Keeping me hanging on so contagiously... [Closed]

[thishealingwind]

Characters: Aerith Gainsborough (thishealingwind) and Zack Fair (1st_class_honor)
Location: Death Robbins
Rating: PG?
Time: Early Afternoon - Oct 5th, 2009 (backdated)
Description: Ice Cream Date! (lol will update if needed)

Comments

[1st_class_honor]

It was funny; in the mix of everything, Zack found his own shaky nerves, too. Clothes were tried on, changed, tried on again, and his hair must have been worked at for a good half hour before all the spikes were trained to where they had to go. He brushed his teeth twice, gave an once-over six times, and finally, finally, stepped out the door

[thishealingwind]

As she waited for him to arrive, Aerith took a moment to look up at the sky. This whole moment felt incredibly surreal, like something out of a strange dream. The idea that they were both here, with breath in their lungs and beating hearts, was so extraordinary to her that she still had trouble believing it. There was a sense of something close to fear settling inside her, and it reminded her of when she used to be afraid of that open sky, as if she would fall up into it and not be able to reach the ground again. It seemed silly now, having traveled as much as she had during her life, just as it was silly to be afraid now

[1st_class_honor]

Surreal was right. This was the happy ending at any movie where two people had fought against impossible odds to be together again, even if in reality, their mutual residency was left up to chance rather than anything they intended. Still, it was warm and encompassing, this feeling that began in his chest and spidered outward; to him, the status of their relationship didn’t matter, it was just about the chance, the opportunity to see her once again

[thishealingwind]

Aerith clasped her hands behind her to keep her fingers busy in an attempt to keep them to herself for now. She grinned as his fingers brushed against her cheek to tuck a curled strand of her hair behind her ear, and it took an enormous amount of self control not to reach up to hold his hand there.

"I haven't! Have you been practicing~?" She giggled, looking up at him through long eyelashes. "And it wouldn't be home without flowers, but I've got those covered. There's a garden already in full bloom behind my apartment building. I was busy when I was here last."

Aerith gave him a playful wink. "Oh, just for handful of years," she teased, leaning forward towards him a bit. "Though I'm glad you didn't make me wait those few extra minutes. Those would have been unbearableZack had been here a bit longer, but it seemed as if he'd adjusted fine. No doubt, given at least a couple more days, she would get the hang of it all. "I'm a little wary of this whole 'transforming into a weapon' thing, but I suppose there's no rush there

Payday is friday. Getting a new icons then.

[1st_class_honor]

What a pair they were, trying so hard not to let themselves get away with too much, too soon. And Zack, well, he wasn’t even aware of her own self-control; he was too busy trying to get his own in check. He might’ve been surprised to know she was doing the same.

“Well, of course! You know, I had to keep up on them to wow my favorite girl when I saw her again.” Not if, but when. He had never given up hope, never would. It wasn’t in his nature. “Soooo, need me to build you another cart? I’d give you lessons and show you how to yourself, but then you wouldn’t need me around anymore, right?” Two can do this playful wink thing.

…Well, at least, until she said that. One hand grabbed at his heart, clutching it in a melodramatic display of agony. “Ouuuch, Aerith! You’ve got claws!” He moved his hand from his chest to loop loosely around her shoulders, smooth and cautious, as if testing the waters all over again. Which, in truth, is exactly what he was doing

Merry Christmas ;)

[thishealingwind]

"Your favorite girl?" she asked in a teasing voice. "I wonder who that could be. I hope she appreciates it, but you might want to practice them on me first

BB, You're amazing! thank you!

[1st_class_honor]

“Hmm,” he said, mulling it over with a seeming air of deep concentration. “I could try them on you, sure, but she might get jealous. You know, being as pretty as you are and all.”

Okay, so maybe Zack’s still got it. A little, anyway. Cheesy, sure, but sweet.

And Zack had to admit, even he had fun with the carts. Sure, the first couple weren’t that great (but damn, that metal one had looked cool!), but for that entire experience, it wasn’t the ending as much as the journey. He wondered if the last the he’d made stuck with her for awhile; he distinctly remembered reading an email from Kunsel about one of the wheels falling off. Had she ever gotten it fixed? “We’ll make one where the tires don’t drop off.” See? He did know some things, Miss Aerith, even if he wasn’t there to see it himself. “And I like the sound of that

Don't forget it comes with free tokens! /dances

[thishealingwind]

She giggles happily, before shaking her head. "Well, we certainly wouldn't want that, now would we

Too good to me, bb!!

[1st_class_honor]

Shiva, he had missed her laugh. One hand dipped up and behind his head, scratching it lazily, relaxed, calm. “Nah, we wouldn’t. She scary when she’s mad.” Follow that up with a wink, and Zack can’t help but chuckle.

Back home, the SOLDIER’s thoughts, when not swirling about the mission, usually swirled around Aerith. Sure, he flirted. Sure, he got into trouble with his friends. Sure, there were days when he woke up so hungover he couldn’t see straight. But in the end, it had always come back to her, being around her, being immersed in the peace she brought him. The only other people who had such a strong effect on him were Angeal and Cloud, people who calmed the proverbial waters just by being close. Wasn’t he fortunate, lucky, to be surrounded by so many amazing folks? “Kunsel emailed me and told me.” Then he blinked, and flushed. “Not that I was being a creep and sending people to spy on you or anything! I’m not like that!” Like a Turk. “And we will! We’ll make a big sign for the side, paint it up really nice, everything

<333

[thishealingwind]

"I'm sure she's absolutely terrifying," she replied, winking right back at him

Mwwwwah!

[1st_class_honor]

“Yeah. She can melt me just with her stare, mmhm.” Of course, it wasn’t said as if it were a bad thing, which was probably because it wasn’t to him. She could melt him with her eyes, had from the moment he fell from the ceiling and landed painfully onto old wooden floors. He had picked out splinters for days, but the eyes had kept him pleasantly ignorant of the pain.

Happy topics were much preferred; the rest, the heavy weight of tragedies past, could come when things were comfortable, when they weren’t so new, when he didn’t feel like he was drowning in her smile. There was a lot to tell (the things with Sephiroth, the tubes with Hojo, the escape, the short-lived freedom), but she had her own tales. Sure, he had already heard it from Cloud, but she probably had things she wanted to add, things she wanted to get off her own chest, and he wanted to hear every syllable. He wanted to hear it all, straight from her lips.

“Kunsel is a good guy.” Is. Is, not was. He didn’t know what happened to him, but he was sure as hell still alive

[thishealingwind]

And since this was Aerith, she immediately too his words the way they were intended, and wondered for a moment how true they were. It was a very cute thing for him to say, and so instead of replying, she placed a delicate hand on his shoulder, stood up on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips lightly against his cheek, along the curve of his jaw. "I'm sure you do the same right back, with those blue eyes of yours," she responded then, smiling fiercely

[1st_class_honor]

See? His lines had gotten better, at least around her. To everyone else, they were all still silly and too strong, but she always had that knack of bringing out the best in him. The skin her lips found warmed under their caress, threatened to redden, but he kept the blush down stubbornly. “Well, considering that these eyes are made only for you, I might be in real trouble.” Okay, so she still got some of the cheese. It was a nice balance

[thishealingwind]

It wasn't that his lines were particularly better, it was just that she enjoyed them a great deal. There was something cute and special about the way he flirted with her, and even if they were cheesy and silly, they made her feel like the only girl in the room, and that was more important than anything. "Now you're just being silly," she said, suddenly at a loss for words with that one. Aerith clearly enjoyed it, though, by the tiny pink blush that swept across her cheeks

[1st_class_honor]

“Well, silly’s in, I hear. All the rage.” Silly. Zack could handle silly if it let her smile like that, blush like that. Hell, he’d wear cheese on his head and call himself Chocobo Dinner if it got her attention in such positive, warming light. There was no limit to which he would go, not for a reward like that, and he made no effort to hide it

[thishealingwind]

Aerith's smile faded a fraction as he opened his mouth to say something, then apparently decided against it. She was used to him just saying whatever was one his mind, and so her innate curiosity was instantly piqued. "What is it, Zack?"

The Cetra chuckled at the image he called up in her mind. "I suppose I can do that, if it'll help set the mood for your grand entrance," she said. "Just make sure you don't wear one of those helmets. It'll ruin your hair."

Aerith settled gratefully into the chair he pulled out for her (such a gentleman), and she leaned forward against the table to peer at the strange ice cream. At his words, her eyes lifted to his, and she shook her head a bit. "Nope! We have to try it at the same time!"

The flowergirl took up her spoon, scooping up a bit of the dangerous flavor before waiting for him to do the same. "On the count of 3, okay? 1....2....3!"