(Untitled)

[magister_felis]

Who: Reeve, Aerith
Status: Open
When: 3:10 PM
Where: Seventh Heaven
What: Add two more to the list of those making the pilgrimage to Seventh Heaven to see Aerith.

Comments

[revenio]

Aerith had taken to cleaning in order to pass the time. Reading had lost its appeal, and sleep just wasn't going to happen anytime soon. So Aerith had decided to sweep--it was the least she could do to show her gratitude to Tifa and Cloud.

She was just in the middle of gathering things into the dust pan when the door opened, and a voice called out. Aerith didn't immediately recognize it, and when her curious green eyes fell on the man in the doorway, she didn't immediately recognize him, either. However, he knew Cloud and Tifa, so she greeted him. "Hi there," she said, straightening and wiping her hands off on a nearby towel.

"I'm... not sure where they are, but I'm an anyone," she smiled, but felt off. Something was familiar about this man, and she hoped her lack of alarm wasn't something that was going to get her in trouble. Bells and whistles were going off. "Excuse me, but--do I know you?"

[magister_felis]

"Ah... no, not exactly." She looked different, seeing her with his own eyes instead of through Cait's. Tired and weak, weary instead of vibrant and energetic- someone very, very human at the core. It was the undeniable tiredness that made Reeve pause. Here was the girl who'd known she was going to die, yet willingly put herself in danger to save the Planet. The girl who's future the first Cait Sith had read in the shadow of the Temple of the Ancients, before dying. Suddenly he felt as though he were intruding on holy ground. The president ducked his head down, glancing to the side. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have

[revenio]

The man's reaction further caused Aerith's brows to knit together in an open show of confusion. Yet the moment the other voice caught her attention, her expression changed to one to pleasantly surprised.

"Cait!" She gasped, not expecting to see the tiny robotic cat there alongside the man. "No, of course I didn't forget you! But then, that means..." Her eyes fell back onto the man, brain piecing things together. "You're Reeve, right?"

She had never gotten the chance to meet Reeve while on their journey all those years ago, but she still considered him an ally and a friend. He was a part of the team. Aerith approached him and offered her hand along with a smile. "It's nice to finally meet you in person."

[magister_felis]

Cait beamed happily at the acknowledgment, rocking back and forth on his heels. "Sharp as always, lass! That's us! heard y' were back an' couldn' stay 'way!"

His creator's reaction was a bit different. Of all the things Aerith could have done, this was not what he'd expected. Reeve stared at her blankly for a second, her welcoming smile easing a bit of the tension, before taking her delicate hand in his large, calloused ones. He'd been expecting resentment or anger, and certainly not any show of trust. A hesitant, relieved smile crept across his face. "I- likewise. Cait knows you, of course, but I...." The image of dossiers and files- the obsession ShinRa had with the Promised Land- flashed through his mind for a moment. The Forgotten City. Holy and Meteor, battling in the skies, slivers seen through barred windows. Life, because of the courage of one young woman.

Reeve suddenly bowed his head over their clasped hands. His voice dropped to a rough whisper. "I'm sorry, Aerith. I am so, so sorry."

[revenio]

"News travels fast!" Aerith wondered who of her many visitors that day had been the first to tell Cait and Reeve. And she had to wonder how his first reaction had been. Everyone had been reacting to her revival differently, and on some level she wondered if they would ever be able to forget her death.

Because as much as she would like to think it was otherwise, she knew the first image that popped into their minds when they thought of her now involved her death. The good times still existed, but they were in the background.

It hurt that people were still so affected by her death, even now. Whether they felt responsible or just sad over it, Aerith wished they didn't. Those were the thoughts that could have made her waiver; decide not to go and to see if there was some other way to summon Holy. But there wasn't. "Reeve," Aerith said softly, "It's okay. You don't need to apologize."

[magister_felis]

"Hearing it from Rufus ShinRa and Cloud was not the way I would have chosen to learn of it, but..." Beside him, Cait shrugged and spread his paws. It was easy to see it was a sentiment both creator and creation held. "Regardless, I'm glad to have heard it."

It wasn't so much Aerith's death Reeve felt the need to apologize for. It was everything else leading up to it, his betrayals and underhanded tactics. Still, there was something in her voice that was reassuring enough for him to look back up. After a moment, a briliant smile broke onto his face. "I do. But... well, if you won't let me apologize, then at least let me thank you." He chuckled ruefully, looking slightly embarrassed. "You helped to inspire courage in me I never would have had otherwise. Thank you

[revenio]

Aerith's voice caught in her throat for a second, her eyes freezing on Reeve. "Rufus? How does he know about this?" Those green eyes narrowed in confusion. She had been back for only a day, and already the news had spread? Even to Rufus?

Reeve's smile caused Aerith to laugh--everyone was so funny, thanking her and apologizing all the time. She understood why, but she wished they would understand her leaving was a way of thanking them for the friendship they had given her. "You're welcome, Reeve," she said.

"Oh...? Thank you," Aerith sighed happily and pulled herself onto a barstool. "As all right as we can be, given the circumstances. I haven't seen much of him today, but I'm beginning to feel a bit more... normal. I'm glad we showed up here and not in the middle of nowhere."

[magister_felis]

"... some thought that your revival was of his doing." Let Cloud come forward and confess that he'd slipped it to Rufus; Reeve wouldn't rat him out no matter how much he might've wanted to. "He may know, but he also knows that I will raise every hand on Gaia I can against him if he or his Turks so much as try to touch you." That'd actually been part of what caused the rift between him and Rufus, but that was not Aerith's fault in the slightest. AVALANCHE was his family now; he wouldn't let anything or anyone damage them

[revenio]

"I don't think ShinRa has enough power to do that," Aerith said quietly, taking a breath to sooth the twinge of annoyance she felt. Even if the resurrection of Zack and herself was somehow connected to Rufus, he should know better. She smiled in appreciation at Reeve's words--yet she hoped he wouldn't have to act on them.

Aerith leaned over to give the robotic cat an affectionate hug, still marveling at the fact that such motions felt familiar to her.

She paused in her doting on Cait, face carefully neutral. "A dragon?" She repeated, remembering her conversation with Cloud earlier--a WEAPON. "... I don't think it'll hurt me. It was here this morning." And she was still there, in once piece.

[magister_felis]

Reeve shook his head. "If I seriously thought ShinRa had the power to do that, I'd have moved against them long ago regardless of any aid they've given us." Military might. It was so odd, even now, to think about how much power he held with the military. Cloud and the other would probably laugh if they knew the idea was more frightening to him than reassuring (and Rufus would no doubt be disgusted). "Hopefully he has the sense to know not to try anything

[revenio]

"Hopefully," she repeated, idly petting Cait. There was some part in her that desperately clung to the hope that people had more sense than to play with the laws of life and death--but then again, people shouldn't have that power in the first place.

She looked up from Cait in order to nod at Reeve. It was quick and subtle, but it was acknowledgment. If it hurt people... if it hurt her friends...

"If anything does happen, I want to know first. I wish I knew about what happened with Vincent earlier," not that she would know what to do, but still... "But trust me when I say that it's not bad. I can try to send it away or... figure something out. If something happens." But not yet. Not when so many things needed answering.

[[I am so sososososo sorry for taking so long, between various things and a nasty cold this place got pushed aside. I'm sorry ;_;]]

[magister_felis]

"Even if someone should get it in their heads to try...." He brushed his hands off on a rag and took a seat on a nearby stool. In a way, Reeve wanted to take a picture; Cait was being almost disgustingly feline, little motors rasping in a metallic pseudo-purr. Said feline stuck his tongue out at his creator once he realized he was being stared at. "... heh. Well, at least if it does happen, there'll be more than just us few to stand against it