[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: 2023-04-25 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.