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[ Aerith, at least, doesn't really look that mad and most of it is for show - because she can't let Zack get away with hauling her around like that, after all. When Cloud shows up, though, she blinks, staring at him for a moment before she lifts her hand and waves, cheeks flushing a violent red.

This is not what she anticipated and the anxiety and uncertainty is twisting around in her stomach something fierce. ]

[Glances at Aerith -shit, he's gonna go red too at this rate- but just heads over to Zack and slugs him in the shoulder; not square-up hard, but definitely not a playful tap.] Don't drop that kind of stuff on someone over the phone. Especially not with her screaming in the background!

[WOW RUDE]

Hey, give me a break! I couldn't just let her go through with it when it was just gonna make her miserable. If you'd seen her face when she got here you'd have wanted to fix it right away, too!

Zack...

[ She looks between the two of them, uncertain for a moment before she shakes her head and focuses on Cloud. It's not easier, exactly, but... ]

Cloud? Are you sure this is something you want?

[Cloud finds a crate to sit down on, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. So she'd been that upset when she left... Well he'd seen it on her face, the start of her tears, but when he'd tried to comfort her she'd just ended up comforting him, again. He can never seem to quite reach her.

Maybe Zack's strong-arming, as tactless as it is, is what she'd needed after all.]

...I...have no idea. [Cloud keeps his head down to hide how red he's turning (though it's probably obvious when it creeps up to his ears, damn you fair skin).] I've never even dated one person, let alone someone datin' someone else at the same time.

New territory for everybody. No one's denying that it might be strange at first.

[Zack threads his fingers together and rests them on his head, scuffing his boot to the floor. He hasn't technically weighed in besides offering up the idea, and it's not like he's some kind of expert. Aerith's the most serious relationship he's ever considered, and adding Cloud into the mix is a very different concept.]

But... I'd rather try this on the off-chance that it'd give us all a reason to be happy.

Would you be happy?

[ Her eyes dart between them anxiously. Aerith knows that she cares about them both, that she has deep, real feelings for the two of them, but... It's different, really being with them both like this. Her heart is beating rapidly in her chest and she stands a little taller, tilting her head up as she looks at Cloud then Zack in turn. ]

That's what I want, more than anything.

[ Even if it makes her miserable in the proces. ]

[Well, Cloud would like to have a chance with Aerith, and he's surprisingly not that upset about the idea (he had always been an odd duck back home), but there is one thing worrying him...] ...what if one of us gets jealous? [Eyes flick over to Zack. He doesn't want that to happen. He doesn't want their budding friendship to die before it even has a chance to live; if he gets jealous of Zack, or Zack gets jealous of him because of this, what'll they do?]

What if somebody gets jealous in a regular relationship? Deal with it, talk it out. Won't know until we try.

[He shrugs. Maybe he could stand to take this more seriously, but he just hates seeing them both so unsure and miserable about it. Whether he's worried or not doesn't overrule his desire to give it a shot.]

Count me in.

You make it sound easy!

[ They did those things anyway, didn't they? They talked and talked and laughted and were together, the three of them in pairs. Aerith can feel a soft swell of hope as she turns her attention to Cloud, nervous but wanting too.

They could be happy. This could be their chance. ]

Cloud? I... I care, so much. For you and Zack. But - both of you, don't do this for me. Say yes only if you really want to try.

[ Nothing would make her feel worse than thinking this was just to please her. ]

[Truthfully, he's most worried about him being the problem of this setup. Things between them are all still new, but Cloud can't deny wanting to at least see if it'll work; not because this is the best he can get, but if Zack can give her what he can't, and if she still wants to be with him too...

This is the best way to do it, right?]

...um. [Cloud rubs his hands together between his knees before glancing up at them, both of them, in turn. He'd be lying if he said that part of his motivation wasn't found in wanting to keep the two of them happy, but is that truly such a bad thing? Wanting to see the people you care about smile?] Then...okay. Let's- let's give it a shot.

Edited 2017-08-15 06:40 (UTC)

[....wow. Wow, he actually- shit.

Zack wasn't sure how he'd feel if Cloud agreed. In truth he'd been waiting it out, half-doubting if "yes" would even be an answer. Once he hears it, though, all he can do is grin. This... it's okay. He's really okay with this. No one's losing each other, and if it's what Aerith wants, if it's what'll make her happy, then it's worth it. She's earned this.

Haven't they all earned a chance to be happy?

He turns to Aerith, his expression tentative but pleased; he can't tell if she's still mad at him, but look! Look at this! It's okay to want more.]

So? What do you think, Aerith?

[ She stares at them both, her eyes widening for a moment - but she feels so overwhelmingly happy that nothing else seems to matter, actually. Cloud and Zack are both here and the misery she was feeling, being unable to choose and so unable to love, is a weight that's slowly fading away. She's completely and utterly breathless and her hands clasp in front of her for a moment, almost as if she's in prayer, but then she softens and bows her head, cheeks red and flushed.

They both want her. Both of the men she knew she loved more than she can say want to be with her, and they're willing to share her affection to let her be happy. It's an overwhelming sentiment, and she looks between them even as her heart thuds louder and louder in her chest. ]

Yes. [ Lifting her head, she stares at them both in turn, not sure who she wants to go to first, only that she wants to be touching them both somehow, her heart fit to burst with her happiness and the depth of her feelings. ] I want it.

[Shit, and she does look so happy; happier than he's seen her in a long, long time. It's like all the weight she'd carried on her shoulders back home had suddenly been lifted.

Cloud glances at Zack gratefully before pushing himself to his feet, pulling the ball from his pocket and striding over to Aerith to press it into her hand. He ducks down to kiss her cheek-

-before flicking her forehead.] I promise not to treat you like glass anymore if you do the same for me.

[So serious, guys. Confirmation from the both of them yanks all the tension out of Zack, and in a handful of long-legged strides he does just what Aerith was itching to do in his own Zackish way- wraps them both up in a boisterous bear hug, grinning wildly. This is so much better than the ball of misery Aerith had been when she first arrived.]

Nobody's glass, and nobody's left out! We're all in this together now.

[He feels so goddamn victorious right now and nobody can take that away from him.]

[ She gives Cloud a slightly dirty look as he flicks her forehead, but it's clearly not meant and her face soon breaks into a smile. It's so easy when they're both wrapped up in Zack's huge embrace and her laughter bubbles out of her even as she settles close, leaning against the two of them.

They're both here. Does anything else matter? Both of them are here, and she feels as though she's flying. ]

Yeah, we are. And it's okay.

[ And it also means she can kiss both their cheeks with her own blaring red. ]

[omfg this is sooooo weird... Also what's so weird is how okay he is with how weird this is!!! IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED, ZACK, YOU'RE AN IDIOT.] Zack- I was trying to make a point, [and he pulls Zack's cheek a little bit.] Could you wait two minutes to get all grabby? [He and Aerith need to talk about stuff!!!! It's what they do!!!!!!!!!]

Edited 2017-08-16 05:37 (UTC)

Oof. Look, you made your point! She's cool with it! Can't you at least enjoy it for five seconds before you get all serious again?

[And since we're kissing he leans in to give Aerith's cheek a peck, trying to ignore the tug on the other side from Cloud's fingers. Stoppit, he's having fun.]

[ Aerith laughs, shaking her head as she leans close and holds both of her boys gently. ]

Guys...

[What- oh, okay, alrighty. Cloud just sighs and wraps an arm around Aerith too, though this hug feels a little crowded with three. Maybe that feeling will go away at some point once he gets used to this...] I'm enjoying it too... [cloud that is not even close to obvious you drama queen]

Uh-huh. Totally believable.

[He won't force Cloud into it for too long, since this really is new for all of them. He lets them go and shrugs his shoulders, still far too pleased with himself.]

Do I get to say "I told you so" now, or am I still in trouble?

I'm still not talking to you.

[ Hmph! Throwing her over your shoulder like she's a sack of flour. She leans into Cloud a little before she relents and leans up to give Zack another cheek kiss. She's not really mad. ]

Edited 2017-08-16 06:40 (UTC)

[Good lord.....this is nice but also strange and he needs some time to process just what his life has become] You're both embarrassing. I'm outta here.

Awww...

[he is pouting. POUTING! At both of them. No one properly appreciates the genius of his wild idea.]

[ Aerith gives him a quick look, unsure for a moment, before she shakes her head and leans up to kiss Zack's cheek, her fingers lifting to brush at his hair gently. ]

Stop being grumpy.

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