wingenvy | IC Communication / Inbox

I wanted more too. It's okay to wish, I think. It's okay to want things to be different, sometimes.

[ Aerith breathes out, shaking her head. Hadn't she wished that she wasn't the last Ancient, that she didn't have her fate? Before she'd accepted it... She'd felt so alone. She felt like the only person in the entire world for the longest time, but she had found a family to help her. She'd had Zack, too, in her heart. ]

We can have more now, if you want.

...Yeah. Yeah, we will.

[Some of the tension drains out of him - not all, but just enough - and finally he lifts his head again to face her. He tries to smile and fails; can't quite do that much yet. At the very least, he's less miserable and distressed than he was before.

He reaches out to take her hand, fingers weaving through hers. He can't quite bear to let her go just yet.]

Stay for a while?

There he is. That's my Zack.

[ Happier, even with the weight of pain and hurt on his shoulders. At least he's doing his best, and with her fingers in his she feels as though some of the weight has been taken from her, too. Maybe one day she'll be able to tell him everything, but until then...

She tilts her head, eyes drinking him in before she speaks. ]

I'll stay, but I want one thing in return.

[His brows furrow, tilting his head in curious confusion.]

What is it?

[Anything, his mind says instead, but that's a dangerous power to place in her hands today.]

Just one thing. A gift, right here.

[ And she taps her mouth. Zack's her boyfriend, isn't he? Haven't they waited long enough? ]

Wh...

[He blinks, eyes wide, too surprised for a moment for it to click, and when it does there's the slightest hint of a blush on his cheeks. Looks like she's managed to coax a smile out of him, after all.]

Geez... you don't have to ask for that, you know.

[He gives it to her anyway, leaning in and pressing his lips against hers. He's never too sad to kiss her, and it really has been way, way too long.]

[ Zack's happiness has always been easy to find, she thinks, if you know where to look, and she's accustomed to urging the smile onto his face. ]

I thought I should remind you, in case you forgot -

[ But he's kissing her, and his arms are around her, and she's leaning into it without pausing. It's so easy, she thinks, to give herself over to the simple pleasure, and she can't help the way she shifts and hides against his shoulder once they're done. ]

[He holds her close once more, satisfied and comfortable, and the lingering sorrow of what he knows and what they've both had to live through - or die through - won't fade for a long time, but for the moment he can allow himself this happiness. He wants to know so much more, and it's frustrating to wait, but until they're both ready he doesn't have much choice.

Until then... distractions and simple pleasures will hold him together, somehow. At the very least, Aerith's company makes it well worth the effort.]

Hey, come on... let's not stay in this crappy cargo bay. My room's not far.

[ The sad things aren't going to go away - Aerith learned that very young. She'd lost her mother, her adoptive mother had lost her husband, she'd seen death and hurt and pain, but... there was good, too, and one of those good things was in her arms right now. Her fingers brush over Zack's cheek even as she leans in to give him one more kiss. It's enough, for now. The pain doesn't leave, but it settles.

Raising an eyebrow, she leans back. ]

Your room?

[Ack. That blush on his cheeks deepens.]

Don't look at me like that! I just... thought it would be more comfortable. I dunno where else we could go.

Mhm.

[ She's only teasing him, really, and she reaches for his hand, tugging gently. ]

I... [ Suddebly, she feels shy. ] We should go and rest.

...Yeah, sounds good.

[Resting is all he'd imagined, anyway. Even if they were more comfortable and not so sad, even if they hadn't only just restarted the relationship this very day, the mood isn't right to even consider it. He just doesn't have the strength to be alone right now.

With a softer smile he nods, rising to his feet and starting for the door, guiding her out.]

[ The day has been so emotionally draining that Aerith feels exhausted. She knows she'll go and see Cloud later, that she'll be happy to be near him too, but right now... She needs to be here. She needs to be with Zack, scared that if she lets go of his hand that he'll fade away. She doesn't want to wake up and be without him - not again.

It's okay to just be with him right now. It's what they both need. ]

Cloud was telling me you can move ships here.

Move... what, like switch over? You thinking of doing that?

[To... Cloud's, he's guessing? He's been here the longest, so he'd know the most about how to live here comfortably. He'd know which ship is good for them.

Would it be crowding him, if they both...?]

Maybe. I think I'd like to. I'm tired of being alone.

[ There had been others in the Lifestream, but it wasn't the same. She doesn't want to be isolated and lonely anymore. ]

I hear you, there.

[That, he can sympathize with. Four years in the lab and then another on the road, he'd absolutely had enough of his own company. His only options had been mad scientists, Shinra soldiers out to kill him, and an unresponsive Cloud- all of which are pretty bad for conversation. He's itching to make real connections with people again.]

Well, you know what we'll say by now. Do whatever makes you happy.

I'll have to see where I want to go.

[ For now she's happy to just be around Zack and Cloud. It's comfortable, and it makes her feel lighter and happier. If she could get her dream and spend more time with them... She thinks she'll be okay. ]

I have time.

Might help to meet the crew? I haven't talked to everybody here yet, but they're friendly so far. Since you'll probably be spending more time here no matter where you move, they ought to get used to seeing you.

Oh? Will I be here a lot?

[ It's so easy to joke, even with the knowledge that it's very true. ]

Introduce me, okay?

You did say you wanted to spend more time with me, after all!

[He can't be embarrassed about the thing they both know is true.]

Sure, I'll let you know who's who. And you can do the same for your ship, and we'll wrestle Cloud into introducing his own crew too. Three crews are better than one!

You're right, I did.

[ She can't exactly deny it, when it was her one wish. ]

I'll find out who everyone is so you can meet them all.

Feels like we ought to be running a meet-and-greet at this rate.

I want everyone I know to meet one of the most important people in my world, that's all.

Well, me too. So I guess that's our game plan.

[His room's here! C'mon in, time for cuddles.]

[ !!! She goes in, looking around for a moment - looks just like hers. She'll have to start getting some flowers for him, hm... ]

Starting tomorrow.

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