That afternoon, the sun shone gently over Sector 5, as if the industrial smog of Midgar couldn't bring itself to block the light.
Johnny walked with an unusually light step. Through the Lifestream Bond—the soul connection linking them—he could feel Aerith's presence like a compass pointing true north. She was there, in that old church. And from the emotional tremors vibrating through the bond, Johnny knew she was calm. At peace.
A faint smile remained etched on Johnny's face throughout the journey.
"Boss," Puck poked his head out of the jacket pocket, staring at his master's face in bewilderment. "Since you came to this world, you've become quite the smiler. It's so weird seeing that scary face of yours actually grinning."
Johnny didn't get angry. He gazed up at the patches of blue sky peeking through the gaps in the steel plate.
"Puck," Johnny murmured softly. "Compared to my previous life... this feels like heaven."
Johnny reflected for a moment, his pace slowing.
"Here, I have parents waiting for me to come home. Every night, I can sleep without fear of being devoured by evil spirits. And here..." Johnny's voice softened, "I have a girl who is... whole. She is stable. She can laugh."
The image of Casca flashed in his mind—the broken Casca, the one who had lost her mind, staring at him with empty, trauma-filled eyes after the Eclipse. That pain was still there, but now it was overlaid with new hope.
Puck fell silent. His goofy face turned sympathetic. He patted Johnny's chest gently.
"Sorry, Boss. I just reminded you of old wounds," Puck said softly. "I'm just happy. I thought you'd be a gloomy emo forever. It's good to see you living, Guts."
"Different world, different fate, Puck," Johnny replied.
Soon, the slanted roof of the old church came into view. Johnny stood before the massive wooden doors. He took a deep breath, straightening his jacket collar that was already perfectly neat. His heart beat a little faster—not from combat adrenaline, but from anticipation.
CREAAAK.
The doors opened, their rusted hinges protesting loudly, shattering the silence.
Sunlight streamed through the holes in the roof, illuminating a carpet of yellow and white lilies. In the center of that sea of flowers stood Aerith.
She turned. Today, she wore a simple pink dress that made her look as soft as the petals around her. Seeing who had arrived, her face instantly brightened. She trotted over to Johnny, her steps light as if she barely touched the ground.
"Hellloooo, my Shield!" Aerith greeted cheerfully. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes crinkling mischievously. "You're right on time! Yaaay!"
Johnny froze. 'Good lord... she is sweet,' he thought. Blood rushed to his face, turning his ears a distinct shade of red.
Aerith took Johnny's large, rough hand in both of her soft ones. Warm.
"Eh? Why is your face turning red, Johnny? Hee hee," Aerith teased, staring at him closely.
Johnny looked away, clearing his throat awkwardly. "N-no. It's just hot outside. The sun is blazing."
Suddenly, Puck flew out of Johnny's jacket pocket, and Ivalera emerged from behind Aerith's hair ribbon in a glow of pink light.
"Ooh la la... Hot from the sun or hot for her? Kupo!" Puck teased, flying in the shape of a heart in the air.
"Princess, look at your knight blushing," Ivalera added, covering her mouth gracefully as she giggled.
"Quiet, you two," Johnny hissed at the fairies, which only made Aerith laugh out loud.
"Come on, help me tend the plants for a bit," Aerith said, pulling Johnny's hand toward the flower beds. "After this, we'll start Materia 101 class so you won't be technically illiterate anymore!"
"Alright," Johnny replied resignedly.
Johnny helped Aerith garden. Elmyra was right; the sight was quite amusing. Johnny, with his muscular build and hands accustomed to wielding a heavy sword, was now holding a small trowel with the delicacy of a surgeon. He loosened the soil around the lily roots with extreme gentleness, afraid his strength would snap the fragile stems.
When they were done, they washed their hands in a bucket of clear water by the side of the church.
Johnny dried his hands, then looked at Aerith seriously. The atmosphere grew quiet for a moment.
"So, Aerith..." Johnny began, his voice heavy. "Last week... I trained against monsters in the Outskirts. There were a lot... a dozen of them."
Aerith looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"A few of them managed to scratch me," Johnny confessed, looking down at his hands which were now healed. "Forgive me, Aerith. Did you... feel pain back then?"
Aerith smiled gently. She placed her hand on Johnny's arm—right where the scratch marks used to be.
"I should be the one apologizing, Johnny," Aerith said sincerely. "You got hurt because you wanted to become strong to protect me. And don't worry, the pain wasn't bad. Just like... being bitten by a naughty ant."
Aerith lied a little so Johnny wouldn't worry, but Johnny knew through the bond that she genuinely accepted him. The Lifestream bond was unique; Johnny's physical wounds didn't transfer to Aerith, but the sensation of pain echoed through their souls.
Johnny reached into his pocket. He pulled out two items. A softly glowing green crystal orb (Cure Materia) and a small wrapped package.
"Aerith, forgive me. Take this," Johnny said, offering the Materia. "This is for you. So that if I fail and you get hurt... you can heal yourself. So you don't have to endure that pain."
Aerith's eyes widened as she recognized the green glow.
"Johnny..." she whispered, shocked. "This is Cure Materia... It's incredibly expensive! This could cover living expenses for a month in Sector 5! Did you... did you spend all your savings?"
"Of course not, it's fine," Johnny cut in quickly. "It's cheap. Your safety is worth far more than any gold coin."
Aerith's eyes misted over. She accepted the Materia and tucked it into her dress pocket carefully, as if it were the most precious gem in the world.
"And... this," Johnny offered the second package. "Just a little extra."
Aerith opened the wrapping. Inside lay a hair ribbon made of fine silk. The base was pitch black, with small white lilies beautifully embroidered onto it.
It was a symbol of the two of them. Black for Johnny, Flowers for Aerith.
"Is it... okay?" Johnny asked stiffly, scratching his cheek.
Aerith didn't answer. She immediately untied her old light green ribbon, and deftly tied her hair with the ribbon Johnny had given her. Ivalera flew around Aerith, helping to straighten the bow.
Aerith spun around once, her pink dress flaring out, then she looked at Johnny with the sweetest smile he had ever seen in his life (in both worlds).
"How do I look?" Aerith asked.
In Johnny's mind, time seemed to stop. That brown hair, that black ribbon, that smile... everything was perfect. But Johnny's tongue was tied. Guts, the slayer of a hundred men, had no vocabulary for poetry.
"It suits you perfectly, Aerith," Johnny murmured, his voice husky with suppressed emotion. "Perfectly."
Puck, sitting on Johnny's shoulder, whispered softly, "Smooth, Boss. Very smooth."