"Watching" (Finally, an update!)
Title: Watching
Author: angstchan
Pairing: Vincent Valentine & Aerith Gainsborough
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Theme: 46 - Loneliness
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Aerith & Vincent aren't mine :(
The rest of my stories will most likely take place after Advent Children, since I watched it and squeed like a lame fangirl. Therefore, there will be spoilers, sometimes massive ones, and I will screw with things. :D You are warned.
They had all left, now that the threat of Sephiroth's rebirth was over, now that the last of Geostigma had been cleansed. Cloud had gone off on his own, and the others had returned to their respective homes. Well, all of the others but one.
Vincent sits at the edge of the pool. Since that day he hasn't moved from that spot. It's worrying, and Zack tells me I should do something about it, but what can I do? I know why he sits there; he sits there for the same reason he sat by the lakeside for almost two full years.
He's lonely. He's lonely and he still blames himself for my death. It wasn't his fault. Sephiroth is the one who murdered me, not Vincent, but Vincent has some sort of guilt complex. He always has.
And there he is, day in and day out, staring down at his own reflection in the water as if it can heal some of the pain he's been feeling for who knows how long.
I wonder if he'd still sit here if he knew I watch him?
It's hard seeing a friend like this. I want to do something to help, but what can I do? I'm just a ghost, a figment. I have no physical body anymore. Showing myself to him might only bring him more pain, more guilt. It might only reaffirm that I am dead and not coming back.
I'm a ghost, but should ghosts be able to feel pain?
Weeks go by without Vincent moving. He just sits there against one of the trees, his eyes locked on the water as if it's the only thing here, as if it's all he has left.
It's too painful watching this. I can't just sit around and wait for nothing to happen. I concentrate, close my eyes, much like I did when Cloud needed help. Vincent looks startled when the lake is replaced with a field of yellow flowers, perhaps he's wondering if he's dead.
"Stop beating yourself up, Vincent." I say softly, my hands resting on his back. I know he can feel them because he tenses for a moment before slowly turning his head. "I don't like seeing you like this."
He chokes on his words, crimson eyes wide. "Aerith? But you're..."
"I know, but I'm always with you, Vincent. Always." I smile, he stares. I lift a hand to rest it on his shoulder. "Stop sulking."
"Always? Stop..." He shakes his head. "It's my fault."
"Don't say that. It's not your fault. None of it is your fault. If you say it's your fault one more time..."
"But Aerith, it is my fault."
I get on my tip toes and silence him with a kiss. I don't even realize I'm doing it til it's done. He looks startled, and I'm so embarrassed that I lose my concentration and everything is back to normal. He sits beside the lake, looking down at the water, his fingers touching his lips.
Maybe the loneliness will start to fade.
Author: angstchan
Pairing: Vincent Valentine & Aerith Gainsborough
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Theme: 46 - Loneliness
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Aerith & Vincent aren't mine :(
The rest of my stories will most likely take place after Advent Children, since I watched it and squeed like a lame fangirl. Therefore, there will be spoilers, sometimes massive ones, and I will screw with things. :D You are warned.
They had all left, now that the threat of Sephiroth's rebirth was over, now that the last of Geostigma had been cleansed. Cloud had gone off on his own, and the others had returned to their respective homes. Well, all of the others but one.
Vincent sits at the edge of the pool. Since that day he hasn't moved from that spot. It's worrying, and Zack tells me I should do something about it, but what can I do? I know why he sits there; he sits there for the same reason he sat by the lakeside for almost two full years.
He's lonely. He's lonely and he still blames himself for my death. It wasn't his fault. Sephiroth is the one who murdered me, not Vincent, but Vincent has some sort of guilt complex. He always has.
And there he is, day in and day out, staring down at his own reflection in the water as if it can heal some of the pain he's been feeling for who knows how long.
I wonder if he'd still sit here if he knew I watch him?
It's hard seeing a friend like this. I want to do something to help, but what can I do? I'm just a ghost, a figment. I have no physical body anymore. Showing myself to him might only bring him more pain, more guilt. It might only reaffirm that I am dead and not coming back.
I'm a ghost, but should ghosts be able to feel pain?
Weeks go by without Vincent moving. He just sits there against one of the trees, his eyes locked on the water as if it's the only thing here, as if it's all he has left.
It's too painful watching this. I can't just sit around and wait for nothing to happen. I concentrate, close my eyes, much like I did when Cloud needed help. Vincent looks startled when the lake is replaced with a field of yellow flowers, perhaps he's wondering if he's dead.
"Stop beating yourself up, Vincent." I say softly, my hands resting on his back. I know he can feel them because he tenses for a moment before slowly turning his head. "I don't like seeing you like this."
He chokes on his words, crimson eyes wide. "Aerith? But you're..."
"I know, but I'm always with you, Vincent. Always." I smile, he stares. I lift a hand to rest it on his shoulder. "Stop sulking."
"Always? Stop..." He shakes his head. "It's my fault."
"Don't say that. It's not your fault. None of it is your fault. If you say it's your fault one more time..."
"But Aerith, it is my fault."
I get on my tip toes and silence him with a kiss. I don't even realize I'm doing it til it's done. He looks startled, and I'm so embarrassed that I lose my concentration and everything is back to normal. He sits beside the lake, looking down at the water, his fingers touching his lips.
Maybe the loneliness will start to fade.