(Untitled)

[1st_class_honor]

Characters: Zack Fair (1st_class_honor), Aerith Gainsborough (thishealingwind), Roy Mustang (thewarisover)
Location: HQ
Rating: PG
Time: Nov. 23rd, around lunchtime
Description: Zack’s back, looking for his lady friend and a job. What a coincidence that both are in the same building!

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[thishealingwind]

Zack practically dragged her out the front door of the Watch building, and Aerith laughed the whole way. She managed to turn to Roy and give him a goodbye wave before the sunshine hit her face. It was growing colder in Death City as winter drew closer, but the sunshine always seemed to be warm enough to keep her from shivering.

The warmth in her chest was certainly helping, too.

"Alright, first things first," she announced, once her shorter legs had hurried enough to catch up with him. "Let's find you a shirt. I can't have all the other girls staring at my date for the day, you know."

[1st_class_honor]

Yeah, perfect day, perfect company, perfect job. Things didn’t get much better than this, did they? All the ducks in a row, everything getting towards what he had always wanted: the chance to be a hero, to protect, to save while having those close to him around. The only thing that could make this idea would be Angeal. …and if Sephiroth wasn’t such a dic-

Her voice caught his attention, and with a smirk he let go of her hand and moved in front of her, walking backwards to keep her gaze. Showoff. “Well, now you know how I feel. Don’t think I don’t notice everyone staring at the pretty girl on my arm.”

Date. Date was a good word for it, wasn’t it? Fit with that “perfect” theme.

“So, where should I go to get a good, cheap shirt?”

[thishealingwind]

Perfect, indeed. She hadn't expected anything more than a normal day, and now it had turned into an emotional whirlwind. Sure, there were tiny hints of lingering doubt in her mind, and to be honest this was similar to the moments they'd shared when he'd first arrived last time.

Cloud's words rose into her mind, and she wondered if he'd somehow known. Strange, how coincidental it was now. Perhaps that meant she should follow his advice, truly take his words to heart. Don't complicate things, seize the opportunity.

Did she have the courage?

"Oh shush, if they stare, than you can gloat over how everyone else is just jealous," she murmured, giving him a mischievous grin. "I'll point out that I'm not the half naked one at the moment, though." To emphasize her point, she stepped in closer, pressing her fingertip into his chest.

"Who says it needs to be cheap?" she teased further. "Roy pays well, you know~"

[1st_class_honor]

Zack suddenly wanted to take her to the beach.

It was a random urge, one of those in-a-flash moments, but it was overwhelming, strong. Was it her finger on his chest? Was it the way she smiled, bright and hot as that foreign sun? Was it the way he knew she’d look in a bikini? He wasn’t sure, didn’t think it really mattered; he just knew that given half the chance, he’d like to see an ocean with her. Part of him was just disappointed that it wasn’t going to be Costa del Sol.

“What makes you think I don’t already do that? Gloating’s kinda in my nature.” Well, in his good-natured fun way, he might add. Pride, like most things, weren’t so bad in moderation. “And it’s not my fault that a chocobo ate my shirt.” Which sounded strangely different than the shower story he gave earlier. Hm…

Fighting the urge to hug her again, he smirked and looked around, hands diving into his pockets. They were safe there. “So, what, want to charge this to the company account? A ‘Welcome Home, Zack!’ gift? Because I totally approve, you know.”

Totally

[thishealingwind]

The beach would certainly have been more enjoyable had he been there; as it was, she hadn't been able to properly enjoy, despite her best efforts otherwise. With any luck, they could make it happen.

"As a matter of fact, I do think it's your fault, since I don't believe for a moment that a chocobo ate your shirt," she said, grinning as she pulled back her finger to instead press her entire palm against his skin, pushing him lightly away in a teasing gesture. "I think you just like all the attention." From her, among others.

Aerith continued to walk after him, laughing at his suggestion before shaking her head. "I didn't mean it like that, Zack. I don't carry around a company card, you know." She gave him a quick wink. "I meant that he pays me well, and I have nothing to spend it on. So, I'm buying it for you." No if's, and's, or but's.

[1st_class_honor]

Any luck, and any effort, he’d make it happen. He wanted to do all the things they couldn’t before. He wanted to make things right.

And Zack didn’t argue; he’d play the “attention” card as long as she didn’t say, didn’t even think, of what the real reason was. This was a much happier, much more peaceful idea. Stumbling back a step or three, he placed one of his hands to his chest, utilizing the puppy pout; it came in handy sometimes. “Well, how do you know it wasn’t your attention I was looking for, huh? I mean, I know you can’t really resist me, but every little bit helps.”

No company card, huh? Darn, and here he was hoping to buy some designer shirt just to playfully stick it to Roy. Now he was going to have to rely on her, and that wasn’t fair, not when he had just arrived So, watch him stubbornly shake his head, cross his arms, frown. Yeah, not budging.

“No way! I just got back; you can’t buy me things!” Granted, he had no money to really pay for it anyway. Shiva, what a predicament. “You should be buying things for yourself!”

[thishealingwind]

It wasn't like she didn't know, deep down. After all, she knew where he'd come from last time, and he remembered his previous presence here. When else could he have come from? Still, it was better not to think about it, just as she tried not to think about where she had come from...or at least not bring it up to often.

If he didn't want to talk about it, wanted to hide that little bit, then she would let him. No need to sour the mood over something they couldn't change. She could worry about it later.

"Don't worry, I do." Things like seeds, and fertilizer, and gardening tools. And occasionally something pretty and pink. "You can think of it as a loan, then? Just pay me back later~"

Not that she would let him, of course. With any luck, he'd forget about it.

[1st_class_honor]

They would talk about it another day. Maybe he would sit down and tell her everything that happened after he left her behind in that warm church. Maybe he would sit back and explain what Hojo did, what the cliffs felt like, how Cissnei let him go, and how scared he’d been about Cloud. Maybe he would tell it all, but it wouldn’t be today.

There would be a time, though, when they had to stop pushing everything aside and faced it head on. And it didn’t just include what happened, but what would be.

“Lots of stuff, right? Lots of fun stuff?” Which was his roundabout way of making sure she was happy, that she was living well. He wished there was a way to peek back on the things that happened, like on a video tape or something; he hated not being around.

“Fine, fine, a loan only. I’ll pay you back with interest! …long as ‘interest’ includes dinner.”

Sllllllyyyyyy, this boy.

[thishealingwind]

She wondered what that would be like, being near him with all that dirty laundry out and in the open. She'd never told him anything about the darker moments of her past, though they could probably now equally understand what it was like to be under Hojo's magnifying glass.

Keeping secrets from Zack was...exhausting. Maybe, it was also no longer necessary. Maybe.

"Of course, of course." Only not really. Aerith had only just started the job less than a week prior, but she didn't have much she needed to buy, anyway. Not with rent and food being free like it was. "Dinner it is, then. I think that's a fair trade."

Silly, but she loved him for it.

After reaching the shopping district, Aerith grabbed his hand and pulled him off to the side and into a nearby men's store. Once inside, she directed him towards the correct section, before standing nearby as he perused. "So, I think I owe you a story, right? Think you can focus on two things at once?"

Teasing. Always teasing.

[1st_class_honor]

Giving up the cloaks, giving up the worries, the fear, the concern. They were almost there, almost to the point where the walls could be torn asunder, but he was still struggling. The final bricks were always the most tricky to get loose, the ones set into the foundation the stiffest. He didn’t want to frighten her, guilt her, worry her, butwaisn’t that the only thing that could come out of such stories

[thishealingwind]

The joke hadn't been intentional, only noticing a moment after the word was out of her mouth, but she certainly wasn't going to pretend that she hadn't realized it. She waggled her eyebrows comically at him as he grabbed at his stomach and made pained noises. "Maybe I should start a comedy troupe~"

Ha, not really.

Aerith watched as Zack immediately went for the loudest shirts he could find, all fluorescent and awful. She shook her head slowly, sighing. "We're in a desert, not at the beach, Zack." He could wear what he wanted, though. She'd stand by him regardless.

"Let's see, you wanted to know what happened to the Garden, right?" She seemed to ponder something, internally deciding where to start. "Well, around Halloween, the city was attacked. Everything was fine, but the day afterward, I went to sleep and...went home."

Just like he had, she'd left Cloud behind. She scuffed her foot into the floor as she continued. "I was only gone for a day, but a lot of things happened because of it."

[1st_class_honor]

Comedy troupe? Well, then… “Just make sure to wear red that day so the rotten tomatoes won’t show.” Not that he’d let anyone do that; he’d dive in front of their trajectory path, taking a hit or two first, something his mind was currently playing out with cartoonish cuteness.

Nah, it was probably better that she didn’t. And he hoped that what he said wouldn’t earn him a night in the dog house. Heh, get it? Two could play at this.

“It all has sand! It’s not that different.” But still laughing, he put it back and flipped past a paisley and plaid number before moving towards the t-shirts. Some were gaudy, but some weren’t too bad, bearable if one didn’t look at some of the designs. Oh, look, this one had a drag-

“Went home?” And that caught his attention, didn’t it? Made him put the shirt back on the rack. Made his brow furrow while his arms rested on the metal of the display stands. “You okay? Going home, it’s not…easy… is it?”

[thishealingwind]

"I might forgo pink for the occasion," she joked back happily. Aerith didn't mind the color red, either. She'd chosen the color for the dress she'd worn with Cloud in Wall Market, after all. She just liked pink better, though that slightly had to do with the fact that he did.

But only slightly.

"Multi-tasking..." she reminded him gently, raising her eyebrows when he paused to lean forward and watch her. Part of the reason she'd picked now was because it was easier to talk about these things when he didn't look so worried. Ah well, it had been worth a try.

"I think it was probably easier for me than it was for you," she said with a quiet smile. "I'm...used to it. And I was only there for a few minutes...I think." Time was a difficult thing to keep track of, but it hadn't seemed long. Time to change the subject, for now. "Well, when BREW brought me back, he changed me a bit. Some other things had gotten messed up while I was gone, too."

[1st_class_honor]

“Awww, really? Maybe I’ll just be your human shield, then, and wear the red for you.” One hand brandished a crimson polo, and with a snicker, held it up. He looked ridiculously preppy, and worse with the blue pants that were awkwardly shaped, but it lasted all for a minute before he put it away with a shudder. Red was too much like Genesis; he’d just steal his coat if it ever happened.

Oops. Sooooorry~ Don’t know how this happened! It was like this when you gave it to me, tomatoes and all!He resumed his clothing perusing, but now he was just flipping through shirts, pushing them farther down the rack and taking a few to try on that were clearly too small or too large. He settled them over his left arm, his eyes on her, staring. Multi-tasking came second, not when she was telling him something like this. But he’d behave, because it’s what she wanted and he’d deny her nothing

[thishealingwind]

She knew that he was simply going through the shirts without even looking at them, so she started pacing a bit around the rack, knowing full well that his eyes were likely following her even if her eyes were focused on the floor.

"It was fine," she assured him, and it was the truth. The Lifestream was warm, comforting. She wasn't afraid of it, even if it was a little lonely sometimes. And at the time, she hadn't even remembered this place. It was hard to miss something you couldn't recall.

Though that thought scared her, too.

"My garden was torn up during that day that I was gone. I'm pretty sure I know who did it, but he's since been dealt with by Shibusen, though that happened later. Cloud...didn't handle it well, either. He was in a coma when I came back, but he's fine now."

She paused for a moment, adding on the last part. "As for me, I'm not a Weapon anymore."

[1st_class_honor]

Fine. She said it was fine, and he had to believe her because he knew she wasn’t a liar, knew that he trusted her. Still, though, how fine could it be going back to that? To their respective fates? He knew he wasn’t looking forward to his, even if it was the starting point some people needed to get the ball rolling; did she feel the same way?

So, he let his eyes follow, sure, keen and on her while he picked another shirt (accidental, but at least this was navy blue turtleneck with short sleeves), and draped it over his arm. He gave her a nod, more of a I heard you rather than I agree. The thought would never be fine to him, but they could move past it for now.

“Who do you think did it?” Zack asked after he was finished balking at that. Someone tore up her garden? Really?! “Why? What happened? What did Shibusen do? And Cloud was in a coma?! What-How