✿ 04

[in_florescence]

[Private]

This place... What... Why am I alive? Those men, what did they do to me?!

Was that all a horrible dream? No, that couldn't be, the pain, it was real.

Then why... Why did it feel like that? Death? ...The Lifestream really doesn't exist here, does it?

[/Private]

[Filtered from drones]Cloud, Tifa, Ky, Roderich and everyone else. I'm

Comments

[Voice, he'll come over soon]

[militarypup]

[Wait, hold the phone--or rather, Zack yanks it off the cradle once he hears her talking. Keeps listening, still feeling lost in this place. He just saw her die...]

...Aerith? Are you okay?

[It's a dumb question, yes, but cut the pup some slack. He's floundering here.]

[in_florescence]

[There's a long silence, then finally..]

..Zack?

[militarypup]

A--ahaha, yeah, it's me. I know I'm a little late coming back from the field, but--[...well, he does have a good reason for being so late, but he doesn't want to make her listen to that horror story.] ...'m sorry.

[More important things.] How are you feeling? Any pain? [He obviously doesn't realize she doesn't remember him being there.]

[in_florescence]

[Another pause. What was she supposed to say to all of that?]

..Where are you? Right now.

[militarypup]

[Hesitates for a split second at the abrupt question, but:] 949 Beulah. My house.

...You need someone to come over?

[in_florescence]

[A third pause. How long had it been since she had seen him? Was he any different? He certainly didn't sound it. Still, there was disbelief. Zack was here. Somehow, he was here.]

..Yeah, that would be really nice. I'm at 845 Goldberg. It's a little white house with a garden in the front.

[militarypup]

[...She'd collapsed in front of her own house. He doesn't say that, though, just presses his lips a little tighter before answering.]

I'll be right over.

[in_florescence]

[And she finally smiles smiles.]

I'll be waiting.

[Action]

[militarypup]

[Takes him a minute or two to rustle up the spare key--under the flower pot, figures, but he's in the house pretty quick.]

Aerith? [He coughs twice into his hand, frowning a little; maybe he'd ran over too fast. Heads upstairs, looking around.]

[Action]

[in_florescence]

[Hearing the door close from upstairs, Aerith stands up. Should she greet him? Was this another trick of the town? Tifa and Cloud were there, so why shouldn't Zack be?

Slowly, she opens the door to her bedroom, peeking out, and sees him round the stairs. She just holds the doorknob while she stares, not sure what to say. ...There he was.]

[Action]

[militarypup]

[There she was. At least, he was pretty sure that was her green eye peeping out the crack. The silence was a little awkward, though.]

...Do I need a password?

[Action]

[in_florescence]

[It was Zack all right. If seeing him didn't solidify it for her, hearing his response did. She managed a smile.]

Afraid so. A girl can never be too sure, you know.

[Action]

[militarypup]

Wellll...[He puts both hands together, flashing a grin.] Pretty please?

[Action]

[in_florescence]

[Leave it to Zack. Giggling silently, she opened the door, looking up at him.]

I guess that'll do.

[Action]

[militarypup]

Lucky for me. [He leans against the door frame, looking her over to make sure she's all right.]

[Action]

[in_florescence]

[And she sizes him up equally.]

..You look real.