(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]

Fortunately for Aerith, there was enough for her to do at her desk to at least somewhat keep her mind off the wait. Ten minutes was an agonizingly long time while waiting for something that she'd seemingly waited what felt like a lifetime for. Her stomach was all tied up in knots; so many thoughts, so many worries, and yet when she heard the door open and looked up to see him, they all fled as if they'd never existed in the first place

[1st_class_honor]

She looked just like he remembered her. Not that he expected anything different, really, but there was something warming in knowing that not that much had changed, that her hair still fell so long, her eyes still glittered in that way they did, and the air just seemed …full around her. Alive, as if she had tapped into the essence of life and mastered it like a materia

[thishealingwind]

"Good, since I can never get Cloud to go with me anymore," she replied, which was both a joke and the truth. He'd even gone out and replaced his wardrobe without her!

As he pulled her close, his skin against portions of hers, she breathed him in as well. He smelled the way she remembered, from a long time ago, though she noticee other things that don't belong, even with his tattered shirt missing. Gunpowder and blood, along with singed fabric.

She knew, of course. It was the same as before, but it still shuddered through her in a painful way, and her face remained hidden as her fingers sought to keep him there. She didn't want him to ever go back, not to that moment, when she couldn't do anything for him.

"I know," she whispered, afraid that her voice might break if she spoke any louder. Her eyes stung and she could feel that her cheeks were damp. "I know." His joke caused her to laugh under her breath. "No, not even close. Just a couple, this time."

[1st_class_honor]

“Yeah, doesn’t surprise me. Cloud isn’t the best at getting out and doing things with folks. Just leave him to me.” Because the wheels would turn, plans would be hatched, and there would be socializing, even if he had to drag Cloud kicking and screaming. Or more real to life: glaring and sulking

[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