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[He smiles faintly, lifting his hand to brush through her hair.]

Liar. That's the worst lie I've ever heard.

[Reluctantly he tugs her back, his hands on her shoulders, and leans down to look at her face. He needs to see her properly for this- if she's going to lie to him just to protect his feelings, he wants to know it.]

Not choosing is still making a choice, y'know. And people can still get hurt this way. [case in point. she wouldn't have come to him like this if she was fine with it.]

[ It's hard - incredibly hard - to look him in the eyes, but she forces herself to do it. It's been so long... Maybe they deserve this. Maybe they're earned the right to speak from the heart, to admit how they really feel time and time again. It's so hard, but she has to steel herself - because she's the one causing problems. It's her feelings, loving two of them, that is making this so hard. ]

So what am I supposed to do?

[ She shakes her head, her hands closing in fists at her side. ]

It's better if it's just me.

Nope, wrong.

[It's automatic, instantaneous; he doesn't even think about it. He doesn't have a solution to this problem, and god does he ever wish he did. He just knows it isn't this.]

You know what you're supposed to do? Whatever you want. That's the great thing about being free, about being alive. I learned that on the way home. People like us- people who've lost it all- we don't have time to screw around with what-ifs or regrets anymore. We shouldn't be here, but we are. So what're you doing?

[He moves a hand to her chin, tilting it up, and gestures in a half-shrug. Well?]

What do you want, Aerith?

Zack!

[ It's an instant reaction to being told wrong, and she scowls, just a little, put out and frustrated. She'd told Cloud that she wasn't going to choose and she can handle that burden - she can handle being the one that puts a stop to everything and anything. She can handle it being her fault, because blame and heartache had rested upon her shoulders before.

She had been the bearer of bad news, accepting the whispers from the Planet as truth. She could do it again. ]

It's not that easy!

[ Aerith isn't quick to anger, but frustration is another matter entirely, and she frowns even as the touch to her skin calms her, just so. ]

I want to be with you both! That's not fair!

[both...

...both. Both. That's what she wants. And she's so emphatic and annoyed about it that he knows she's not lying this time, either. It's not an answer that she's likely to assume would make him happy.

So... okay, what would make him happy? He should probably sort that one out before he does anything else.]

Did you tell Cloud that?

[ It's an impossible answer and it's selfish and greedy and awful all at once - that's why she can't accept it as her own choice. All she can do is stare up at him, frowning and petulant, before she crosses her arms and looks away. ]

No. I told him what I told you - I wasn't going to choose anyone.

[ Picking one over the other would make someone miserable and she refuses to do that. They deserve to have happiness in their new lives. ]

And he actually bought that?

[cloud. cloud. buddy, pal.

just. no.]

If you're gonna make a choice, Aerith, you gotta make sure you think about all the options first. Otherwise you won't be happy if you pick the wrong one. And you have to tell everybody else what the choices are, too! So, y'know. We're on the same page.

Why wouldn't he?

[ Zack, what the fuc- ]

I made the choice! That's the only one that will work! [ Her face scrunches up and she shakes her head. ] I'm not going to pick, okay?

Yeah, I know, I get it. And like I said, it's a dumb choice, but it's not like there's no takebacks. You want me to call him? I'll call him.

[he'll take his goddamn phone out right goddamn now so help him]

Call him and say what? I made up my mind, Zack Fair!

[ She'll fight you and throw your phone away. ]

You made up your mind to do the thing you don't want to do, and I'm not gonna let you do that!

[phone is officially out now, he is looking for Cloud's contact.]

Stop that!

[ She's grabbing at his phone for real now, frustrated and stubborn. ]

Zack, please! Stop!

[He wasn't expecting her to grab for it, and he had it low enough for her to do it, so now of course he's trying to grab it back.]

Hey! Just let me...!

[ Her fingers are fumbling and Zack is so tall that Aerith has to tiptoe to get momentum. ]

No!

[she is the physical embodiment of stubbornness and he's done, done. with an irritated huff he grabs the phone, then grabs her, dumping her right onto his shoulder and holding her there while he goes digging through his contacts again for Cloud. Aha, there he is.]

Hang on, I'm on the phone.

[he knows he's cheating but he just can't be bothered to give a shit anymore. this is sooooo dumb.]

Zack!

[ She over his shoulder, what, and she smacks at his back with her fists. ]

You jerk!

[Meanwhile, Cloud is still here in the cafe, staring down at the little toy in his hand while his and Aerith's untouched drinks sweat wet circles into the tablecloth. She was so upset. Ohhhh man, he fucked up so bad just now. He should've just kept his stupid mouth shut...

When his comm buzzes and he pulls it out to see Zack's name on the contact, he winces. What if she went and told him that Cloud wanted her to pick between them? What if he thinks Cloud's trying to steal more away from him?

With great reluctance, Cloud answers the call and cradles the comm between his shoulder and his ear as he gets up to make his way out of the cafe. This might get a little loud.] Cloud.

What the hell, Cloud!?

[did you say loud because it's actually EXTRA LOUD]

[OW YEAH OKAY HE'S MAD] Guh- Zack, look, let me explain-

Yeah!?

[He was gonna yell some more but he's honestly dying to hear Cloud's side of this dumpster pile of decision-making. He's still loud, though. That's not likely to change any time soon.]

[.....oh he's actually gonna let him explain

........................shit does he have an explanation] I wasn't like- I wasn't tryin' to tell her she had to pick or I wouldn't be friends with her. Or anything like that, I just didn't- I wasn't gonna be all hittin' on her if she and you were gonna go out. I didn't know, since she loves you and loved you first, and-

-you are calling about Aerith, right? [Because otherwise things are gonna get even more awkward]

[if he wasn't as annoyed as he is right now he'd have said "no" just to hear Cloud try and explain himself after that one. BUT ALAS, NOW IS NOT THE TIME

but okay, that paints a (slightly) clearer picture. cool.]

Of course it's about Aerith. Look- you want to date her, don't you?

[A VERY, VERY LONG PAUSE]

...I do like her... [LOOK. IT'S SO COMPLICATED]

[HE

IS

SO

DONE]

That's not what I asked, Cloud! Do you want to date her or not!?

[VOLUME'S BACK TO 11]

Damn Zack, ow! Shut up, yes, okay, I want to date her! [GOD YOU'RE ANNOYING SOMETIMES]

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