They run like children, heads thrown back, joined hands swinging, and giggles spilling from their lips like they haven't a care in the world.
Zack loves seeing his angel like this, her dress billowing as she twirls with her arms thrown out against the night sky. It just doesn't make sense how anyone ever thought it was okay to lock away something this magical—this beautiful.
However, Shinra clearly doesn't agree with him, considering they only just reach the highway when an army of forty infantrymen come running to block their way. He and Seph reach for their swords, but can't lift them before Aerith is rushing ahead with a tigress' smile.
Zack gawks and even Sephiroth's eyes widen as Aerith rains down a storm with her silver staff. Lightning shatters helmets, sets fire to the asphalt, and in under a minute, leaves only a single infantryman standing among a field of downed men.
The guy takes one look at the smirking flower girl against the backdrop of the still burning road—at the flames gleaming off her teeth—before fleeing to Sephiroth and throwing himself at his boots.
"Save me, sir!" The man's voice cracks while he grovels. Sephiroth grimaces at the display as Aerith's smirk widens, scarlet and golden flames like a halo around her.
Zack can't tell if it's the heat from the fire or his girl looking like a perfect mix of sweet and lethal—an angel of vengeance—but suddenly he feels very warm.
The SOLDIER looks away, rosy-cheeked, while Sephiroth gives the infantryman his resignation from Shinra and lets the guy run after he promises to give it to the President.
Aerith walks over and leans against Zack with a content sigh. He raises a brow even as he curls his arm around her. "You really enjoyed that, didn't you?"
Aerith flashes her teeth, smile razor sharp. "I've been waiting to do that since I saw that staff in a vending machine." She frowns, straightening to tap her chin. "You know, there's a lot of strange stuff in Shinra vending machines."
Zack nods, recalling the time he bought a teddy bear plushie from the vending machine for their one month anniversary, only for Tseng to stop him and explain his gift was a legit bomb.
"Indeed," Sephiroth says, eyes narrowing on Aerith. "Though might I ask how you developed such fighting prowess when you've been under constant watch your whole life?"
"No cameras in the restroom." Aerith beams. "And I have all my memories from the other timelines," she playfully taps her noggin, "One of which where Tifa, my martial artist friend, trained me."
Her smile falls a bit, gaze turning wistful. "We almost saved everyone that time until Cloud got killed."
Zack grimaces, not liking the image of his friend dead. "Well," he shakes off the thought and grins, "Let's make sure that doesn't happen again." He looks up the highway ramp they're on, expression determined. "Kunsel and Cloud might need some backup if Shinra's on their tail."
Sephiroth inclines his head, expressionless, though his gaze is full of resolve, and Aerith brandishes her silver staff. They share a look. Then Zack takes off up the road and the others follow.
No one bothers them on the expressway, Shinra likely aware even SOLDIER Firsts won't be able to take down Sephiroth. However, Zack grows leery when he spots a few cement roadblocks and tire spikes in the middle of the street. Still, he isn't too concerned until Sephiroth stops and points out scorch marks barely visible under the streetlights.
"Based on the tire sizes, it was a three-wheeled truck," Sephiroth says.
And an iron weight sinks into Zack's gut, the teen recalling Kunsel's words over the phone.
"It's a three-wheeled truck, light blue, at the edge of the expressway. We'll be waiting."
Recognization flashes over Aerith's emerald gaze, but Zack won't dare ask if she's remembering something bad. So neither say a word as they continue down the road—pace a tad brisker. However, Zack stops so fast he nearly trips when they find over a dozen dead or wounded infantrymen scattered across the street.
Zack even spots some busted up motorcycles and a helicopter crushed like a soda can on the roadside, a couple of flames flickering around it. A fight happened here, recently, and if Shinra wasn't fighting them, they must have been fighting—
"Kunsel and Cloud are okay." Aerith grabs his shoulders, looking up at him with her brows angled in sympathy. "I can't tell you how," her hand slides up to cup his cheek, "Just trust me when I say they're okay."
Zack peers into her eyes, sees the sincerity in them, and nods. Aerith wouldn't lie about this...and something in the back of his head is yelling she's right. Kunsel and Cloud can't die...not yet, anyway.
"Even if they are okay now," Sephiroth cuts in, looking thoughtful. "It would be wise to meet up with them soon."
Zack frowns and Aerith lets him go, expression becoming fierce. "You're right." She smiles, and gestures around them. "And it looks like we found our ride."
The First is confused until he notices her staring at a scratched-up black motorcycle behind a slumped infantryman.
Zack smirks, and leans into Aerith's face. "Brawn, brains, and a body that puts even mines to shame." His flower girl giggles. "How'd I get lucky enough to spend all my lifetimes with you?"
Aerith bursts into laughter, swatting him away. "Oh, you!"
Zack jokingly wards off her hits when Sephiroth says, "I'll stay here to make sure we aren't followed." Zack and Aerith freeze. "You two go on ahead and join the others. I'll catch up once I've taken care of Shinra's reinforcements."
"You sure?" Zack frowns worriedly.
Seph looks back with a raised brow and slight smirk. "Yes, Zack. I do believe I can handle myself."
Zack rolls his eyes, setting his hands on his sides. "No need to show off, Seph."
However, his gaze drifts back to the tire marks. He sobers.
"Okay," Zack sighs. "But don't stay for too long, we might need your help if Shinra has caught up to Kunsel and Cloud."
Sephiroth nods, and Zack moves away to pick up the black motorcycle. He revs the engine to make sure it's functional, checking that nothing important is missing and assessing the fuel level. The tank is over halfway full, so Zack gets seated on it, and isn't surprised when Aeirth slides on behind him, holding her staff at her side.
"You drive and I'll guard you." She smiles, wrapping her arm around his waist.
Zack glances over his shoulder. "So you'll be my guardian angel?" He winks. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
She laughs, voice unhindered by the walls of a cell, and Zack grins wide because her laugh has always been his favorite melody.
He faces ahead, twisting the motorcycle's throttle, and as the engine roars, he sends Seph a sloppy salute.
Then they're off, speeding up the ramp and racing towards the starlit sky.
'
'
They pass more downed infantrymen and smoldering, wrecked military vehicles before there's a long stretch of nothing. Zack tries not to worry, though neither Cloud or Kunsel are answering their PHS, and he thinks he's doing an admirable job of it till he sees smoke.
He hits the brakes, tires squeaking from the suddenness and Aerith gasping when she pitches against him. He mutters an apology, but his gaze is locked on Kunsel as the Second leaps high in the air over a badly-damaged giant robot.
The SOLDIER brings down two broadswords on the metal beast's back, its body crumpling under their weight with fire sputtering out its exhaust pipes and a wheel flying off.
The robot screeches while Kunsel pushes off it and lands some distance away, yelling, "Now, Cloud!"
Bright headlights shine on the robot as it raises its blade-like arms and swings them at Kunsel's head. Yet the Second flips aside so the blades hit the ground, cracking the blacktop while the headlights get closer. The machine raises its arms for another go, but a blue truck rams into its side and it topples to the street hard.
It screams, scraping along the ground and fire blasting under its arms where there must be flamethrowers. However, the fire dies quickly as the robot is shoved through the expressway's side barrier. Concrete bursts around it, throwing up dust and debris while the beast releases a metallic howl as it plummets to the streets below.
The truck skids to a stop at the highway edge, and Zack inhales sharply when the vehicle tilts towards the abyss, front wheels lifting into the air. Yet it settles back down and Zack breathes a sigh of relief because Cloud is okay.
An explosion rocks the earth, and Zack gapes at seeing cracks split the asphalt—the robot must have crashed into a highway pillar!
"Cloud!" Kunsel drops his swords and guns it to the truck that's tipping off the expressway.
Zack tears himself off the motorcycle, leaving a startled Aerith and running to catch the truck's front bumper. Kunsel, grasping the car's underside next to him, jerks his head his way. "Zack!?"
The First doesn't answer as his muscles strain to reel in the truck that's slowly sliding off the road despite his and Kunsel's efforts. A spike of blond hair appears in the car window and he sees Cloud tugging at the door. However, he soon notices the metal is warped and melted around the handle—it must have gotten scorched by that robot's flames.
Yet Zack can't let go to help him as he digs his heels in the ground and heaves the truck with everything he has. The car rolls up onto the road, inch by inch, and almost there—
The bumper jerks, and Zack nearly loses his grip on it. His eyes widen, realizing the bumper is breaking off while half the truck still hangs off the edge, and he frantically shouts, "Break the window!"
Cloud nods and leans back to give himself room before slamming his padded elbow into the window. The glass shakes, but no fractures appear. The blond is stunned as Kunsel hisses, "It's bulletproof!"
Zack's heart hammers because the bumper is easing off the car like a sticky note and it can't hold on for much longer—
A ray of turquoise light strikes the window, and Aerith warns, "Brace yourselves!"
Cloud ducks and Zack turns away, closing his eyes as the window shatters and glass pieces fly at his face. His cheek is scratched by a shard, but Zack ignores the minor pain and opens his eyes while Aerith jogs up beside him. She uses her staff to break all the jagged glass clinging to the car window. Then she offers Cloud a hand, who swiftly accepts it and begins crawling out the car.
Yet the bumper jerks again, and Zack stumbles back as it snaps off, the metal piece soaring out of his hands.
"Woah!" Kunsel cries when he's pulled by the truck, but quickly lets go as Cloud tumbles out the window and hits the ground with a yelp.
However, Aerith immediately yanks him up, green eyes wide. "Run!"
Zack doesn't understand her warning until he hears the truck crash below and the ground quakes again, the cracks in the road expanding.
"She's right, move it!" Kunsel says while he speeds past him alongside Cloud and Aerith. Zack realizes the highway is going to collapse and spins on his heels, running while the ground crumbles behind him.
He quickly catches up to the others and grabs Aerith around the waist, Kunsel tossing a startled Cloud over his shoulder. The expressway breaks under their feet, but the SOLDIERs jump before they can fall. Zack stretches his hand towards the part of the expressway still standing, eyes focused on their sole salvation. Come on, come on, come on!
His fingers close in on on the jagged asphalt, and Zack doesn't dare breathe. Yet they stop a few feet away, momentum slowing until they seem to hang midair for a second. Then they fall.
"Grab that!" Aerith points at a downed light pole hanging off the expressway's edge.
Zack quickly twists midair to catch the pole and grunts as his hand slams onto the metal bar, though he grips it firmly. He swings, moving his legs back and forth before throwing them up off the pole and high into the air.
They drop down on the street by Kunsel, yet Zack spins around to stare at the empty expanse where the rest of the highway had been, backing up to be safe. The rumbling stops, but concrete pieces are still smashing into the ground below and if one hits another pillar...
Soon even that sound fades and Zack's fears are put to rest as it grows quiet. All of them just stare at the missing expanse of expressway for a moment, watching dust settle over the area. Though the silence is broken as someone groans.
"I think I'm going to be sick." Cloud clutches his middle while Kunsel sets him down, the boy a bit green in the face. Zack also lets Aerith go and looks her over, but there's not even a speck of dust on her dress and only a sheen of sweet mars her face.
"You alright?" he asks to be sure, and she smiles.
"Alright?" Aerith asks coyly. "I'm better than that!" Her eyes gleam excitedly. "This is our best date ever!"
Kunsel cocks his helmet and Zack knows he's raising a brow under there, but Cloud asks, "Date?" He looks up, appearing a bit steadier as his eyes slide from Aerith to Zack. "She," he points at her, "Is your girlfriend?"
"Yep!" Zack cheers, slinging an arm over Cloud's shoulders and waving towards his flower girl. "We broke Aerith out of Shinra's lab, and she asked that we take you with us." He rubs the back of his neck. "Sorry about the whole kidnapping thing, but you're probably better off with us than Shinra."
"W-wait," Cloud startles like a chocobo who was pet the wrong way, "You left Shinra?"
Zack's smile gains a nervous edge. "Uh, yeah!"
Cloud's gawks, and gradually, Zack's face falls. In a softer tone, he says, "We can take you back." He slumps, something inside him withering at the idea of leaving his friend behind. "I understand if you—"
"No!" Zack jolts while Cloud slaps a hand over his mouth, his own shout surprising him. Yet soon the blond drops his hand, expression becoming determined. "I want to come with you."
His head bows, and he bites his lip. "I…I should think you're crazy, but something inside of me is telling me to go with you." His blue eyes seek Zack's imploringly.
The First is stunned as Aerith smiles. "You're remembering the other timelines, huh?"
"Timelines?" Kunsel asks uncertainly, Cloud and him sharing a look.
"Explanations later," Aerith frowns up at the sky above, "On the way to Nibelheim." An edge laces her tone, and Zack resists the urge to shudder. Something…something is waiting for them in Cloud's hometown. He's waiting.
"Nibelheim?" Cloud gapes, and Zack shakes off his trepidation to grin at him.
"Don't worry about it too much, Cloudy." He ruffles his spikes. "We'll tell you all about it on the way there."
Kunsel crosses his arms, looking back at the expressway's missing section. "Well, first we're going to need another ride…and another set of swords," he mutters sourly.
Zack's brow furrows, realizing they lost the motorcycle and truck in the expressway collapse. Now how are they going to get out of the city?
The First shakes his head, dusting off his worries. "Let's meet back up with Sephiroth. We can probably just walk through Midgar's front doors if he's with us—"
A gust of air rushes at them, and Cloud and Aerith cry out as they all brace against the wind. Zack hears a deafening rotor and glimpses a black helicopter in the sky before a bright light shines on his face. He raises his hand to shield his eyes and reaches for his sword with the other while the wind ripples through his hair.
"Attention, traitors!" A staticky voice echoes over the helicopter speakers. "Step away from the Ancient now or we'll open fire!"
Zack lowers his hand, eyes narrowing on the helicopter. He can't see past the spotlight, but he knows that voice.
"Turks," Kunsel whispers, hands balling up, and Cloud's expression grows pinched.
"Reno," Aerith specifies as she pulls out her staff.
Zack shifts into a battle stance, raising his sword. Grinning, he says, "Let's take them—"
Five helicopters rise from under the expressway while six come up behind Reno, boxing them in. Zack's eyes widen and Aerith's lips firm into a line, the group backing up into each other.
"Okaaay, maybe we shouldn't take them," Zack says causally, though his gaze is sweeping across the helicopters and zeroing in on the guns attached to their sides. His enhanced hearing picks up on the clink of their weapons turning their way, and he glances back worriedly at Kunsel, who has no sword, and Cloud, who looks nervous though he's holding his machine gun up steadily.
"We could retreat—"
"No, wait," Kunsel's looks up at the army, "If we could steal one of those helicopters, that could be our ticket out of Midgar."
Zack raises a brow without taking his eyes off the enemies in the sky. "That's a great plan, buddy, but how exactly do you expect us to take out eleven helicopters?"
Kunsel can't answer as Reno's voice booms. "Yo! Lay down your weapons now or face execution!"
Zack scowls, grip tightening around his sword handle while he debates what to do. If only he had a lightning or fire materia equipped, but it wasn't like he'd expected to abandon Shinra today. Still, with no long-ranged attacks or abilities, he'll have to get in close and risk eating lead to take down Shinra's air force. And that's without considering he needs to shield Cloud and Kunsel—
Something brushes against his back, and Zack turns to see barriers shimmering around Cloud and Kunsel. He glances at Aerith who's holding her staff high.
"Aerith?" he gasps.
The flower girl turns to beam at him. "Just stay behind me." She steps in front of the group, expression hardening. "They won't risk shooting me, so I'll attack them upfront while you—
"Give them the Zack attack!" The First grins widely and Aerith laughs.
"You got it, hero." She winks, and Zack melts into a puddle because she's never given him a nickname, and the one she picked is perfect.
"If you two are going to be like this the whole time, I'm just going to let them shoot me," Kunsel deadpans.
"I can distract them with my gun," Cloud offers more helpfully, voice quiet yet firm as his gaze sharpens.
Kunsel sighs, but grins while he straightens up. "And I'll watch everyone's backs." He raises his gloved fists, standing beside Zack.
Warmth expands in the First's chest at hearing his friend's words, so he's all pumped up when Aerith shouts, "Let's go!"
The girl rushes ahead, and Zack races after her. Bullets rain down at his back, but he shifts his sword to block them and they ricochet off the metal.
Aerith stops under the shadow of Reno's helicopter and holds up her staff, closing her eyes to concentrate as Zack skids to a halt in front of her. The gunfire shifts over to Cloud and Kunsel, probably because he and Aerith are hidden in the shade, but Zack sees their barriers shimmering while they dodge attacks so knows they'll be okay.
Lighting crackles above and Zack glances up as a strangled cry echoes from Reno's helicopter before abruptly cutting out. Aerith quickly runs out of its shadow while Reno's helicopter spins out of control, but Zack smirks and then launches himself towards it.
He rises to just under the helicopter's nose and rapidly raises his sword to slice through the thick metal twice before falling back to the street. Landing in a crouch, he smirks as the helicopter spirals faster, smoke sputtering out its engine. It scrapes against a nearby helicopter and the other aircraft wobbles, dropping down a few yards. Zack quickly leaps at it before it can get out of range.
However, a hatch opens by the helicopter's guns and a red-tipped torpedo shoots out of it, soaring at Zack. He's going to brace for impact when something whizzes past his ear and the torpedo explodes prematurely.
Zack easily drifts past the smoke, glancing back to see Cloud aiming his gun at the helicopter—great save, Spiky!
The First turns ahead with a grin and catches the helicopter's landing gear, wobbling a bit while he secures his one-handed grip. Then he deftly stabs his sword into the helicopter's front where the controls are, and the aircraft shudders. Zack lets go, watching the helicopter sway back and forth violently while he drops.
The First hits the ground in a roll as the helicopter crashes onto the expressway behind him. It screeches on its side and collides with the divider, fire exploding around the wreckage as Zack gets up beside Cloud. He glances over at Aerith, making sure no debris hit her, and sees she's spinning fire from her staff tip and launching it at three helicopters.
However, he's distracted when bullets cascade onto his head and Cloud shouts in alarm. Quickly, he pulls his friend in close, lifting his sword to shield them.
Yet the bullets stop suddenly, and peeks around his blade right as a light pole tumbles onto the attacking helicopter. The aircraft goes down, windows shattering and metal plating breaking off.
Zack lowers his sword, and a grin splits his face when Kunsel runs past him and leaps at the helicopter.
"Nice one, Kunsel!"
The Second smirks while he lands on the helicopter's skids and yanks open its door.
"What's he doing?" Cloud asks, blinking owlishly.
Zack raises his fist triumphantly. "Getting us a new ride!"
Cloud gapes as two infantryman tumble out the helicopter, screaming and flailing until they land roughly on the expressway. Zack winces, but can't feel bad for the unconscious infantrymen considering they were hunting him, his friends and his girlfriend.
Speaking of which, he turns to see helicopters shooting nets at Aerith down the road. However, his flower girl dances out their way, dress rippling around her like she's flying every time she jumps and catches them on the end of her staff, flinging them aside.
His angel is absolutely memorizing on the battlefield, but just in case she needs help, Zack looks to Cloud. "Watch Aerith's back for me, okay?"
The blond nods. "I'm on it!"
He runs a couple yards towards Aerith before aiming his gun at the helicopter's net shooters. However, Zack is shocked when a helicopter glides between him and the remaining five enemies in the sky, missiles extending out of it. Yet he spots Kunsel's helmeted head through the window as the torpedos zip out towards Shinra's airforce.
They hits one helicopter head on, and it tumbles straight into another chopper. The two explode like fireworks, and Zack squints against the brilliance of flaming metal, which fall to the ground around him, close enough that Zack has to slice a few away. However, he sees only three enemy helicopters left and smiles because are they actually winning?
"Zack!" Cloud yells.
The First spins around instinctively and blocks the sparking mag rod aimed at his back, eyes narrowing at Reno who smirks from behind their clashing weapons.
"You know," Reno grins, though his gaze is hard as steel. "I didn't really believe the boss when he said you turned traitor."
Zack glares while the mag rod's lightning intensifies, the electricity racing down his sword and sizzling his hand.
He grunts, and Reno's smirk turns vicious. "Especially when he said you did it for a pretty face. I mean, the Ancient chick's a looker, but so are a hundred other girls in this city!"
Zack bares his teeth in a tight grin. "You're wrong." He smirks, though his arms are a bit numb from the electricity. "Aerith is one in a million," his smirk widens, "And a great fighter too!"
Reno opens his mouth to respond when blizzaga crashes into his side, knocking him to the ground. The ice explodes, but the Turk swiftly gets to his feet and rushes around it untouched. Reno speeds at him with a battle cry, and the First can't move before his mag rod rakes across his torso.
Zack hisses at the stinging cut, but swings his sword at Reno's neck. The redhead slides under his blade and tags Zack's arm with his mag rod, pain bursting over his forearm.
However, a cool sensation washes over him and Zack sees Cloud holding up a green materia orb in his peripheral. The First grins, and his smile expands when a surge of power blooms within him.
Reno comes at him again, slamming his mag rod into his chest, but Zack doesn't feel a thing while a yellow and green glow envelopes his body. The Turk's eyes widen at the sign of his limit break and Zack sheathes his sword, expression determined.
"You really shouldn't dismiss my girlfriend."
He uppercuts Reno in the chin. The Turk staggers back while Zack pummels his chest twice and kicks his knees out. Reno falls to the ground, but Zack flips up into the air, and with a yell, crashes down.
His fists collide into the wide-eyed Turk's face, and Reno chokes as he's tossed into the expressway's divider. His head cracks on the concrete, goggles snapping off from the force, and he slumps while Zack lands on the street in a skid.
The First breathes deeply, his limit break fading around him, and takes his sword back out. He eyes Reno whose face is a bruised and bloody mess, his mag rod limp under his hand and eyes shut. He walks to him, wanting to make sure the man really is down, but a gun clicks, and Zack stills.
"That's enough, Aerith."
Zack slowly looks over his shoulder. Cloud, a thick silver cord wrapped around his body, is sitting on his knees with his own machine gun pointed at his head. He follows the gun up to see Tseng, expressionless, as his dark gaze moves from Zack to Aerith who's a few feet away.
His flower girl's face is terse, chest rising and falling like she'd been running to help Cloud, and suddenly Zack realizes Reno was a distraction to lure him away from their most vulnerable member. He glances up and sees Kunsel's helicopter alone in the sky, but the Second probably can't shoot the Turk without hitting Cloud. This is bad.
"Lower your weapons and surrender to Shinra or—" Tseng nudges the gun into Cloud's hair. "He dies."
The boy bites his lip and his mournful blue eyes lift to meet Zack's. There's a clear apology in them, and the First wants to reassure his friend because even Zack would struggle to defeat Tseng.
A mag rod lands against Zack's neck, and he stiffens. "Do as the boss says," Reno threatens between haggard breaths. "Or your boyfriend's fried too, Ancient."
Aerith scowls, gaze defiant. Yet her eyes close and her staff drops, the metal clanking onto the road.
Zack's face wrinkles with concern. "Aerith…"
He starts to say more, but the beat of helicopter propellers swallow up his words as Kunsel lands the aircraft behind him.
Tseng nods, gazing past Zack, and the First can only tense before electricity sears his lungs.
A strangled cry rips from his throat, but dies quickly as the world goes black.
'
'
Zack wakes up not much later, pain blooming over the back of his head while it knocks against cool metal. He groans, his cheek digging into his shoulder pad and a burnt smell invading his nose.
Slowly, he cracks open his eyes and sees a blurry gray, but his vision soon focuses to reveal Cloud and Aerith buckled into helicopter passenger seats. They're both staring at him worriedly across the aisle, and for a second, Zack thinks they somehow managed to get away. Yet he hears a clink, and looks down to see his wrists handcuffed in his lap.
Wire is also tied around his torso, pinning his arms to his sides and pressing into his bruises painfully. Beside him, Kunsel is similarly tied up under his seat harness, and Zack sighs through his nose, cursing under his breath.
"Where is Sephiroth?"
Zack glances up at Tseng who is leaning against the mouth of the cockpit, arms folded over his chest.
The First's lips press together, and he glowers at the floor. It doesn't surprise him Tseng was the one to capture them, he knows the man's loyalty lies with Shinra. That's why he didn't ask Tseng to come with him when they left the Shinra Building. If the Turk was really willing to betray their employers, he could have just broken Aerith out himself, yet he had Zack do it instead. So although Tseng clearly cares about Aerith and likes Zack—he still remembers the man's steady hand on his shoulder after the medics wheeled Aerith away on a gurney—Shinra has his devotion, maybe it always will.
Zack shakes his head, snorting softly. "If I say I don't know, would you believe me?"
Tseng stares at him, slight frown crossing his face. After a moment, he nods. "Yes."
A part of Zack wants to scream at the Turk, grab him and shake the sense into him because Tseng knows Shinra is in the wrong, so why is he on their side? Doesn't he remember what they're planning to do to Aerith? He won't allow Shinra to get their hands on his flower girl again! And he thought that was something they could agree on, but…
"Boss!" Reno yells from the pilot seat, and Zack looks up. "You have to see this!"
Tseng swiftly stalks to the front, and Zack leans forward, straining his neck to see what's up. However, Kunsel's shoulder nudges his own. He turns to him, and the Second jerks his head up at the broken window over their seats.
Zack twists back, squinting against the cool wind. It takes him a second to recognize the tall buildings below, but soon he realizes they're over Loveless Avenue. Though his brow rises at seeing a giant blue hologram towering over the Loveless Theater. President Shinra must be trying to explain away the mess Zack's friends left at the Shinra Building, but wait. That's not—
"Attention Midgar," Sephiroth's smooth baritone booms across the sky. "I am General Sephiroth, and tonight, I have a special announcement to make."
Zack's jaw drops and he hears Reno hiss something at Tseng, but doesn't care to listen to them as Sephiroth continues.
"As of today, I renounce all my ties to the Shinra Electric Company. This does not mean I am joining some terrorist group like Avalanche, though I'm sure they have the best of intentions for the Planet."
Zack cocks his head, brow knitting together. Is Seph defending Avalanche? He'd never done that before, so why now?
"Nor do I believe Wutai would welcome me among its ranks," Sephiroth's projection shakes his head, "Even if I wanted to join them. Rather, I am simply leaving Shinra to be free, free to decide what I want to do with my life and to stop fighting battles I want no part in."
The hologram shimmers as he turns to the sky, though he's probably really staring at the ceiling of President Shinra's office. Sephiroth raises his hands like he's reaching for the stars and says, "Open, boundless freedom is all I desire, and to receive this, I have decided to leave Midgar."
He lowers his hands and stares ahead. His gaze sharpens. "Though prior to my departure, I'd like to leave a special message to the Turks holding my companions hostage—" that's definitely Reno choking—"Summarily, I suggest you drop them off unharmed outside the city gates before I find you and release them myself."
His words echo throughout the city as the hologram somehow turns until it's staring straight at the helicopter. For a tense moment, even Zack finds himself holding his breath at those narrowed, catty eyes regarding him. But then the projection winks out, and Zack inhales while slowly turning away from the window.
Cloud, gaping and clearly starstruck, has his gaze still on the window above Zack. However, Kunsel just seems frozen like he's either in shock or thinking hard, and Aerith… Aerith is smiling, a knowing gleam in her eyes.
Zack angles his head, curiously asking, "Did you…"
Aerith finishes his thought, nodding. "Ask Sephiroth to go back to the Shinra Building and use the President's personal holographic projector to formally renounce Shinra?" She bats her eyes innocently. "Maaaybe.
Zack senses there's something Aerith isn't telling him—probably because she can't in present company—but someone clears their throat, and he looks up.
Tseng is staring at Aerith, brow furrowed. Zack doesn't like the sudden interest in his flower girl, so straightens up and draws attention away from her by asking, "So what's the plan, Tseng?"
The Turk looks at him, and Zack wonders if he's imagining the lack of reluctance in his voice as he says, "The only plan available to us." He frowns, exhaling a heavy breath.
'
Tseng makes the right choice letting them go. Reno isn't happy about his decision, and complains for a good few minutes until Tseng asks if he'd like to explain to Sephiroth why his companions aren't where he suggested they be. Reno had shut up pretty quickly after that.
And now Zack watches him and Tseng as their forms gets smaller and smaller against Midgar's steel outer gates. Kunsel and Sephiroth are steering the helicopter away from the brightly-lit city while Zack hangs out in the back.
He's staring out at the stars and wondering when was the last time he'd bothered looking up at the night sky before a voice whispers.
"A long time ago, I was afraid of the sky."
Zack glances at Aerith beside him, Cloud stretched on the passengers seats to his left. The blond is asleep under a gray blanket since his flower girl gave him a motion-sickness pill that made him drowsy.
"But," Zack begins, stifling his own yawn while staring at the desert wastelands below. "You're not anymore?"
A breeze whistles through the helicopter's busted windows, and he curls an arm around Aerith so she can lean into his warmth—she needs her red jacket back, the one she wears in her dreams.
"No." Aerith smiles, but her eyes are heavy with grief. "The sky actually feels more like home than the ground these days…probably because the Planet and I don't really talk as much as we used to."
Zack nods, resting his chin on his angel's head and inhaling her divine scent to block out his singed turtleneck. However, his gaze locks on a cliffside he can barely make out under the starlight, and his heart starts pounding hard while the memory of rain drums in his head.
I died there, a voice that sounds like him, yet so much older, whispers.
But that won't happen this time, Zack retorts, his arms bringing Aerith closer and hand falling gently in Cloud's hair to give it a tousle. He's got his friends and his angel, so he knows it will all work out, he's sure of it.
Zack's nose twitches as something small and wet hits his face. He looks out the window and sees dark clouds in the horizon.
Outside, the rain starts to pour.
Well, it took over 2 years, but here's the sequel to Angel in the Glass 😄 I have about 3 other parts planned after this one, but it might take a while for me to get to them. Still, I hope you enjoyed this little one-shot! And thanks to everyone who read the first story and left kind reviews, I appreciate your every word 😊
Next time: Aerith explains her time travel to the rest of the group and they make plans to fight their destinies, but Shinra isn't the only enemy trying to stop them…
Have a great day, everyone!
