Disclaimer: To Be Human is a fanfiction written in the Compilation of FFVII, with respect to the original canon and in accordance with the permissions of Fair Use as a transformative work. No profit is being made and the author only claims original characters used within to help flesh out the story.
A/N: There's been a lot of curiosity over how I write Hojo, in particular, so I absolutely invite you guys to go to my Tumblr and take a look around to find my headcanons about all sorts of things. The link is on my FFN profile, and you don't need a Tumblr account to look at the blog. There is a side link labelled "FF7" where you can click to get more specific links to fic updates, drabbles, and discussion of headcanon/canon.
As soon as they were released from the testing, Zack made a beeline from headquarters down to the church in Sector Five; it didn't matter that he went straight there, he knew the Turks knew exactly where Aerith was. They'd probably always known, and he had no idea what that meant, why they'd never made a move on it to capture her. They knew he knew where she was, and he was sure it had been reported that he knew her heritage now.
It didn't matter. He couldn't stay away, knowing what he did now.
Her name? Erin, Aeris something of that nature. It wasn't important.
Maybe it wasn't important to Hojo, hopefully it wasn't important to Hojo, but it made Zack's heart lurch before he got himself under control. He'd seen Sephiroth give him a quick look of concern and did appreciate that, but his urgency about needing to leave had stalled any questions. Sephiroth let him go with a nod, not understanding the reason but respecting that he had one.
It meant a lot. Even through the tangle of anger and worry and need to see her Zack could be grateful for that. Later, he'd tell him. For now…
For now he managed to slow from a run to a jog to a quick walk as the church came into view. He didn't see Turks, but he was sure they were near. A sweep with enhanced senses pinpointed someone off to the left and he bared his teeth briefly in a silent snarl of warning.
Somehow, Aerith must have known he was there. She had risen from her flowers, watching him in concerned silence and embracing him when he came to take her into his arms. There were no questions, though he felt her hand slip under the blade mounted on his back to rub small, soothing circles. It was his sharp inhale that finally made her speak. "Zack? What's wrong?"
"Do you know about the Turks?" The words were a little muffled into her hair, because Zack couldn't make himself let her go yet. He told himself it helped, hiding himself from lip readers and keeping his words between them. But he let her pull back to look at him, green eyes searching before she smiled, reaching up to stroke his cheek gently. There was something in her eyes that told him she had known all along. "Aerith…"
"I know," she said gently, placing her other hand on his chest. "It's okay."
"It's not okay, it is so not okay that they - they watch you, for him!"
"Zack." Her hand moved from his cheek to his lips, her expression still so very gentle. "They've known where I was from the start. For years. And I'm still here."
The SOLDIER took a shallow breath, then forced himself to take a deeper one, letting her words sink in.
The Turks knew. This wasn't news to him, but he had to stop and really think about it once Aerith said it out loud. The Turks had known for years and never brought her in. In fact, it sounded like they'd even kept the information from Hojo, despite the orders being his.
He wet his lips, then blushed as he felt her fingers still there, but Aerith only giggled as she moved her hand. He wasn't sure what to make of her tender smile, after all this. There was a depth of knowledge and understanding that he'd missed somehow, after all this time. "Aerith, I…"
"Shh, come sit with me." There was no way she could have forced him to move, even ignoring his enhancements, just for how little she was in comparison. But he went without any resistance or hesitation, only watching her uncertainly. He didn't know what to say, but fortunately, she did. "How did it come up?"
Zack took her hand as soon as she rested it on his leg, lacing their fingers together. "Hojo talked about Jenova. There were some things he cleared up. He… gods, I don't even know what I can tell you. I don't want to put you in any more danger, they've left you alone so far…."
Aerith sighed quietly, squeezing his hand. "They have, yes. But sometimes the risk is worth it. I want to know about your friend. Maybe… maybe I can help."
The offer was tempting enough that Zack went as far as opening his mouth to speak before sense caught up to him. "I can't ask you to do that."
"You didn't ask me, silly. I offered," she said, giving him a patient smile. "And that's my right. I know what's at stake, Zack. I wasn't so young then not to remember some things; I'm not going into this blindly."
Zack was silent a moment before he managed a hesitant smile. "What happened to SOLDIERs being scary?"
Aerith chuckled, squeezing his hand. "I met one, and he was the sweetest thing."
He laughed quietly. "I dunno, I think you're the sweetest. Maybe second sweetest?"
"Sweetest guy," she compromised. "No arguing, I know these things."
"Alright Ms. Smarty." Zack swung their hands lightly, biting his lip a moment. "So. Hypothetically, if you were going to help… you'd probably have to come Plateside. The Turks would absolutely know and have to report it. You'd have to deal with the Science Department. I can't guarantee your safety, Aerith, as much as I want to, I can't promise—"
"I'm not asking you to do anything but let me try," she said, getting up. "Come here, let me show you something."
"Huh?"
"Back this way, by the altar." Aerith gestured ahead, leading him in a weaving path around the patch of dirt and flowers. She let go once they were in the back, kneeling to get a wooden staff. "This is mine."
Zack made a quiet sound, taking it gently when she handed it over and moving it through a few careful spins and strikes. "Not bad. I didn't know you had this."
"I usually only bring it when I'll be out towards dusk and nightfall," she explained. "You wouldn't have seen. But I know how to use it."
"Yeah?" Zack looked at her, frowning a little. "You've had experience, then."
"I haven't gone to war, or fought my way across the Planet on high priority missions, but I can defend myself. I'm decent with a staff, even better with materia - I saved up and bought one that actually does things." Aerith was hoping he'd smile at the mention, and sighed when he didn't. "Zack, I'm a young woman walking the Slums on my own; of course I've learned to defend myself. Besides, the staff is pretty."
"I just hate that you need it to even get around here - this isn't the backwoods, it's a big city!" Zack shook his head, handing the staff back and running his hands through his hair. It wasn't like it was going to stand up more. "Sorry, I know that doesn't help."
"No it doesn't, but I understand." She twirled the wooden staff slowly in her hands, watching it move before setting it down on its end. "So hypothetically, if I came with you, I'd need to pack bags because I'm pretty sure I can't wear anything you boys would have. And have a place to stay there, because that's a pretty long commute, and also because you'd want to keep an eye on me."
"Right… which would mean arranging for escorts, and some kind of security thing…" Zack rubbed his neck, pacing a small square. "Someone to guard you. Because while you might be fine against other civilians, there are plenty of dangerous people - not just SOLDIER. Honestly, I'm not even worried about SOLDIER. Turks, army… those worry me."
"Caution is definitely called for," Aerith agreed quietly, watching him pace. "Is Tseng in Midgar?"
"Tseng?" Zack looked at her, baffled, but nodded slowly. "Yeah, he is unless they just shipped him out. And I think I'd have heard about anything that would call for him to move out right now."
"Then we'll talk to him later. I've known him a while." She smiled, shaking her head. "Well, as much as anyone outside the Turks knows someone inside."
Zack snorted softly, nodding. "Yeah, I get that. Sometimes I think the suit smothers him and takes over, but don't tell him I said that."
Aerith giggled, shaking her head. "You're terrible."
"You don't sound like you mind that one bit," he noticed, grinning.
"It's part of your roguish charm," she teased, green eyes soft and fond. "So. Do you think you can let me help?"
Zack frowned, reaching to cup her cheek gently. "You really want to do this, huh?"
"I really do." She leaned into the touch. "And I really think I can help. I think maybe that's what the Planet has been trying to tell me, what I need to do."
"You talk to the Planet?" His gaze drifted to the flowers. "That's why they grow for you, isn't it? Despite the reactors killing everything else off."
"I think so," Aerith admitted. "There are some things I do - the plants, healing, knowing things - there's so much my mother wasn't able to teach me, there wasn't time, but some of it I know. And doing this feels right."
Zack stared at her a long moment in silence, sighing quietly. "Let me call a friend first, okay?"
The smile she gave him helped ease some of the tightness in his chest. "Go on, then."
He nodded, getting his PHS out and hitting one of the speed dials. A familiar baritone answered and he braced himself. "Sephiroth? I need your help."
