna see what would happen if they noticed us.”
Tifa laughed, “That’s fair. But Kalm is pretty safe in that regard. It's big, but still small enough that most people know everyone, or by proxy. Bad apples get chased out when they become known. Kalm is a good place, and its people keep it that way.”
Aerith smiled, “That’s good to hear. But darn, just when I was hoping you’d offer to be my protector.” Aerith quipped playfully.
Quickly, and without thinking, “I’ll always protect you!” Tifa went beat red, realizing what just happened and she turned to look straight ahead.
Aerith smiled and snaked her arm around one of Tifa’s, “So does that make you.. My knight in shining..gloves? I don’t think martial artists wear armor.” Aerith contemplated with a playful smile as she looked thoughtfully at the sky her finger on her chin.
Tifa peered at her out of the corner of her eye. She tensed up when Aerith suddenly took her arm in her own but relaxed now, smiling, “It doesn’t roll off the tongue as well. We’ll have to workshop it I guess.” She smiled and breathed a small laugh and Aerith smiled.
They arrived at the front of Aerith’s building a few moments later. “Looks like this is me. You did know your way here.” Aerith teased playfully.
Tifa chuckled, “I told you I’d get you home. I keep my word.”
Aerith twirled her skirt a little back and forth with her hips. “I believe you do. Well…”
Tifa just waited, patiently.
“Can I give you my number? I’d like to see you again, both of us being locals and all that. Besides-” She smiled, “You owe me a taste test contest and to see you fight.”
Tifa breathed in exhaling exageratedly, “I guess I do. But.. hm. That seems awfully one-sided. What do I get?” She winked playfully, a mischievous grin on her face and Aerith found it adorable. The flirting was light and playful, with no salacious undertones.
“Well me, of course.” Aerith was just rolling with it, knowing it would set her off and she was rewarded when Tifa blushed. She couldn’t contain her giggle.
Tifa composed herself with concerted effort, “That’s more than fair.” Tifa pulled out her PHS and handed it to Aerith. Aerith smiled, took it, and added her name and number.
Aerith then, to Tifa’s surprise, took her own PHS out and handed it to Tifa.
“But I just got yours?” Tifa asked, confused.
“Yeah, but what if I wanna text you before you think to text me?” She smiled sweetly but had an edge of seriousness in her look.
Tifa looked down with a blush as she gave Aerith her contact information. Tifa handed Aerith her PHS back. Before Tifa could realize it, Aerith stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Tifa’s shoulders, and hugged her. She waited for Tifa to return it.
Tifa took a shocked second but did relax and returned the hug. Aerith smelled like flowers. Tifa hoped she didn’t notice her head tilting a little closer to her hair to breathe her in. She didn’t want to be creepy, but she was intoxicating to Tifa on every level.
Aerith breathed in Tifa’s scent. She smelled lightly sweet like amber, with a hint of clove. Aerith loved it. She squeezed a little tighter before letting go. “I’m uh, really looking forward to seeing you again, Tifa. I had a lot of fun meeting you and spending time with you tonight.” Aerith was feeling a little shy. She was looking up and down from her feet, smiling and worrying her lip, tucking her hair behind her ear. She just met this girl, and this intense sort of feelings didn't make sense.
Adorable. Tifa felt her heart pounding in her ears, “I did too. I want to see you again soon, too.” Tifa’s response was short, but Aerith could see how earnest she was in her eyes, a barely bridled excitement, a silent promise to follow through.
Aerith smiled, “I’ll see you soon then.” She licked her lips and bit her bottom lip, looking one more time at Tifa before turning and walking up her stairs.
Tifa waited until Aerith closed her door behind her before she started walking back to her apartment. She wanted to melt onto the ground, but her overwhelming sense of happiness and excitement carried her home. Both of them had trouble falling asleep that night; the butterflies refusing to settle, their minds going over the night's events over and over.