3rd POV:
''Thank you! Please feel free to buy again sometime,'' Aerith waved cheerfully after selling yet another flower pot.
Operation 'Greenify Sector 5' is proceeding along nicely. Soon enough there will be little else to greenify.
A bit of an exaggeration. It was more like she was starting to run out of flowers to sell and needed to restock/ replant her flowers. Unless she settled for stripping her garden off all her flowers, something she didn't want to do.
So, until then, she would no longer be able to supply the peoples demand.
Then again, Sector 5 looked pretty green by now. Nox was right. After she made the children fall in love with the flowers, the adults came more or less around.
Either way, she wouldn't start 'greenifying' the other Sectors till she stocked up/ replanted her flowers to sufficient numbers.
...And she also needed a proper flower cart. This one served it's purpose, but she wanted a proper one.
Damn it. She really regretted that her old flower carts got destroyed.
Instead of leaving the woman looked at her and then at Nox, who was standing some way away from them and simply observed them.
''Say, are you two together?,'' the woman asked her.
''...No,'' Aerith replied honestly, starting to feel her chest tighten.
The woman was off an age with her and almost just as pretty.
She smiled brightly and began making her way over to Nox. Aerith followed after her.
''Hiii!,'' the woman cheerfully waved. Nox simply looked her up and down.
''What do you want?,'' he asked her.
''So...I wanted to ask, if you would like to meet up with me. Like a date. I know a good place that serves coffee,'' the woman began.
''Not interested,'' Nox shot her down, making Aerith relax.
''Hey! Don't be shy. Here, my number, just in case you change your mind. Bye!,'' the woman handed him her phone number on a small card. She must have some sort of personal business, if she kept those kinds off cards on her person.
Nox and Aerith watched her walk away and the moment she was out of sight, Nox set the card on fire and made an annoyed face.
''You still have some flower pots. Or are we done selling them?,'' Nox asked her.
''We? There is no we. I'm the one selling the flowers, because you will scare all my customers away. Would it be so hard for you to smile and seem inviting?,'' Aerith resumed her teasing, feeling relieved.
''Said it yourself. My face is wasted on me. Imagine if I actually seem inviting. I truly would suffer from success then,'' Nox held up his hands and shook his head in performative despondence.
''I think that ego of yours would scare half your suitors away,'' Aerith remarked with a shake of her head.
''Sounds like a them-problem,'' Nox commented and sighed. He pushed himself off the wall.
''So? Still haven't answered my question,'' Nox reminded her.
''I still want to sell these flower pots,'' Aerith told him.
---
''Excuse me? Are you alright? You look worried,'' Aerith asked an elderly woman when she handed over a flower pot. Wasn't she supposed to have a smile on her face for buying her flower.
''Oh, nothing you need to worry yourself over, Aerith. It's just that my sink got all clogged, my water trickling down slowly and I don't have anyone that can repair it. And before you ask, I already asked around the Neighborhood Watch and it will take at least a few days till they can send someone over, but I need my sink to make food,'' she explained her situation to Aerith.
''No worries! We can help you,'' Aerith pointed at herself and Nox, who leaning against a wall much closer this time around.
''Flower peddler say what now?,'' Nox came over.
''Come on. Please? She needs help,'' Aerith put her palms together to convince him.
''And what makes you think I can repair a sink?,'' he asked her.
She pouted.
''I just know. OK?,'' she suddenly put on a serious expression,''If you don't help her, I will be very cross with you.''
''And that is supposed to move me how exactly? You need to come up with better coercion tactics. And you. I will help you, so lead the way home,'' Nox instructed the woman. If nothing else, he wouldn't have to hear her whining. Nox hoped she didn't realize that that is why he agreed.
(He could put his foot down, if he absolutely wanted, but it was not like he had anything better to do right now, so he might as well go and repair that womans sink.)
Aerith celebrated by jumping up and down and cheerfully clapping her hands.
The woman, just shook her head and began walking to her home, the two following after her.
...
''Screwdriver,'' Nox held out his hand while laying on his back. Aerith handed him the screwdriver and her began unscrewing the pipes.
''Could you tell me what the problem is, young man? So that I may avoid another situation like this in the future,'' the elderly woman asked him.
''Sure. If it is nothing too problematic and can be fixed today, that is,'' Nox replied and grunted.
''Pliers,'' Nox held out his hand. After Aerith handed it to him, he used it to carefully pry open the P-trap part of the sink.
''Ah. I see what the problem is,'' Nox said as he inspected the P-trap after standing up.
''It is a rather simple, but stupid one. You know you are not supposed to throw oil or grease down the drain since it can solidify? Though I suppose, in your case, you were rather lucky. All the grease seems to have been trapped by the P-trap,'' Nox determined after inspecting the pipe. He sat back down again during his explanation and inspected the rest of the pipe with the flashlight from his phone,'' Had you poured more and ignored the problem then it would have gotten worse.''
''Yup. Just need to clean this and then everything should be alright again,'' he assured her after standing back up again.
''Well, there you have it. Easy problem, easy fix,'' Aerith tried to cheer up the woman.
''Oh, thank you, young man. But it is not I, that threw the oil and grease down the drain. I've been cooking for 40 years and have known that all my life. It must have been my granddaughter. She recently started teaching herself how to cook and I thought it would be better if I leave her to her own devices,'' the woman told them.
''Why?,'' Aerith asked her.
''Because sometimes, people need to walk their own paths. And sometimes they need to know when to ask for help. I made it clear I would be there for her, in case she needed any sort of help... though I suppose now I will have to interfere, least she makes another mistake like that,'' the woman muttered.
''Aerith! Stop small talking and give me the screwdriver,'' Nox startled her by calling out. He was already back on his back again after cleaning the grease and oil from the pipe, his hand extended out, while he was holding the pipe in place, having aligned it with the pliers.
''Sorry! Here,'' she quickly handed him the instrument.
''Aaaaaand. There,'' Nox stood up again and opened the tap. Water easily flowing and disappearing down the drain.
''Oh, thank you so much, good man. May the gods give you eternal blessings,'' the woman stepped forward and thanked him profusely.
''I meant it. All things considered, it was an easy fix. There is no point in being so thankful,'' Nox replied.
But if it was a bigger problem, he could have solved it too. ...So long as he found a replacement piece on the same day, if he needed one.
''Humble on top of being handy. Say, would you mind if I introduce you to my granddaughter? Maybe the two of you could hit it off,'' she offered him. Her granddaughter could do with a reliable, capable man for herself. There was, of course, the question if they would click or not, but that they would have to find out for themselves.
''No,'' Nox flatly told her and packed her deceased husbands tools back into the tool box.
''Oh. That is a shame. Aerith, Nox, if you ever need something don't hesitate to ask me for help,'' the woman was disappointed, but moved on.
''Don't worry. Will do!,'' Aerith replied to her.
---
''Hiiii!''
...
''Hello there, handsome.''
...
''Maybe you can come over to my home. I could think of a few things to put a smile on your face.''
...
''H-hi.''
...
Aerith's eye twitched with annoyance.
Nox may not be a ladies man, like Zack. But gods damn it, if he wasn't attracting the female gaze as much as he did.
She couldn't decide if it was better or worse, that she dragged him around Sector 5 and got him into all sorts of situations that showed he had a much softer side to him, to the female population.
Maybe she shouldn't have offered to help people out...
Aerith sighed. No. That was just her jealousy talking now. She didn't regret helping people out or convincing Nox to help out when she couldn't.
Besides.
He always rejected the girls well enough himself. There was no reason to act so irrational or possessive. Not that they were together in the first place, but still. She knows what she wants and she will fight for it, unless he rejects her too.
...Which started to seem like a bleak prospect. Tifa would have been a though competition, but thankfully she was interested in someone else. But there were some woman today who were just as pretty as her or Tifa. And yet he rejected all of them without a second thought.
So what the hell kind of woman did he like!
She only knows that he doesn't like timid women, when she teased him about being together with Tifa or at least romantically interested in her.
Sooo, that was a plus for her.
But the rest? She was in the dark.
''I think I'm done for today,'' she suddenly announced.
''You still have two flower pots and some sunlight to spare,'' Nox pointed out.
''I know, but I'm done either way. Hey! Do you mind coming over tomorrow to the church? Around morning or so?,'' she asked him.
She ordered some materials for something and wanted to build it together with him.
''Tomorrow? Sure, I'm free,'' he told her.
''Alright. Don't forget to come over for dinner later,'' she told him starting to walk away.
''Yeah, yeah. Don't have to remind me every time,'' Nox muttered and watched her walk off, pushing her cart.
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''So? What did you want to do today?,'' Nox asked her while he stepped foot into the church.
''Build a flower cart, of course,'' she waved him over and then pointed at the material she bought with her money. Both her allowance and the money she got from slaying monsters, together with him.
''I should start charging you for my services,'' Not muttered,'' What? Yesterday you didn't put me enough to work?''
''Charge me?,'' she began humming and then snapped her fingers.
She conspiratorially leaned forward to whisper playfully in his ear.
''How about a date with a pretty flower lady?,'' she teased him and giggled. Inside she felt a storm of emotions at playing with fire like this.
''Don't joke about such things. Just treat me to a few rounds at Tifa's bar,'' Nox reprimanded her and crossed his arms.
Aerith relaxed. Well, at least it was not an outright rejection.
''Hey! What gives? You were supposed to ask me, if I often offer my body as payment for services rendered,'' she wagged her finger at him and spoke sternly.
''Gimme a break. We were strangers then and I wanted you off my back,'' Nox explained.
''That's true. Do you regret me bullying you into befriending me?,'' she asked him and crossed her arms behind her back.
''...No. So, the flower cart?,'' Nox asked her after taking a while to answer.
''Yup. Hey, relax. I won't let you do all the work this time. This is my flower cart, so I will add my own efforts in building one,'' she assured him.
She was certainly stronger now, then when Zack built those flower carts for her. And she was also a completely different person.
Besides... she wanted to make it more special by building it together with him and also spending more time with him.
Sure, she could settle for the cart she was currently using, but that one was plain. She wanted something prettier, that would attract the customers gaze.
''Ok. Do you have a plan? Some sort of design, of how you want the flower cart to look?,'' Nox asked her.
''Nope. We will just wing it,'' she enthusiastically replied and grabbed two planks, a hammer and a nail. She hit the nail with the hammer and looked proudly at Nox.
''...Congratulations? You nailed one plank down to another almost parallel,'' Nox complimented sarcastically. He shook his head.
''We are not doing anything till we have a design. I don't want to be wasteful,'' Nox brought out his PHS and began using a program for taking notes to draw a design for a cart. It was awkward with his finger, but a rough draft will still do.
''Must we? I was the one who bought the materials with my own money. You won't be wasting anything,'' Aerith told him.
''It's the principle of the matter. Besides, if you actually want your cart to look good, then it is better to plan ahead,'' Nox replied and presented her with an initial sketch.
''...Too simplistic. A little cuter or maybe some class would do the sketch better,'' she told him eventually. He hummed and began sketching again.
...
Aerith walked around the cart and inspected it. Nox took a seat on the bench.
Suffice to say, that this was better then any other cart she had previously owned. She couldn't wait to be done with Sector 5, restock/ replant her flower back to sufficient number and pick her next target/ group to 'greenify', while using this cart to carry the flower pots.
Sure, it wasn't anything majestic. It was made out of wood, a mix between simplistic, functional and cute, but it was HER cart. And they made it together.
Nox just watched over her, in case she was about to commit any mistakes and gave her instructions. She sawed the planks, she nailed the pieces together, she polished the wood.
Sure, at times Nox guided her hands, since she didn't have experience with these matters, but she still considered to have done enough to say that she built the cart, under heavy supervision, granted, but she built it.
Her arms and back ached in a good way as she removed her protective leather gloves from her hands and turned around to look at Nox.
''It's perfect,'' she told him simply with a wide smile.
''Well, I'm glad you are happy with it. Now, my payment,'' he began.
''Geez. Have some patience. Alright? I will treat you to some rounds, but let me enjoy this for a bit more,'' she turned around to look at her work again.
'' 'Look upon my works, ye Mighty and despair' ,'' Nox quoted suddenly, playfully. Normally that quote was meant to convey the inevitable arrival of entropy. But this time it was meant as a compliment. The cart was built so well, that everyone, (even the mighty professionals) should despair at her craftsmanship.
It was meant to tease her. And it was not like the cart turned out ugly.
''What?,'' Aerith turned to him confused.
''...Nevermind. Forget I said anything. It's nothing,'' Nox instructed her and crossed his legs, leaning deeper into the bench. Ozymandias was probably too difficult of a topic to broach, since it would raise questions, unlike the 'stories' he told her. Those he could write off as fictional, more or less.
''It's not NOTHING...But I guess you don't want to talk about it, so I won't,'' Aerith looked at him concerned for a bit more, before turning back to her cart.
Nox hummed. Yeah, probably for the best.
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''Alright,'' Aerith slammed her hands down on the counter and firmly determined,''That's decided. Tifa, I want a Cosmo Canyon as well.''
Nox seemed to only drink that drink, so she was mighty curios how it tasted, even if she never drank alcohol in her life.
''Sure, Aerith. Coming right up,'' Tifa began grabbing the ingredients and mixing them all up.
''You sure? It is hard and slightly bitter,'' Nox warned her.
''What? You think I can't handle my alcohol,'' Aerith pouted.
''Yes,'' Nox flatly told her.
''Relax. One drink won't harm anyone,'' she sternly replied.
''No... It's a really strong drink,'' Nox warned her again.
''He is right, you know. Normally most people only drink one or two glasses of the Cosmo Canyon. He is the only one I've seen that drinks it so much without getting affected at all,'' Tifa agreed and put the glass in front of Aerith. Now that she thinks about it, she never even saw Nox slightly tipsy.
(He drank it mostly for the taste and cast Regen on himself so that his body would process the alcohol faster then it could act on him, especially since he sipped it more then drank it. He wasn't that big of an alcohol guy otherwise or it's effects.)
''Alright. I get it, you two. Don't worry, I can handle one drink,'' Aerith reassured them and grabbed the glass.
---
She could not, in fact, handle one drink.
''Miss Elmyra,'' Nox greeted as he was let in carrying a singing (near screeching with how horrible she sang) Aerith in his arms. One arm she had around his neck and the other she moved around while she sang.
She was completely red in the face and Nox knew, she would experience the mother of all hangover tomorrow.
''Nox and ...Aerith. Is she drunk?,'' she asked him with disapproval.
''Don't make that face at me. You think I could stop your daughter any more then you, once she got something in her head? If it is any consolation, she drank at Tifa's bar, so she was constantly surrounded by friends,'' Nox reassured her. Certainly better then having her drink in the Wall Market, even if he was there for her.
Elmyra rubbed her face.
''Well... I hope she learned her lesson, at least. How much did she have to drink?,'' Elmyra asked him.
''One Cosmo Canyon. Actually...,'' Nox winced and turned his head as Aerith attempted a high note in her song,'' she didn't make it even halfway through.''
''Then she better never drink again. Or at least do so in the company of friends,'' Elmyra worriedly concluded.
''If she is smart, she won't drink at all ever again,'' Nox sighed in frustration.
''I'll bring her to her room,'' Nox told Elmyra.
''Will you sleep over tonight? I would rest easier knowing she has someone to watch over her. Or I can do that myself if you want,'' Elmyra offered. And besides, she would probably want some nice company when she experiences the hangover tomorrow.
''...Might as well. Bring a bucket or something. I don't want her to choke on her own puke,'' Nox agreed.
''Good idea... Actually I will bring some pajamas for her as well. It will probably be better if she won't have the smell of alcohol on her. You will have to stay out when I do that,'' Elmyra began making her way upstairs.
''She didn't,'' Nox winced again at another attempt at singing and made Elmyra stop on the stairs,'' spill anything on her clothes, but I agree. It would be better if she washed her teeth, if anything,''
''You know where the bathroom is. Her toothbrush is the one in the pink cup. I will bring her clothes,'' she told him and went up the stairs.
...
''Nuhhuu,'' Aerith complained and turned her head when Nox tried to put the toothbrush in her mouth.
He sat on the toilet with her on his thigh so that he could support her with one arm and brush her teeth with the other.
''Aerith, please just comply,'' Nox pleaded.
''Nnnnnno!,'' she turned her head.
Nox sighed.
''Can I coax you somehow?,'' he asked her.
She hummed and frowned as if trying really hard to think. She turned her head suddenly and looked at him, while narrowing her eyes.
''...LOVVVVVVVVLUSS,'' she slurred.
''Sure. LOVELESS, I promise. Now. Will you let me brush your teeth,'' Nox asked her, considering her words just empty ramblings.
She gave give a victorious smug smirk, but didn't resist when Nox shoved the toothbrush in her mouth and began gently cleaning her teeth. He didn't want to press too hard to damage her gums after all.
...
Nox laid on the ground, provided by Elmyra with two blanket (one for the ground and one to lay on his body) and a pillow. He was keeping watch out, in case Aerith started choking or doing something stupid.
Not the first time he pulled an all-nighter for one reason or another.
He didn't keep track of the time, but at least some hours must have passed by now.
She stirred, grabbing his attention. He looked sideways without turning his head.
She stirred some more and slipped down on the ground, crawling over it and snuck herself under his blanket.
''Nux? Yu Avake?,'' Aerith tried to speak and frowned. She groaned and grabbed her head, trying to get herself in order, now that the alcohol receded slightly.
She was somewhat functional to recognize her mistakes, but still drunk enough to make them anyway.
''I am,'' he replied, looking at the ceiling.
She rested her hand on his cheek and turned his face towards her. Her green eyes were trying to look for something, maybe. Because when she didn't find it, she began stirring again, moving herself to sit on his stomach and leaned her body over him, her face centimeters above his own.
She turned his head so that he would look her straight in the face.
Her eyes slowly moved across his features, finally resting on his red eyes.
''Yur hand-sssom,'' she frowned, as if it greatly displeased her.
''I am,'' Nox easily agreed.
''...I hate it,'' she firmly declared, almost coherent.
''I'm devastated. Downright weeping,'' Nox commented with a drawl.
She frowned and leaned closer in his face. Her fingers slowly began tracing across his features, as if just her eyes looking were not enough. No, she needed to sculpt his face on top of visualizing it.
So faint, did her fingertips trace across his skin, it was almost tickling him.
Across his eyebrow, his forehead, his nose, his ear, his jawline, his chin, his cheek, his throat, his neck.
Eventually her finger landed on his lower lip and she pulled it. Nox finally grabbed her hands to stop her, while her eyes snapped form his lips to his eyes. The two were in a stand still.
''Nox...,'' Aerith began and looked like she had something on her mind. She shook her head lightly.
Her face began to draw closer to his. Already they were too close, face to face, but now just a bit more and they would...
''Do you ...like me?,'' she asked him near coherently with a whisper. Her eyes looked at him, clearly vulnerable.
''I do,'' Nox told her.
She shook her head, her loose hair dancing across his face, making it twitch.
''Do you... LIKE me?,'' she clarified.
Nox swallowed. He wasn't blind. Not like he was with Priscilla. And he did tell the voice in his head, he wasn't opposed to take the matter past friendship if she wanted and he wanted and she pushed... which she totally would, he knew, if he wasn't outright rejecting her.
But...
Well...
Now that he was here, his fear resurfaced.
Strangely enough, the voice and It's inputs and comments were completely silent, offering him no help (or warning or mockery) at all.
Nox' attention was drawn back to her when she put her hands on his cheeks and leaned her head forward-
-and her head fell right besides him, on his pillow. His hand over his mouth to block any kiss. He did not want to take advantage off her during this state in any way.
She began snoring faintly.
Nox was stiff as a board and slowly relaxed after a while, but heart still pounding against his chest.
''You're such a lightweight,'' he whispered as he got her off him and tucked her in besides him in between the blankets. Shortly afterwards she turned to rest her hand on his chest.
...
He needed to think about his emotions...
And do this properly.
She deserved a proper and sincere answer.
---
Elmyra made them breakfast.
''I did tell you-,'' Nox began, patiently waiting for the delicious food. Elmyra was a good cook.
''Please, Nox, don't start,'' Aerith grouched while rubbing her forehead.
''Do you want some coffee, Nox?,'' Elmyra asked him while she was making her own cup of coffee.
''Not this time, Miss Elmyra,'' Nox replied with a wave of his hand.
''Say...did I say or do anything weird yesterday?,'' Aerith asked him a little afraid. Did she confess? Did he reject her?
''You sung my ear off, is what you did... and something about LOVELESS, but you only got that one word out. Aside from that, nothing,'' Nox told her and thanked Elmyra when she gave him his plate of breakfast. Shortly afterward she put down a plate of food in front of Aerith and herself as well.
He wanted to spare her the embarrassment and the awkward situation that may arise if they talked about... that in front of Elmyra.
''Maybe next time you'll avoid drinking at all and avoid the risk of doing something embarrassing in addition as well,'' Elmyra chastised Aerith.
''How can you drink that vile concoction? How can anyone?,'' Aerith complained and began picking at her food, still rubbing her forehead with one hand.
Plenty of people would disagree with her there.
''Just be honest, you can't handle alcohol. There is nothing there to be ashamed off. Plenty of things everyone is not good at,'' Nox placated her. Elmyra gave him an appreciative nod.
Aerith grumbled beginning to eat her food.
''I don't think I'm gonna drink anytime soon again,'' Aerith muttered making them both relax.
Well...
At least breakfast wasn't as awkward as Nox feared.
So there was that.
Silver linings, people, silver linings.
(A.N.: 4509 words. Hope you enjoyed reading that. Cheers and stay safe out there.)