Chu was exhausted when they arrived at Nibelheim as were a few of the other soldiers. They had to fight a few of the local creatures to get to Nibelheim, nothing too drastic, but on the other hand Chu couldn't figure out what made her feel so fatigued.
"So tired…" Chu whined as a wave of fatigue rushed over her.
"Well that didn't take forever," Zack said sarcastically and stretched.
Sephiroth looked around the quaint town taking in all the surroundings. Cloud remained silent even though this was his home town, but also looked around seeing if anything changed. Chu sighed quietly, she hunched over suddenly as another wave fatigue washed over her. Zack looked at Chu slightly worried, Sephiroth also looked her at.
"Don't tell me fighting those creatures actually tired you out…you're getting old Chu," Zack teased. Chu pouted as she looked at him.
"You're older than me. Don't forget that," Chu replied back.
Sephiroth continued to look at Chu noticing how exhausted she looked. Her normal complexion was pale, and it seemed as if she had dark circles forming underneath her eyes. During the battles with the local creatures she used her magic mostly instead of using physical combat to deal with the creatures, knowing that she did not use Materia like everyone else he knew that there had to be some type of repercussions when using her magic. He then looked at the other soldiers that were with them, they also looked exhausted.
"Zack take the soldiers to the Inn. I'll go talk to the mayor," Sephiroth said as he approached Chu, Chu looked up at him. He reached out and tilted her face up to get a good look. Chu pursed her lips together unsure of his show of affection.
During their trip to Nibelheim they didn't have any contact, Zack made sure of that. For him to touch her during one of their mission was unlike him, treading on the lines of inappropriate touching especially with other soldiers around.
"You do look terrible…" Sephiroth started as he brushed her bangs from her face. Chu felt herself heat up.
"Go get some rest," Sephiroth said and flashed a quick smile.
"Thanks for the lovely comment." Chu said sarcastically as she gently took his hand away from her face and smiled.
"Let's go Chu before you break a hip or something," Zack scoffed as he saw the small exchange of affection between his two superiors. Chu spun around and pushed him with enough force to almost knock him over.
"Woah! You still have some kick left in you," Zack chuckled. Sephiroth noticed Zack's change in mood and smirked again.
"You two with me, the rest return to the in," Sephiroth said as he ordered the soldiers.
Chu began to walk towards the Inn stumbling a bit, Zack helped her regain her footing, his hand wrapping around her waist.
Sephiroth felt a tingling sensation on the back of his neck as he watched the way Zack held on to her. He found himself clenching his jaw as he watched the two walk to the Inn, followed by the other soldiers.
"Let's go," Sephiroth said as he turned heading to the mayor's home.
Chu flopped in her bed and sighed heavily, Zack chuckled as he closed the door behind him.
"Calling me an old geezer…I will hurt you," Chu said as she rolled onto her side. Zack chuckled and began to take off her boots.
"Sure if you don't break a bone-" Zack started but was cut off by a pillow connecting to his face.
"oof!" Zack said as he fell to the floor. Chu laughed as placed the pillow back under her head and kicked off her loose boots.
"That was cheap!" Zack said as he looked at Chu who had snuggled into her pillow.
"Oh no you don't you aren't getting off that easily," Zack said and pounced on her, a squeak erupted from her lips. Zack cracked his knuckles and began to tickle her.
"Kyaaah! Zack! Hahahah! N-No tickling haha!" Chu managed to say through her laughing. Zack continued to tickle her laughing at her.
"ah! Z-ack! Hahahaha ah!" Chu laughed as she struggled against him.
"Take this!" Zack yelled playfully.
"uwahahaha! Zack!" Chu continued to laugh but suddenly pushed Zack off her bed again, she found herself falling with him.
"oof!" Zack grunted.
"aah!" Chu squeaked
Chu's face hovered over Zack's, his larger arms wrapped around her small frame. Chu instantly felt awkward, this wasn't the first time she was in this position with Zack. It happened a few months back when they were on vacation together on Costa de Sol, it seemed like Zack was joking around back then but now it seemed like this was more serious.
"Well now…" Zack whispered.
"Zack you…huff…jerk." Chu said regaining her breath from laughing. Zack remained silent and looked at her, his sky blue eyes staring into her cerulean eyes.
"Ok you can let—" Chu started but stopped, Zack began to caress her face.
"Zack…" Chu said knowing where this was going.
"I want you to look at me too Chu…" Zack said quietly.
"Zack...Stop playing around and let me—" Chu started again but was cut off by Zack pushing his lips onto hers.
"mmpfh!"
Chu began to struggle but felt Zack's arms around her tighten to the point where breathing was becoming difficult.
"Z-a-ck!" Chu struggled to say trying to gasp for air, Zack pulled back leaving her breathless.
"Chu…" Zack panted.
"Zack, what the hell are you doing?" She panted.
"Why won't you look at me?" Zack asked almost pleading. Chu felt her face heat up as she looked at her friend.
"Zack don't be like this…we can't" Chu started.
"Why not?" Zack asked.
"Because…it's against protocols…and…" Chu trailed off feeling her face heat up more.
"You've broken plenty of protocols and you're saying that this is against protocols? This is much more than protocols Chu," Zack replied
Chu shifted uncomfortable in his grip, trying to weasel her way out. She knew it was true, she was treading on the lines of breaking the 'No fraternization with the crew' rule, but so were many others, including Zack.
"Zack—" Chu started
"Chu—" Zack started cutting her off, but was also cut off by a knock on her door.
"Zack sir..." the voice of one of a the cadets that they arrived with came from behind the door.
Zack and Chu remained silent for a few moments before attempting to move. Zack sighed irritated as he sat up with Chu still in his arms.
"Yeah?" Zack asked as he continued to look at Chu, Chu looked away blushing.
"Sephiroth has returned from the Mayor's home and...um... wants to speak to you about the mission tomorrow." The cadet replied nervously feeling as if he interrupted something.
"Yeah yeah yeah…" Zack frowned. Chu took the chance to weasel her way out of Zack's arms and jumped quickly back into her bed, she quickly wrapped herself in her blankets. Zack looked at her smiling.
"You aren't getting away that easily." Zack said as he stood up and brushed himself off.
"Watch me." Chu said, sticking her tongue out. Zack chuckled as he walked towards the door and stopped.
"Chu—" he began.
"No. Don't," Chu said cutting him off.
"But—" Zack started as he spun around, a pillow connected with his face. Zack chuckled as he caught the pillow.
"Fine…Fine," Zack said as he tossed the pillow back to her.
Zack looked at Chu once more before walking out. Chu huffed and laid back in her bed, her mind swirling with the situation that passed.
Zack stood outside of Chu's door for a moment before he walked off.
"Chu…I will get you to look at me..." Zack whispered as he headed to Sephiroth.