(Untitled)

[ebbingvigilence]

Characters: Aerith Gainsborough, Zack Fair
Status: Complete
Location: Costa del Sol
Date/Time: 29th July 2498, early'ish morning, probably around 8am.
Summary: After a good workout in the morning, Zack heads back to the inn to meet up with Aerith.
Warnings: N/A

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[ebbingvigilence]

Everything that had been bothering him up until now seemed to simply slip away as he held her in his arms. If he was being selfish, he could almost forget the differences between them now and simply believe that they were back on their last date. But was that being selfish, or more trying to find something to stabalise himself with?

Pulling from his thoughts as he felt Aerith move, Zack lifted his head before his attention returned back to her. He smiled softly, wondering what she'd think if she'd realised that he was allowing himself to be selfish just by being here. Knowing Aerith, though, Zack doubted that she'd see it like that.

"You want me to be more selfish, hmm? Then let me be selfish with you and Cloud," He hated being selfish, he'd done that enough during his childhood, and it was why he always hid himself behind his outgoing personality. He supposed that was selfish enough.

Chuckling softly, Zack held her tightly to him as he leant in to press his lips against her temple, "I want to build up lots of memories with you both before I no longer have the opportunity to do that."

[sealevil]

If that was what he considered to be selfish, then Aerith wouldn't have any complaints. She returned his smile as she pressed back into his embrace, shutting her eyes.

"That doesn't count if we want to do the same thing too," she laughed, slowly sliding her hands up to cup his face, and leaned her head back to see him properly once again. "I want you to be happy, Zack. It won't happen unless you stop worrying about stepping on everyone's toes." her smile remained as she leaned up on her toes to press a kiss to his forehead, but it wound up softening so only a small trace remained on her lips. "And you stop blaming yourself for everything."

[ebbingvigilence]

"Hey~ how come that doesn't count?" Zack asked with a pout before he found Aerith's hand cupping his face. Her words caused him to fall silent as she spoke, and he found his eyes closing as he felt the press of her lips ghost along his forehead.

"What can I say, I guess it's just in me to worry for others," He murmured softly before he slackened the hold on her until his hands came to rest on her hips. It wasn't just the self-blame that went storming through his mind ever since coming here, but the reality behind the whole situation. Still, he found himself smiling at Aerith as his gaze reopened.

"But even despite what I'm thinking... I am happy. You and Spike mean everything to me, and just being with you both," Zack's words trailed off as a hand rose up to scratch at the back of his neck sheepishly, "Aah now I'm just sounding all sappy."

[sealevil]

"And protect them," Aerith added with a smile as she lowered from her toes. She didn't blame him, after all, when she was younger she practically relied on it. Cloud had told her to look at things from his perspective the day before, and she was still struggling to just that. The timeline between them was sometimes easy to forget. "You're the hero after all, right~?"

She laughed, shaking her head. It was utterly relieving to see that this wasn't turning out catastrophic as she initially feared. They could even go about the rest of the day together without any awkwardness, or so she was hoping. "You're being honest, silly. That's not sappy." A teasing grin appeared on the flower girl's face as she poked his chest. "We all know you're a softie at heart, anyway."

[ebbingvigilence]

Zack's expression didn't falter, but he did feel his chest clench at the playful tones coming from Aerith. Some hero he'd turned out to be... or will turn out to be. "You bet'cha!"

He did his best impression of puffing up his chest as she poked it, but Zack didn't deny the fact that he was being honest. It still left him with an odd feeling of being exposed, but he shoved it aside as he reached out to take her hand in his again.

"Softie at heart, huh?" The SOLDIER muttered while he gently tugged on her hand and gestured for Aerith to follow again, "So long as you don't tell anyone... I guess that's okay for you to know." Bumping his hip against hers, he glanced at Aerith from the corner of his eyes as he muttered, "Wouldn't want to hurt the 'tough guy' image and all."

[sealevil]

Aerith giggled as his chest puffed out in a very Zack-like manner. He didn't seem offended by her words as he might have, or laugh them off which seemed like another possibility.

She gladly grasped onto his hand, continuing their trek onward. "I won't tell a soul!" she promised cheerfully, pressing her free hand to her chest as a swear. "But if Cloud ever found out somehow... you could just accuse him of the same thing," she offered wisely. "He's softer than the both of us put together!"

[ebbingvigilence]

There was no doubt that Aerith would keep it between them. He'd have to be pretty dense not to think that anyone else could see it, but just thinking that only Aerith did brought a happy smile to his face.

"Oh I've no doubt about that," There was a laugh in his voice as they continued back onto the beach and towards the main street. Half turning his body around to face Aerith, he made the most neutral face as he could as he playfully teased, "But he hides it well behind one of these so people can't see it."

The expression didn't last long on his face, however, and soon enough he'd returned to smiling, "Spike's definitely one of a kind."

[sealevil]

Aerith glanced up as Zack partially turned to her, and snorted loudly at his impression of Cloud. He did have that expression down rather well, but lately he had been smiling more. Or smirking, usually at her expense.

She slid her hand up his arm so that they could walk closer together, and smiled as her gaze returned to the street. Vincent often wore the same expression, so she couldn't exactly say the blond coined it though. But his awkwardness and social ineptitude were all his own. "I agree," she laughed. "He's breaking out of his shell though! I think bugging him starting to pay off!" Not that it didn't already.

[ebbingvigilence]

Cloud was breaking out his shell in his own way, but he doubted such a thing extended much passed either of them. Still, it was nice to know that Cloud could still find some outlet to react in such a way. His best friend had been through more than enough as it was.

"It's good to see," He happily murmured. Cloud had always hidden himself whether it had been behind an angry facade or his current neutral one. Not that he was any different, but his was generally far easier to slip passed other people's notice. "He's been through enough as it is. Cloud deserves to be happy."

[sealevil]

Aerith nodded in agreement, her smile reflecting the relief in what was happening. Cloud was, at least to them, becoming more open and talkative. Yet, she wondered, as she walked with the SOLDIER, how much he had hidden from them. Their roles were perhaps reversing, and Aerith could do little to stop it.

She looked forward, deciding to not let it affect her expression or demeanor. He still had Cloud, and certainly Yuna. It was selfish to ask for more from Zack, forging this friendship was already more than she could have expected. If they could still spend time like this together without conflict, then she would force herself to be content with it. "He does," she murmured, and glanced up at him. "You do too."

[ebbingvigilence]

"Hey, you know me, just about anything can bring a smile to my face," Zack gave her a warm smile at her words. It was true, sadly, and just about anything could put him into a good mood. "Well, maybe not stubbing my toe or something as equally humiliatingly painful." He admitted with a chuckle.

Still, there was a part of him that knew that wasn't the answer she'd wanted. Old habits were hard to die, after all.

Bringing up his hand to cover the one holding onto his arm, Zack didn't hold back the honest smile as he murmured, "You don't need to worry yourself over me, Aerith." Lightly caressing his fingers over the back of her hand as he spoke, Zack found that he simply couldn't bring himself to say the words that she wanted to hear. Instead, the SOLDIER found himself muttering, "I'm more than capable of taking care of myself."

[sealevil]

Aerith kept her smile to Zack's words, knowing very well a happy expression never meant he was truly happy inside. At least not around her, and that fact stung deeply.

As his hand gently covered over hers, she was tugged from her thoughts and glanced down. "I know you'll be fine without me worrying," she murmured, upturning her hand so her fingers could lightly grasp onto his. "But it's something I'm very good at."

Her head tilted to the side a little as green eyes lifted to meet his; her smile turning genuine, but sad as well. "Just let me be selfish and hold onto that at least, okay?"

[ebbingvigilence]

Zack knew that Aerith simply wouldn't be herself if she didn't worry over them, but in all honesty, he felt as though he'd given more than his fair share of worrying. He said nothing for a long while as she held back onto his hand in return, but found himself softly smiling at Aerith instead.

"Aerith," There was no hesitation in his movements as he turned so that he could draw her into his embrace. The fact that there were other people around in the area didn't matter to him at that point. "You know that you mean the world to me, right? Both you and Cloud."

[sealevil]

It wasn't Zack's words drawing her in closer to him, but rather his tone that had Aerith moving into the embrace without any hesitance. She drew comfort from his touch and his warmth, perhaps selfishly so, and let herself revel in it silently. There had been times she desired it for comfort, or for protection, but now she simply desired it because it was one of the few things she could grasp onto with him genuinely.

"I know," she murmured, shutting her eyes. Their surroundings didn't matter to her now, for the moment, they simply didn't exist. Slowly she retracted herself just enough to look up at him. "I know no matter what, you'll always be there." Beyond love, she thought; it was simply just the kind of person Zack was.

"I wanted to be the one there for you," she smiled faintly. "But I know--feel the walls building up. Maybe it's for the best you smile and hide from me...but don't hide from Cloud, too." Aerith allowed herself to laugh a little, "He'll worry, you know~."

[ebbingvigilence]

There wasn't anything that he wouldn't do when it came to either Cloud or Aerith. Zack knew within his heart that he would do what it took in order to protect them both, even if neither of them needed it. He would still do it regardless.

When she pulled back subtly from the embrace, his smile was more honest as he gazed down, "Always, Aerith," No matter the cost to himself.

Aerith's observation caused his heart to clench. Guilt swam all throughout his mind, and even if he tried, no words were forming on his lips. Seeing her as she was now was something he'd never wanted to see, or least of all ever be the cause of, and it hurt to even think that he was the reason.

"I do it because I care, not because I want to," He found himself murmuring with a soft smile. Aerith had enough worries of her own, the same with Cloud, and the last thing he wanted to do was to burden them both with his trivial concerns. Zack's gaze never once left Aerith's as he softly said, "This is your time, Aerith, and you should do with it what you want without feeling burdened by others."

[sealevil]

It wasn't surprising to see how true her words reflected on Zack's silence. She had been his girlfriend for years, understanding him simply came with the title.

She knew that. Zack worried about burdening everyone, after all their roles had been reversed back then. It hadn't been an issue then...but now she and Cloud were all grown up. His way of adapting, unfortunately, blocked her out. "I will," she replied softly with a warm smile. "But... maybe you should try taking your own advice too, mm~?" Aerith lightly tapped the tip of his nose and laughed; dropping her hands behind her back. "Just a suggestion!"