Tumult

Given the utter destruction that was Sector 7, there was only one place to take Wedge: Aeirth's home. The fat man snored upstairs while Barret fumbled over his words.

"I'm sorry. I truly am. We had no other place to go and…"

"I would never leave a wounded man out on the street," Elmyra said, shrugging.

"Elmyra, I know what you said, but you have to let us go after Aerith," Cloud said, interrupting them.

"Not this again," Elmyra scowled ad crossed her arms.

"We found an underground Shinra lab where they've done human testing. This wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. I know these people, and I know they're never gonna let Aerith go. She's the last living Ancient on the planet. Think about what that means to Shinra's scientists. Especially to that son of a bitch Hojo. We're all just numbers and meat to him," Cloud looked earnestly at Elmyra. She shook her head.

"Enough!"

"But—"

"Please. I need some time to think. You've all had a long day. Why don't you go upstairs and get some rest."

***

They all took long hot showers. Cloud stayed up for awhile, listening to Tifa **** on Barret's cock, rubbing his own inadequate tool to orgasm. But his mind wasn't focused on Tifa -- it was the backdrop to his own carnal fantasies of the virginal, sassy Aerith. She was unspoiled. God, how good she must feel, he thought.

He woke up late at night. It was still in the large home, but it felt like something was missing. He peeked out, to see the door to Aerith's room ajar. Tifa was sleeping in their, he knew, as Barret had retired to be closer to his daughter. He wandered downstairs, only to find her in the garden, standing in the middle of the Wutaiian lilies.

"Can't sleep?" Cloud murmured. Tifa shook her head. She paused, speaking slowly.

"That flower you gave me the other night. That was from Aerith, wasn't it? I knew there was something weird going on. You, buying flowers. They symbolize reunion, believe it or not. I wondered if you ... and me," she sniffled, pausing. Cloud stared at the sluttish beauty. He never knew where he stood with her. Sometimes it felt she was into him, but only on an emotional or nostalgic level. "I was curious, so I looked it up. I tried to keep it alive as long as I could. But now… it's dead and buried. Like the bar… our home… and everything else." She started to cry, real tears, real emotions. She couldn't connect with Barret like this, Cloud realized. Their relationship was sexual and superficial. But not emotional. Cloud gallantly walked over, wrapping his arms around Tifa. She fit so perfectly against him, he thought. He hugged her, his hands pausing on her lower back, wanting to grip that firm, plump rear.

"Cloud… Cloud, you're hurting me," Tifa finally said, Cloud's shoulder moist with her tears. "It's stupid. I know that crying's a waste of time."

"That's not true," Cloud said. Tifa smiled.

"Thank you."

***

The next morning, Barret said his goodbyes to Marlene. Cloud took another run at Elmyra.

"Elmyra."

"I've been thinking about what you said," she said slowly. Cloud realized she needed no more convincing.

"She's calling out to me. I can feel it," he said, conveying to her his desperation. She nodded.

"I always knew it was coming. Knew that one day I'd have to say goodbye to my baby girl. But not yet. Please bring her back to me."