Open!

[i_love_squats]

Who: Zack Fair i_love_squats, OPEN
When: Today or tomorrow.
Where: Zack and Angeal’s home.
Format: Paragraph or action, whichever you want. Feel free to hop in an already established thread or start a new one for new guests who want to arrive at a different time. Either or. :D
What: For anyone who wants to come and visit Zack and make sure he doesn’t escape

Comments

[prodigal_liar]

Guilt.

It had a way of weaseling in and complicating even the simplest of situations; case and point, a straightforward visit to drop off some soup.

On his way to Angeal's and Zack's place, Itachi'd had a lot of time to consider things, and he had finally come to a solid conclusion... had it not been for letting his guard down, Elena would not have been able to go chasing off after Yazoo on her own, and Zack would not have had to rescue her. They might even have been able to save the Native girl's life... maybe.

He felt wholly responsible for the mishap either way, and because of that, not visiting Zack while he was recovering was simply out of the question. That same sense of accountability was to blame for his deciding to stay longer, as well. Like a vicious beast, the guilt had hooked its claws into him, had forced him to resign himself to this awkward fate.

Paper bag in one arm, he knocked with his free hand on the door and pushed it open, dark eyes scanning the room for the allegedly incapacitated SOLDIER.

"Zack-san?"

[i_love_squats]

Another one? Zack had taken the moment to get out of bed and stretch out, trying to get the feeling back into his legs and back. Well, the good feeling, anyway, not the pins and needles or the wounded itching. SOLDIER uniform had been replaced with a prototype t-shirt for Red and Blue Odd Jobs and a pair of boxer shorts he often slept in, bare feet hot against the cool floor. He looked ready for bed, and in a way he was; bed was the only place he had been allowed for the last few days.

Besides, his SOLDIER clothes were going to need a really good tailor after that explosion.

Zack was attempting to do a squat (something that made his knees pop and his body hurt) when Itachi knocked and poked his head in. Tilting precariously to the side, a surprised Zack managed to catch himself and fall onto the bed, looking as though he was sitting on the edge the entire time. Good puppy wouldn't be straining himself, oh no. Not him. Never

[prodigal_liar]

Itachi nudged the door shut behind him with the heel of his shoe, then proceeded toward the edge of the bed, the paper bag containing soup and spoon held out for Zack to take.

"You're not fooling anyone," he began, not skipping a beat.

It was only after handing over the soup that he took the seat opposite Zack's bed, however, his back against the padding of the chair, dark eyes studying the ex-SOLDIER's bright blue. Angeal had said that Zack was transparent... and it was true. It was easy to see that the man across from him was troubled, not despite the cheerful front he put up, but because of it.

"I hope that you realize... you're being as reckless as Elena-san? Recuperation is not strictly physical. Your mind needs to rest, as well."

[i_love_squats]

Soup. Yay. He felt like he was drowning in it lately, felt like he was having it for breakfastlunchdinner and everywhere in between. He dreamt he was drowning in it, swimming in lakes of the stuff, when he wasn’t having nightmares of the doomed gir-hmm. What he wouldn’t give for a big fluffy chocobo egg omelet with ham, cheese, peppers…side of toast, hashbrowns, and grav-

“Thanks.” He smiled as he took the soup, refusing, absolutely refusing to show that he wasn’t thrilled to have it. Contrary to popular belief, Zack exhibited manners at time, especially when someone had gone out of their way to bring him a present. And he was happy for it, for the symbolism; it showed Itachi cared, made an effort. He wondered how many other people could say that in relation to the wayward ninja

[prodigal_liar]

Having never been one to sugar-coat the truth, Itachi grimly shook his head and replied, "She is in shock." Reluctant to face the harsh reality of what had transpired that day. Incapable of coming to terms with the guilt. Unable to move on... perhaps unwilling, even.

"She has buried herself in her work." Organizing, planning, writing reports. Nothing new for Elena, except, "I think if let alone she would forget to eat or sleep. She isn't talking much about what happened, either."

Not that he was anything but hesitant to ask.

He supposed that it was more difficult for Elena and Zack than it was for himself. Death was a way of life; this was something he had been taught-or rather, forced-to accept from a very early age. As a shinobi it was necessary, made easier by learning how to detach oneself from others. Elena and Zack, however, weren't afforded that luxury, were emotionally invested in... well, everything and everyone that entered their lives. The death of the Native girl was a tragedy to them; for Itachi, it was

[i_love_squats]

She is in shock.

That knowledge took root inside him, started to branch out, slide out and he hung his head. She was in shock, she was suffering, she was burying her face in her work, and while he wasn’t surprised, it was still difficult to hear it. She wasn’t forgiving herself either, and both of them twisted in the breeze of guilt and anguish.

“She shouldn’t--” Stop. Start again. “You need to make her stop.” Work. Blaming herself. Suffering. Hurting. Everything. And it was you, to you, Itachi. That pointed statement, becaue he knew he couldn’t see her, that she didn’t want to see him, that they walked on eggshells in the heat of these summer days

[prodigal_liar]

He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, gaze wandering from the floor and back to the SOLDIER sitting on the bed amidst the tangled sheets.

I'm still alive. Zack's words were haunting. They reminded him... of himself. And of all the times he'd uttered the very same thing while thinking in the back of his mind, I don't deserve to be. For the terrible things he had done, or for all of the things he had failed to accomplish

[i_love_squats]

Rather spot on, Itachi. Perhaps you have more in common than once thought.

No promises. Of course not, especially when dealing with a Turk as stubborn and emotional as Elena. Maybe that’s why, out of all the Turks, she had become Zack’s favorite. There was a genuine belief in her job, in what she did, and her heart was still intact, rather than being clutched together by barbed wire after years of missions.

Most would have simply accept the girl as an unfortunate casualty, but she felt guilt. Guilt in the same way he did, even though he thought she shouldn’t, that it wasn’t her fault. Itachi would be good for her now, would help her around the right way, just as Angeal and Cloud would help him. They had their rocks, and for that, they were fortunate, lucky. Not everyone could say that

[prodigal_liar]

You're holding back, thought Itachi, Aware of the pain, but hiding from it.

Dressing up a storm cloud with silver lining, and for all the world... still pretending that it wasn't a storm cloud rolling in off the horizon.

Of course, all the make-belief in the world couldn't alter reality, and the reality was... Elena was suffering inside, and so was Zack. Itachi more than anyone recognized the signs; the reluctance to accept help from anyone else, the withdrawal from friends, drowning oneself in one's work... they were all present, very nearly overwhelming.

Standing once more and folding his arms over his chest, Itachi murmured, "You say that I shouldn't worry, but I've yet to see proof of why not."