Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ New Love ❯ Chapter 12

New Love

 

Chapter 12

 

“Yo!”

 

Cloud snapped his eyes opened and looked up to see Aeris looking down at him, arms crossed. He ignored the slight emphasize the pose was placing on rather tempting portions of her body, and tried to look her in the eye. That was almost as bad, but not quite.

 

“What?”

 

“You dozed off while I was talking,” Aeris said. “Am I that boring?”

 

“Uh…no?”

 

“Right answer, deductions for hesitation though,” Aeris wagged her finger, and Cloud rolled his eyes.

 

“Sorry, those damn painkillers…make me sleepy,” he explained, rubbing his eyes. “You were saying?”

 

“The Hojo client is coming in tomorrow, so try to stay awake, the meeting is first thing in the morning,” Aeris recited. “Also, Rufus sends his `regards' for the report you did for him, he received it this morning and will look over it later.”

 

“Great, thanks,” Cloud yawned.

 

“You okay? Sleeping well lately?” Aeris asked, frowning. Cloud thought for a moment. The previous night he had dreamt about Aeris again.

 

“Yeah, slept fine.”

 

“Good,” Aeris nodded, heading back to her office. Cloud watched her go, his eyes straying to her hips. He forced himself to look away. He had come to accept with some hesitation, his attraction to her, but for obvious reasons kept his desires secret.

 

Cid's words kept playing in his mind. Cloud couldn't deny it, his attraction to Aeris was based on more than just physical responses. He was happy to be around her, she confused him, she helped him, she could make him look like an idiot and make him laugh about a moment later. On a physical level, Cloud wanted her, but on the emotional level, he wanted to be with her.

 

Cloud's eyes narrowed as he thought about that. Tifa. His girlfriend, whom he loved and he knew she loved him back. Could someone really love two people at once? He had thought it just something from romance novels and bad movies, but it seemed possible after all. Cloud had no desire to lose Tifa from his life, and he didn't want to lose Aeris either. But he certainly couldn't pursue a relationship with Aeris while dating Tifa, he wasn't a cheater and he knew Aeris would never agree to such a thing. But he couldn't just bury his feelings for Aeris and go on with his life. The bubbly brunette had awakened something in him he didn't know he had, and he had no desire to turn away from it. Something had to be done, one way or the other.

 

“I need an outside opinion,” he thought aloud. He looked at the clock. Lunch was in an hour. Maybe…Cid had said he wasn't suited to helping him, and that by association left out Barret. Beyond them and Tifa, there was only one person Cloud could trust for help. He reached over and picked up the phone and dialed the number. It picked up after two rings.

 

“Hello.”

 

“H, hey, it's Cloud,” Cloud said.

 

“Hello Cloud.”

 

“I was wondering if you could have lunch with me, I have to talk to someone.”

 

“And it is not something we could discuss over the phone?”

 

“Not really.”

 

“Hm. Very well. Name the time and place.”

 

“Nino's Café, in a hour.”

 

“As you wish.”

 

Cloud set down the phone and went back to his work.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“Yeah, slept fine.”

 

“Good,” Aeris nodded, heading back to her office. She clicked the door closed behind her and sat down in her desk, blushing. She found it harder and harder these days not to egg Cloud on like that. She supposed it was a little mean of her, but she couldn't help it. He just always seemed so much fun to joke with. Oddly though, he seemed to be getting more and more edgy around her. She didn't like it.

 

Aeris thought about what Rinoa had implied a few days ago. The possible that Cloud could be infatuated with her terrified her. It wasn't that he wasn't a nice guy, had he not been attached Aeris would have been flattered. But any conceivable affections Cloud might have entertained for her were held in check by the small matter of his girlfriend. Tifa changed things. Had Cloud not be attached, maybe…

 

“Did I really just think that?” Aeris stopped her typing and stared at her computer screen, her face twisted in a small scowl. Tifa wasn't some sort of romantic rival or an obstacle to get rid of. She was her friend, Cloud's girlfriend, and a good person. Still…Aeris bit her lip. Cloud was handsome, and hard working and intelligent. If he had been single, had they met outside the office, then maybe…

 

“This is stupid, why am I even thinking about this?” Aeris asked herself. There was no point entertaining any such notions, they would inevitably go unfulfilled.

 

“Perhaps you wish they wouldn't…?”

 

“Don't be silly,” Aeris scolded her thoughts, narrowing her eyes. “Cloud is a friend, nothing more.”

 

“Yes, as you've noted, a handsome, intelligent, hard working friend…”

 

“Who is also my boss and who is attached to a very nice girlfriend.”

 

“And if he weren't?”

 

“I…I don't know.”

 

“You like him.”

 

“Of course I do, Cloud is my friend.”

 

“No, you like him.”

 

Aeris opened her mouth to reply, and scrunched up her face as she struggled to reply to her own accusations. She couldn't think of anything. She settled for biting her lip again and sitting silently.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Cloud fiddled with his coffee cup as he waited in the small café, waiting his guest. He looked up at the door and sighed, going back to his cup and sipping. The chair opposite him at the table squeaked, and Cloud lifted his eyes as a man in a dark red jacket coat with a black sweater sat down.

 

“Hello Cloud,” the man said, pulling in his chair.

 

“Hey Vincent,” Cloud replied, lifting his hand. “A decaf latte, right?”

 

“Thank you,” Vincent nodded. Cloud lifted his hand to signal the attendant at the counter, and she nodded. “So, why did you call me here?” Vincent asked.

 

“No small talk?”

 

“No need. This visit is about you, not me.”

 

Cloud nodded, conceding the point. Vincent had never been one for banter. When he spoke, it was because he had something to say, if not, he remained silent and listened. Small talk and normal conversation were not always options when speaking with him. Vincent was a psychology major that had met Cloud through his work. Vincent had said that it was a small joke among some psychologists and psychiatrists that they were more bizarre and eccentric than the patients. For Vincent, Cloud had to agree.

 

“Right, um…okay,” Cloud took a breath. “I need someone to speak to about this about, but Cid and Barret lack the…um…”

 

“Tact?”

 

“Yeah,” Cloud said. “Okay, Vincent…you know I love Tifa, right?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Right, but…” Cloud leaned closer. “I'm lusting after my secretary!”

 

“Hm.” Vincent calmly sipped his drink before continuing. “Please elaborate.”

 

“Her name is Aeris, Vincent, she's…god. She's gorgeous, she's smart, funny, hard working, sweet, caring, innocent…and I haven't been able to stop thinking about her since I met her.”

 

“Interesting,” Vincent said. “So your attraction to her was immediate?”

 

“No, not exactly…” Cloud looked down at his coffee. “I had a dream about her, a…very physical dream. And the next day, I just started seeing her in a way I hadn't before.”

 

“Hm. Sudden realization of sexual attraction is not at all uncommon. Go on.”

 

“Well, now…I can't get her out of my head, and it's affecting my relationship with Tifa. Vincent, it's just so complicated now, I don't know what to do.”

 

“I disagree. Your situation seems quite simple.”

 

“Huh?” Cloud lifted his head.

 

“You love Tifa, but you are in love with Aeris,” Vincent said simply. Cloud lifted an eyebrow.

 

“What's the difference?” he asked.

 

“Your relationship with Tifa is based on security. As your life-long friend you are drawn to her because she represents the familiar, the safe and the sublime. However, Aeris, at least the way you have described her, is presenting to you new experiences and emotions that Tifa does not present, and you find them pleasant. Aeris gives you passion and excitement, while Tifa gives you stability. You are attracted to them both for opposite, but entirely valid reasons. They each offer you something you enjoy and wish to have in a long-term relationship.”

 

Vincent finished his explanation, and Cloud thought for several moments, turning over the man's words in his mind.

 

“Uh…huh,” he said. “So what should I do? I mean, I don't want to turn my back on Aeris, but I don't want to start having an affair with her.”

 

“Technically speaking, you already are having an affair with her,” Vincent stated. “Tell me, would it be incorrect to assume you find it easier to speak to Aeris than you do Tifa.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Even about things you could talk to her about but don't?”

 

“Yeah, why?”

 

“That is an emotional affair. It occurs when you share emotions, thoughts and feelings with one woman you feel you cannot share with your partner. Emotional affairs are not uncommon, but they can damage a relationship with a partner just as much as a physical affair. Emotional affairs can also be primary influences on what develops into a physical affair.”

 

“…like me.”

 

“Yes, in your current state you are having an emotional affair with Aeris, and with your budding attraction to her you now desire a physical relationship with her.”

 

“So, should I break up with Tifa or something?” Cloud asked. “I mean, I don't want to, but…I have to do something.”

 

“I agree, but it is not my place to tell you what, even if I could which I cannot. As I said, Tifa and Aeris both offer you desirable qualities in relationships. Aeris offers the emotional aspect, while Tifa…when was the last time you made love with her?” Vincent asked suddenly. Cloud blushed.

 

“Um…” he thought. “It was a Sunday…just before…” he trailed off as he remembered.

 

“Aeris started working for you,” Vincent nodded. “I thought as much. Aeris offers you emotional gratification that is supplementing physical gratification. Tifa could conceivably offer both these things, but yet you are not receiving them. What Tifa does offer you is a stable relationship, but that is something that could possibly be found with Aeris.”

 

“So…are you saying, that…maybe I should be with Aeris?” Cloud asked. Vincent stood up.

 

“Had you been single, Cloud, I would tell you to take that chance,” he said. “However, you are not, and I cannot advise a man to cheat on his girlfriend, no matter what the situation. But if you chose to pursue a relationship with Aeris…I would not fault you for it.” Cloud let out a breath.

 

“There's no easy way out of this, is there?” he muttered.

 

“No,” Vincent shook his head. “No matter what you do or don't do, someone, yourself included, will be hurt. Nothing can change that. My only advice, Cloud, is that, whatever decision you make, you make it very, very carefully.”

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Cloud stepped off the elevators, blinking sleepily. The night had not been pleasant. He had spent the evening in a trance and, unable to sleep, he had gotten up and looked around the apartment, tokens of his life and Tifa's everywhere. He had also tried to speak to her during the day, and his efforts to strike up a true conversation had failed. And everywhere he looked, in spite of the life they had built together, Cloud couldn't help but notice that they were also building lives apart. Different DVDs, different CDs, different users on his computer, different books and magazines, different items in the fridge…

 

“I barely even know her anymore…or did I ever really? Does she even know me anymore?” he thought, walking down the hall. Was Vincent right? Was Aeris offering the emotional connection he wasn't getting from Tifa? Had he, without even knowing it, become more comfortable spending time with his secretary than he had with his girlfriend? When had he unknowingly transformed her into “the other woman”?

 

“Cloud!” Cloud lifted his head as Aeris jogged down the hall. “You're late!”

 

“Sorry, overslept,” Cloud mumbled, walking down the hall with her.

 

“Cloud, wait, the Ho-”

 

“Aeris, right now I just want to get to my desk, sit down and chug a deep mug of coff…” Cloud trailed off as he rounded the corner, and stopped. Standing before the closed door to his office was a man. He leaned against the wall in a long black coat buttoned up that reached past his knees. Long silver trailed down his back, falling against the wall and reaching his waist. As Cloud stopped, he lifted his head and turned slim green eyes down the hall.

 

“About time,” the man said coolly, standing upright and uncrossing his arms. “Cloud Strife, I presume.”

 

“Yes,” Cloud nodded.

 

“Hmph. I am Sephiroth Hojo. I believe you've been expecting me today.”

 

Sephiroth turned his eyes to look beside Cloud. The blond stared as Aeris leaned up behind him to his ear.

 

“As I was saying,” she whispered, “your meeting with Sephiroth started ten minutes ago.”

 

Oh, dear, dear…dear readers…do not miss the next chapter. I promise if you do, you will regret it. -evil grin-