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I did. And I did have backup, after arguing with Hanna about it.
I made sure John and Trevor were on standby. Hanna and I...can both have the same dangerous mindset.
I made sure John and Trevor were on standby. Hanna and I...can both have the same dangerous mindset.
I'm lucky to know them both.
[They're good people.]
I'm good with either. You can even call his warden right now, if you want me to listen.
[They're good people.]
I'm good with either. You can even call his warden right now, if you want me to listen.
Hello, Aerith!
I wondered if you'd be willing to answer a question? I believe you know Kadaj? [Though he doesn't think she's actually his mother. Probably.]
I wondered if you'd be willing to answer a question? I believe you know Kadaj? [Though he doesn't think she's actually his mother. Probably.]
Oh hey Allen!
Oh, gosh. Kadaj. Yes? He's from my future.
But I've been filled in on a few things. What would you like to know?
Oh, gosh. Kadaj. Yes? He's from my future.
But I've been filled in on a few things. What would you like to know?
We talked about materia, and he said it was the lifeblood of you planet?
Oh...it is, and it isn't. Materia is more...they're memories of spells from the distant past.
Materia comes from our planet, a condensed version of something called the Lifestream.
Materia comes from our planet, a condensed version of something called the Lifestream.
So it doesn't hurt the planet?
[He had worried, for all that a planet no doubt has more 'lifeblood' than a human, it still hurts to bleed.]
[He had worried, for all that a planet no doubt has more 'lifeblood' than a human, it still hurts to bleed.]
Materia, no. It forms naturally.
Other things dealing with the Lifestream? Yes.
Other things dealing with the Lifestream? Yes.
[He looks away a moment, his mind darting to the fragments of Innocence. He's seen pieces destroyed and whatever else -
He had called her not for information about Kadaj, but out of concern for this other world.]
I know some people want to hurt it.
He had called her not for information about Kadaj, but out of concern for this other world.]
I know some people want to hurt it.
[She sighs quietly. That was...not wrong.]
He and his brother...and their other brother...were a threat. And could be a threat in the future. They were disease vectors.
[Her voice grows quiet.]
And in the future, I stopped them.
He and his brother...and their other brother...were a threat. And could be a threat in the future. They were disease vectors.
[Her voice grows quiet.]
And in the future, I stopped them.
He said. In a way. [It had been direct, but just a sketch.]
He seems attached to you...
He seems attached to you...
Called me mother, right?
I think...I gave him some...kindness. In the end. I'm...a replacement for who they saw as their mother.
I think...I gave him some...kindness. In the end. I'm...a replacement for who they saw as their mother.
So, you're not... [She said they were from the future! Vincent had explained something of their relationship with Sephiroth, but he feels there was still room to find out about... oddly created children from the future!]
Oh no, not at all.
I haven't had kids. They're ah...kinda...made by Sephiroth.
It's all really weird.
I haven't had kids. They're ah...kinda...made by Sephiroth.
It's all really weird.
[He thinks about that for a moment.]
...It would probably be pretty weird for you if they were your children.
[He finds himself incapable of imagining what it would be like, personally, but he's pretty sure it would be weird!]
...It would probably be pretty weird for you if they were your children.
[He finds himself incapable of imagining what it would be like, personally, but he's pretty sure it would be weird!]
Zack is...as settled as he can be, given the circumstances. He's very uncomfortable with the fact that he was out cold during such a critical time, but there is nothing he can do to change that. His cabin is in order, he's talked to some people, his dog is okay, and that's - he keeps trying to tell himself that's what really matters.
(The fact that he wants to jump out of his skin because he keeps flashing back to four years spent in a basement lab, helpless to do anything, doesn't help -- but there's nothing he can do about that either.)
So he goes to meet Aerith like he promised and knocks on her door.
(The fact that he wants to jump out of his skin because he keeps flashing back to four years spent in a basement lab, helpless to do anything, doesn't help -- but there's nothing he can do about that either.)
So he goes to meet Aerith like he promised and knocks on her door.
It wasn't Zack's fault for going under. None of it had been. All she made sure to do was to cuddle him during the coma in his hammock and hope against hope that he would wake up soon.
And it was a relief to hear he's opened his eyes. But she didn't rush him. Instead, she waited, trying not to get antsy in the interm. People had questions. Cloud needed assurance.
But she still rushed to the door when she heard his knock. Not having contact with Zack made her anxious, reminded of those years and the letters and not knowing what happened.
So Aerith is a little breathless, a little flushed as she opens the door. And her smile is wide, before it settles into something smaller- warm, and happy. Because he's here.
"Zack, hey." She stepped aside, so he could step in. "C'mon in."
What a time to wish she had a couch. A comfy one.
And it was a relief to hear he's opened his eyes. But she didn't rush him. Instead, she waited, trying not to get antsy in the interm. People had questions. Cloud needed assurance.
But she still rushed to the door when she heard his knock. Not having contact with Zack made her anxious, reminded of those years and the letters and not knowing what happened.
So Aerith is a little breathless, a little flushed as she opens the door. And her smile is wide, before it settles into something smaller- warm, and happy. Because he's here.
"Zack, hey." She stepped aside, so he could step in. "C'mon in."
What a time to wish she had a couch. A comfy one.
Yeaaah. I mean, I could? But I want my babies to be like...Zack babies. After we've gotten married. And had a fancy honeymoon.
These are...my adopted kids, I guess.
These are...my adopted kids, I guess.
Do you plan on getting married soon?
[He's pretty sure she a few years older than him, so old enough to marry and start more actively thinking about starting a family.]
[He's pretty sure she a few years older than him, so old enough to marry and start more actively thinking about starting a family.]
Well...we haven't planned anything yet or talked about it seriously.
But he's my heart. I might have to find...something to stick on his finger soon.
As a ring.
But he's my heart. I might have to find...something to stick on his finger soon.
As a ring.
[He nods, before smile growing even brighter than usual.]
Wedding rings usually have a lot of flower designs on them!
[It just seems very fitting, considering Aerith's... connection to them.]
Wedding rings usually have a lot of flower designs on them!
[It just seems very fitting, considering Aerith's... connection to them.]
That smile is...everything.
And it takes him back to those years in Shinra when he'd been...by himself, essentially. Unable to talk about anything because talking mean painting a target on his back. The Turks were watching him all the time, waiting for a sign that, yes, he too was compromised.
But whenever he was with her, that suffocating pressure would go away.
He feels the same thing right now, and he doesn't even quite notice when he smiles back a little in return. She's always had this effect on him, and he's...grateful. That they actually have this time now.
"Uhh, hi." He rubs the back of his neck and walks on in. "I'm...real sorry I was out so long."
And it takes him back to those years in Shinra when he'd been...by himself, essentially. Unable to talk about anything because talking mean painting a target on his back. The Turks were watching him all the time, waiting for a sign that, yes, he too was compromised.
But whenever he was with her, that suffocating pressure would go away.
He feels the same thing right now, and he doesn't even quite notice when he smiles back a little in return. She's always had this effect on him, and he's...grateful. That they actually have this time now.
"Uhh, hi." He rubs the back of his neck and walks on in. "I'm...real sorry I was out so long."
Aerith shook her head, shutting the door after him. The Narrenschiff, her injury and recovery, trying to be strong and wait...
None of that mattered. He was here. He was here, and he was alive, breathing, and smiling.
The smile that always said I'm home.
"Silly. It's not like you decided. That was out of your hands."
She reached for him then. A simple touch- on the arm, or the back. Just something to feel him. Know he wasn't just some dream of hers, fading into no more then leaves, wind or worse- the little motes of the Lifestream, showing how truly gone he was.
"Besides, a Barge coma or not, so long as you're back, it doesn't matter. Welcome back Zack."
Her smile warmed just a little bit more. "Welcome home."
None of that mattered. He was here. He was here, and he was alive, breathing, and smiling.
The smile that always said I'm home.
"Silly. It's not like you decided. That was out of your hands."
She reached for him then. A simple touch- on the arm, or the back. Just something to feel him. Know he wasn't just some dream of hers, fading into no more then leaves, wind or worse- the little motes of the Lifestream, showing how truly gone he was.
"Besides, a Barge coma or not, so long as you're back, it doesn't matter. Welcome back Zack."
Her smile warmed just a little bit more. "Welcome home."
He's always had a problem with taking responsibility for things - even if they weren't his doing. Maybe it's because he got so used to other people shoving their mess onto him and having to make the best of it.
Either way - he tries to set all of that aside and just...be.
He looks at her for a moment, thinks about those light touches and all that they mean...and he doesn't hesitate. Her sweeps her up into a hug so they can both know what's true - that they're both here, and neither of them are dreaming.
He smiles into her hair, gives her a gentle squeeze, and... "Yeah," he says. "It's good to be back."
Either way - he tries to set all of that aside and just...be.
He looks at her for a moment, thinks about those light touches and all that they mean...and he doesn't hesitate. Her sweeps her up into a hug so they can both know what's true - that they're both here, and neither of them are dreaming.
He smiles into her hair, gives her a gentle squeeze, and... "Yeah," he says. "It's good to be back."
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