[The fact that Zack didn't seem to know anything about...anything really angers him. The more he learns, not just from Aerith, but about Shinra in general, the more he feels like he's just been a pawn this whole time. Not him specifically, but anyone in SOLDIER or anyone who works for Shinra who isn't a department head or is considered actually important. The more he learns, the more he mentally kicks himself for being so oblivious and for so long.
He shakes his head.]
The next time I see Tseng, I'm gonna deck him so hard. I can't...I can't believe this.
[And then, in a smaller voice - ]
...I never should've left.
[It's all hindsight, of course. Things didn't feel so dire back then. Aerith wasn't in any real danger, or so he thought. Nibelheim was supposed to be an easy enough mission, at least for people like him and Sephiroth. Just take out some monsters and get back home. He had survived worse without a problem.
He doesn't put up a fight when Aerith tugs him to lie down next to her. He probably wouldn't fight her on anything.]
I'm not worried about us. Not really.
[He gives a short laugh, though it doesn't do much for his overall mood.]
I mean, you haven't, like, punched me yet.
[But there's still so much for him to get cleared up and he props himself up on an elbow.]
This Barret guy. His daughter. Did you get her out? And...did they really drop a plate? They didn't, right? That's...that's insane.
[Doing questionable scientific experiments is one thing. Actually putting countless civilian lives in danger is entirely different. Surely even Shinra wouldn't cross that line. He wants to believe. He needs to believe.]
[ The change in his voice, the way sorrow and regret begin to weigh at what's otherwise a joyful noise makes the ache in her chest sharpen, her arms wrapping around him extra-tightly when he finally climbs onto her bed with her. Aerith's fingers smooth through Zack's hair, shifting herself so that she can guide him to rest his head against her shoulder, a mirthless chuckle escaping when he mentions punching Tseng in the face.
She's never been the sort to advocate for violence - unless the person was scum like Corneo, but she might find it hard to tell Zack to stop if Tseng showed up and he took a swing at the guy - at least at first.
Ducking her head to hide her face in his hair she scoots closer, cozying up to him with a heavy sigh before he moves to prop himself up on an elbow and she rolls onto her back to better look up at his face, happy to be able to stare at him although the grave look on her face wouldn't suggest as much. ]
Marlene? Yeah, she's with my mom now. [ Her expression darkens even more when he asks about the plate, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach appearing along with the realization that out of everything, this might be the worst thing she has to tell him. ]
Yeah, they did. I know my friends tried to fight them off, but the Turks got it to collapse anyway. There wasn't anything I could do, I was already being taken back to Hojo's lab when it happened.
[Okay. Okay, this girl - Marlene, apparently - is safe. That must make things a lot easier for Aerith to deal with. At least she was able to help out with that.
But the relief it gives Zack doesn't last long. They dropped a plate. They actually dropped a plate. Zack doesn't have family in Midgar so it's not as if anyone he really knows was in danger of such a heinous act, but it's still just so...wrong. That's not a strong enough word.
Zack exhales and falls back to the bed, turning to lie on his back with an arm draped over his eyes. It's probably because he hasn't experienced it or because the only person really important to him in Midgar outside of any SOLDIER friends is Aerith, but the shock doesn't seem to kick in. It's still horrible, of course, and he can't believe that someone decided to kill civilians like that. Civilians!]
What is Shinra doing? People live there.
[When he left home to join SOLDIER, he really just wanted to become a hero, like Sephiroth, like no one else could ever become in Gongaga. How did so much change in such a short amount of time?
When he finally pulls his arm away again, he breathes in and looks back at Aerith.]
Hey. You're just one person. You wouldn't have been able to stop them even if you were there.
They wanted to blame my friends for it, I hope it's not working.
[ It's not like sticking around to find out was an option after their confrontation with Sephiroth and the madness that followed before and after. Aerith frowns watching Zack flop onto his back and throw an arm over his eyes. ]
I told you we would need the ice cream more now.
[ The words feel weak when she says them, but she's doing what she can to try and brighten up what's undoubtedly a very dismal conversation.
She tries for a reassuring smile when he looks back at her and shifts closer, throwing her arms around his middle and hugging him close. ]
[So. Looking for a scapegoat for something Shinra themselves caused. Which means it has to be so heinous that they need to cover it up. Whatever 'it' is.
Zack just can't imagine going so far.
But there isn't anything he can do about it while he's here, and he would tell Aerith the same thing. So he holds her close and presses his face into her hair, breathing her in and trying to keep himself calm.]
It's okay. I mean, it's not, but it's not your fault. I'm just glad you're safe.
[He kisses the top of her head.]
We can still go get that ice cream, just...let's stay like this for a little while first, okay?
[ This conversation has left her feeling raw, but she's grateful that everything is out in the open. Everything is so new and strange that she doesn't let herself think about it but, if she gets to bring him back with her somehow, it's good that he knows what he's walking into, and it's a weight off her shoulders that he knows the truth about her too.
Her eyes shut briefly, relishing the kiss he plants on the top of her head while her arms tighten around him and keep him as close as she can get him like this. ]
We haven't been together in so long if you wanted to spend the whole week like this I don't think I could complain.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-04-21 07:08 am (UTC)He shakes his head.]
The next time I see Tseng, I'm gonna deck him so hard. I can't...I can't believe this.
[And then, in a smaller voice - ]
...I never should've left.
[It's all hindsight, of course. Things didn't feel so dire back then. Aerith wasn't in any real danger, or so he thought. Nibelheim was supposed to be an easy enough mission, at least for people like him and Sephiroth. Just take out some monsters and get back home. He had survived worse without a problem.
He doesn't put up a fight when Aerith tugs him to lie down next to her. He probably wouldn't fight her on anything.]
I'm not worried about us. Not really.
[He gives a short laugh, though it doesn't do much for his overall mood.]
I mean, you haven't, like, punched me yet.
[But there's still so much for him to get cleared up and he props himself up on an elbow.]
This Barret guy. His daughter. Did you get her out? And...did they really drop a plate? They didn't, right? That's...that's insane.
[Doing questionable scientific experiments is one thing. Actually putting countless civilian lives in danger is entirely different. Surely even Shinra wouldn't cross that line. He wants to believe. He needs to believe.]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 02:15 am (UTC)She's never been the sort to advocate for violence - unless the person was scum like Corneo, but she might find it hard to tell Zack to stop if Tseng showed up and he took a swing at the guy - at least at first.
Ducking her head to hide her face in his hair she scoots closer, cozying up to him with a heavy sigh before he moves to prop himself up on an elbow and she rolls onto her back to better look up at his face, happy to be able to stare at him although the grave look on her face wouldn't suggest as much. ]
Marlene? Yeah, she's with my mom now. [ Her expression darkens even more when he asks about the plate, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach appearing along with the realization that out of everything, this might be the worst thing she has to tell him. ]
Yeah, they did. I know my friends tried to fight them off, but the Turks got it to collapse anyway. There wasn't anything I could do, I was already being taken back to Hojo's lab when it happened.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-25 04:46 am (UTC)But the relief it gives Zack doesn't last long. They dropped a plate. They actually dropped a plate. Zack doesn't have family in Midgar so it's not as if anyone he really knows was in danger of such a heinous act, but it's still just so...wrong. That's not a strong enough word.
Zack exhales and falls back to the bed, turning to lie on his back with an arm draped over his eyes. It's probably because he hasn't experienced it or because the only person really important to him in Midgar outside of any SOLDIER friends is Aerith, but the shock doesn't seem to kick in. It's still horrible, of course, and he can't believe that someone decided to kill civilians like that. Civilians!]
What is Shinra doing? People live there.
[When he left home to join SOLDIER, he really just wanted to become a hero, like Sephiroth, like no one else could ever become in Gongaga. How did so much change in such a short amount of time?
When he finally pulls his arm away again, he breathes in and looks back at Aerith.]
Hey. You're just one person. You wouldn't have been able to stop them even if you were there.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-25 09:35 pm (UTC)[ It's not like sticking around to find out was an option after their confrontation with Sephiroth and the madness that followed before and after. Aerith frowns watching Zack flop onto his back and throw an arm over his eyes. ]
I told you we would need the ice cream more now.
[ The words feel weak when she says them, but she's doing what she can to try and brighten up what's undoubtedly a very dismal conversation.
She tries for a reassuring smile when he looks back at her and shifts closer, throwing her arms around his middle and hugging him close. ]
I wish I had better things to tell you.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-26 02:47 am (UTC)Zack just can't imagine going so far.
But there isn't anything he can do about it while he's here, and he would tell Aerith the same thing. So he holds her close and presses his face into her hair, breathing her in and trying to keep himself calm.]
It's okay. I mean, it's not, but it's not your fault. I'm just glad you're safe.
[He kisses the top of her head.]
We can still go get that ice cream, just...let's stay like this for a little while first, okay?
no subject
Date: 2023-04-26 03:08 am (UTC)Her eyes shut briefly, relishing the kiss he plants on the top of her head while her arms tighten around him and keep him as close as she can get him like this. ]
We haven't been together in so long if you wanted to spend the whole week like this I don't think I could complain.