Day 47: Greenhouse [4th Shift]
Entering the greenhouse was almost like coming home, and Hanatarou had been looking forward to this shift for that reason. Everywhere else in the building was strange and confusing (and often dangerous) but in here was the familiar scent of soil and sun-warmed plants with the musty sort of enclosed-space smell overlaying it. His expression turned
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"I first ran into her when she was out selling flowers." Again, not a lie. That had technically been their first meeting. "I just happened to see her again later when she needed a hand with something and we got talking." Of course, stretching the truth beyond this would become troublesome when it came time to spill everything. He wasn't going to make himself a liar, not to Zack, but simple was best for now. Later, when Zack had a better idea of what was going on and didn't look so lost, he'd go into more detail. He did owe him better.
He pointed to his own mako blue eyes with a sheepish expression. "It was these, I think. She really missed you." It had been more than that. He'd been emulating the other man in his very mannerisms. But it might have been the eyes that had first caught her interest.
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Hearing that she'd really been out there and selling flowers from someone else (not that he hadn't believed Aerith earlier, but it was still nice to hear it twice) just put a bigger smile on Zack's face. "She is really easy to talk to, isn't she?" That was one of the things that had struck him the most when he'd met her. The fact that they were both so open and friendly was probably why they'd hit it off so well.
But the eyes... That made sense. Zack had never gotten the best glimpse of Cloud's, seeing how they'd been closed for a good deal of their time on the run (and he'd been distracted by keeping them alive); that glow was unmistakable, though. He nodded. "I... guess she did. I'm glad you were there to keep her company," he said sincerely.
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"Yeah, she's... pretty amazing." Smile. Try to veer the subject in a different direction. "That must be how the two of you were attracted to each other. Amazing people and all." That's right. Those two belonged together. That was the past and he was out of the picture. If they hadn't found each other in the Lifestream, then they might as well spend time together now. Perhaps it was fate of a sort.
They should probably be doing something with the plants, otherwise the nurses might get on their cases for just standing around and talking. Though that would also be ironic, given how often they seemed to be trying to get the patients to become social. He'd never really worked in a garden. "You just dig a hole and stick the plant in, right?" he said suddenly. "Or a seed... I have no idea what we're supposed to be doing."
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What Zack hadn't expected was the sudden compliment from Cloud. He laughed and shook his head. What was that all about? He could understand why the younger man might be grateful, and he certainly didn't mind the attention, but... "What, sucking up to me now? Don't bother." He waved the blond off. They were too close for that.
It looked like they had better get gardening, though. Zack took a moment to consider as Cloud asked for his advice. "What, you never got put to work as a country boy?" he joked, remembering how his own parents had tried to get him to help out with that sort of stuff. He'd usually sneaked away to go do something more interesting, but maybe he could wing it now. "Well, if you want something new to grow, it has to be a seed." Zack grabbed for a nearby spade and forced it into a spot of unused soil. That would leave Cloud as the one to find the seeds.
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