[As soon as Zack sends him off, Cloud makes a beeline for the Blue Fish. To say he's nervous about seeing Aerith again is an understatement. He can still remember the cool, unearthly (super-earthly?) feeling of her hand in his as she pulled him up out of the Crater when everything was collapsing. That was her, wasn't it?
Hell, she might not even remember. She might only remember her last moments, praying to save a world, looking up to see Cloud and then-
Stop.
Cloud drags his hands down his face. This is really too much. This is really, really too much, but he knows he has to see her. Not just for her, for himself; because he won't know a second of peace until he sees her with his own eyes, knows that she really is alive, just like Zack.
The clank of the shuttle docking is too loud in his ears. He could swear it almost rattles his teeth in his head with the force of it, but he barely jostles in his seat. Will she be waiting for him? Will she be happy to see him? Knowing Aerith she'll tell him there's nothing to apologize for even if he says he's sorry, but how else can he say that he wish he'd done more, wish he'd just moved and done something?
When she was younger she waited with her mom, waiting to hear the news that she'd already heard happen. She had waited in her church for the Planet to whisper to her, and that's where she had waited for Zack to come back to her as well. She had even waited for Cloud, once, as she prayed for Holy, hoping that she might have the strength to save the Planet from Sephiroth and Meteor, that she might be able to do something to protect all the people she loved.
Waiting on her ship for Cloud to show up is something entirely different. The anticipation is enough to have her standing up and pacing, wondering if someone from the crew is going to come down and question why there's a stranger wandering around, but she doesn't care. All she cares about is Cloud, and when she hears the sound of the shuttle docking she rushes forward.
He's here. He's here.
Giddiness bursts through her and she steps forward before he can do anything else, her eyes wide and her heart in her throat. ]
[Damn his memory, for having etched her death into his brain so crystal clear that when she looks up at him with that smile on her face, he can almost see the flash of a sword behind her.
Maybe that's what propels him forward, when he was so sure his fear would hold him fast. Maybe that's why he's able to scoop her up in his arms, press his hands to her back to check for wounds (silly, silly, there's nothing there) and maybe that's why he closes his eyes and buries his face in her hair, shaking. She's alive.]
[ As soon as she's in his arm she bursts out a soft noise of surprise, her arms wrapping around him and squeezing him gently. She feels a little overwhelmed, at least initially, and she closes her eyes and does her best to breathe as she leans into his touch and his body.
He's here. He's real and he's shaking a little and he - he's so tired, she's sure, and he's ready for her to take care of him. Leaning against him, she swallows, her throat tight and her hands shaking just as badly as he is as she grips at the back of his shirt. ]
I was thinking, it'd be nice to go out and have some fun, and it would be awesome if you'd come with me! We could even call it a date, heh.
[His tone is playful, half-joking- it's been so long (and Cloud's in the picture now...) that the idea of taking a date seriously is kinda. Presumptuous, maybe? Anyway.]
[Okay, so, things are going great! Got the tats, got some fun weapons, got plenty of opportunities to spend all that cabin-fever energy he's been collecting during the drifts. He really does dig this system, a lot. No complaints whatsoever.
Now if only that nagging little feeling would stop nag-feeling at him. And if only certain... things... with certain people... would be less...
...god, he doesn't even know. And there's probably only one person who can help him suss it out, so here he is, tracking her down when she's alone.]
[ Aerith has been spending her time decorating her room and making it feel as homey as she can manage - blankets, some more flowers, a painting that she found on the planet that she's managing to put up. It's nothing like her home back in the slums, but it's enough for now, all things considered.
You can't complain about your room when you've been brought back to life, after all.
Zack's arrival makes her pause and she turns her head, curious, before she smiles. ]
[He looks more fidgety than worried, if that reassures her any. He lifts a little bag and holds it out to her as he nudges the door shut behind him- it smells faintly of pastry and sweet, sugary things.]
I'm here to shamelessly bribe you for advice. [He glances around.] Whoa, hey, it's really coming together in here...
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Hell, she might not even remember. She might only remember her last moments, praying to save a world, looking up to see Cloud and then-
Stop.
Cloud drags his hands down his face. This is really too much. This is really, really too much, but he knows he has to see her. Not just for her, for himself; because he won't know a second of peace until he sees her with his own eyes, knows that she really is alive, just like Zack.
The clank of the shuttle docking is too loud in his ears. He could swear it almost rattles his teeth in his head with the force of it, but he barely jostles in his seat. Will she be waiting for him? Will she be happy to see him? Knowing Aerith she'll tell him there's nothing to apologize for even if he says he's sorry, but how else can he say that he wish he'd done more, wish he'd just moved and done something?
-she's right there, just past the door.
She was waiting for him.]
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When she was younger she waited with her mom, waiting to hear the news that she'd already heard happen. She had waited in her church for the Planet to whisper to her, and that's where she had waited for Zack to come back to her as well. She had even waited for Cloud, once, as she prayed for Holy, hoping that she might have the strength to save the Planet from Sephiroth and Meteor, that she might be able to do something to protect all the people she loved.
Waiting on her ship for Cloud to show up is something entirely different. The anticipation is enough to have her standing up and pacing, wondering if someone from the crew is going to come down and question why there's a stranger wandering around, but she doesn't care. All she cares about is Cloud, and when she hears the sound of the shuttle docking she rushes forward.
He's here. He's here.
Giddiness bursts through her and she steps forward before he can do anything else, her eyes wide and her heart in her throat. ]
Cloud.
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Maybe that's what propels him forward, when he was so sure his fear would hold him fast. Maybe that's why he's able to scoop her up in his arms, press his hands to her back to check for wounds (silly, silly, there's nothing there) and maybe that's why he closes his eyes and buries his face in her hair, shaking. She's alive.]
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He's here. He's real and he's shaking a little and he - he's so tired, she's sure, and he's ready for her to take care of him. Leaning against him, she swallows, her throat tight and her hands shaking just as badly as he is as she grips at the back of his shirt. ]
I missed you.
[ Why beat around the bush? ]
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[he's got that puppy bounce back. being alive and (sort of) free has let him redevelop the old familiar pep.]
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[ He sounds so happy and it's definitely infectious. ]
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[His tone is playful, half-joking- it's been so long (and Cloud's in the picture now...) that the idea of taking a date seriously is kinda. Presumptuous, maybe? Anyway.]
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...go out with me. [BECAUSE HE CAN ASK THAT NOW]
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Okay.
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text + photo
Can you believe this dumbass
he fell asleep
in 5 min
i looked away for 5 min
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Aww! Cloud, he’s so cute! What did you do to wear him out?
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I got him with that hip throw Tifa showed us tho
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april 2;
Gooooood morning!
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You're happy today!
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[Which is not true, but totally close enough to count. He is definitely extra happy today.]
Do you know what today is?
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mid-to-end of may, action
Now if only that nagging little feeling would stop nag-feeling at him. And if only certain... things... with certain people... would be less...
...god, he doesn't even know. And there's probably only one person who can help him suss it out, so here he is, tracking her down when she's alone.]
Heyyy... got some time to talk?
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You can't complain about your room when you've been brought back to life, after all.
Zack's arrival makes her pause and she turns her head, curious, before she smiles. ]
Of course. Are you okay?
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[He looks more fidgety than worried, if that reassures her any. He lifts a little bag and holds it out to her as he nudges the door shut behind him- it smells faintly of pastry and sweet, sugary things.]
I'm here to shamelessly bribe you for advice. [He glances around.] Whoa, hey, it's really coming together in here...
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YOU WERE TRYING TO SET US UP
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[he's dying, Aerith he's just dying here]
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