I do not own Final Fantasy VII.
Too Much to Ask
Chapter I: The Mission
If only this moment could last forever. Aerith looked over at Zack as he lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling. She loved it when he'd come visit her in her church andi sit with her as she mothered her flowers. She wished that he'd never leave and that life would continue on like this forever.
He sighed dreamily and turned his incredible blue eyes up to her. A grin spread across his lips and he raised his hand to caress her cheek. Aerith purred at the touch and she leaned downward to kiss him tenderly.
"You're lips taste like honey." Zack whispered as she pulled away from him.
Without replying, she lay down beside him, resting her head on his chest.
I love you, she wanted to say, but she was afraid to. He was her boyfriend and they'd been dating for months, and yet…she still couldn't bring herself to say what she felt in her heart. She was in love with Zack Fair, but she was afraid that he didn't really feel the same way. She wanted him desperately in so many different ways, she wanted him to be her lover forever, she wanted him to hold only her and see only her. She wanted to be him to be her first partner, and to be his wife.
But she couldn't say it. So she contented herself with living in the moment, enjoying his company as knowing that at least for now, he was her own.
Then his cell phone rang.
It rattled in his pocket and with an excited hand; he sat up right to take the call. Aerith went back to her flowers as Zack answered.
"Hello?...Hey! What's up?"
Aerith could hear the person chattering on the other end, though couldn't make out any coherent words.
"Oh yeah, sure!"
Zack sure seemed excited about something.
"So...oh, ok…" He paused and looked over his shoulder at Aertih. She pretended not to notice. "Yeah, I'll be there soon."
Aerith turned back to him. Her eyes were questioning.
"Hey, sweetheart, I have to go. Lazard's got an assignment for me."
"Will you be long?" She stood.
"Maybe a day or so. Don't worry; I'll be back in time for our date on Saturday night."He put his arms around her and pulled her in for a loving embrace. The pair shared a sweet kiss and he was on his way.
"Be careful!"She called out to him as he headed out the door.
"I've got my phone; if you need me call me!" He replied as he shut the door behind him.
Sephiroth yawned heaviily as he leaned back against his desk, clipboard in hand. This would be another long day. He could feel the minutes ticking by like hours and all he wanted was to take a hot shower and relax in his house. He looked over at Lazard who had been on the phone to Zack moments before and rolled his eyes at the blonde's outfit of the day...purple and mauve...he sighed and wondered if the guy was colorblind.
"So...what do you have planned for tonight?" Lazard asked as he rested his chin on the back of a gloved hand.
"Not a clue." Sephiroth murmured, "Perhaps I'll just stay in and watch television."
"Sounds nice."
The doors opened and Zack came marching in.
"Zack Fair reporting for duty!" Zack announced with cocky enthusiasm.
Lazard smirked at him and reached for a thick packet that lay upon his desk. "Nothing too exciting this time, Zack. Just a quick trip to Kalm. It seems there's a monster wreaking havoc near the town, I need you to go in a take care of it."
"That's all?" Zack seemed a little put off with such a routine mission.
"That's all." Lazard said with a nod. "Two Turks will be joining you, along with a pair of infantrymen."
"Why are the Turks getting involved with something like this?" Zack scratched his spiky raven head.
"To keep an eye on you." Sephiroth snorted.
"Huh?"
"It seems you've been neglecting your responsibilities lately."
"How do you mean?" Zack became a little more than slightly aggitated.
"You've been leaving the building while on duty and without permission, missing days of work, and furthermore, you insist on returning late and taking your merry time responding to calls such as this one." Sephiroth summerized with a deep sigh.
"Yeah, so?" Zack crossed his arms and seemed to pout.
"So," Sephiroth growled, "we're sending them to make sure you behave."
"So who's it gonna be?"
"Tseng and Cissnei." Lazard spoke up.
Zack seemed to cheer up a little. "Oh, well that's alright, I guess." He rocked back and forth on his heals. "And...the infantrymen?"
Lazard looked at his file. He said the name of some guy of little to no consequence and then made Zack's day. "...and Cloud Strife."
"Cloud? Cloud's coming?" Zack looked like he was about to hug him.
"Yes, but you two better not get carried away; don't think we forgot about how you two got drunk and tried to race a pair of mountain chocobos over the ocean."
Zack thought back to that time and grinned at the memory.
"That was exceptionally irresponsible, and not to mention that the boy is in deed under age."
"Umm...yeah...I remember getting written up for that."
"Yes...and you were laughing the entire time." Sephiroth grumbled.
"So anyway," Lazard began, "I'm sending the boy with you so you may prove to us that you're really worthy to be wearing that uniform."
"I won't let you down, Sir."
"Heh, we'll see."