"Cloud...are you sure you want to do this?" Zack asked in a husky voice glancing down a blush turning his face a bright red at the sight before him. Cloud's slender frame was so perfect as he lay completely naked on Zack's bed looking up at Zack with lust burning in his eyes.
"I've never been so sure in my life." Cloud replied in a quiet voice, chewing at his bottom lip, twisting his neck to the side and gripping at the covers on either side of him letting out the slightest of desperate whimpers, and that's about where Zack lost it. With a quick sigh he buried his face in Cloud's neck kissing, nipping and sucking at the perfectly smooth pale skin under his lips. A hand trailed down Cloud's thin body, the thinnest layer of muscle convulsing under his touch as his finger brushed along the blond's base. Cloud let out a low moan arching his back as he awaited the touch he knew was coming, and Zack didn't leave him hanging as he took Cloud's heated length in his hand and started to pump, he fell in love with the exasperated sigh that left blond's mouth...and he couldn't help but wish in that instant that this was real. He was painfully aware that this was a dream. Knowing it was a dream though he knew he didn't have to be careful. He smiled lightly as he pushed himself into Cloud, a scream from the blond echoed through the air. Zack loved it, he didn't care if it was cruel, any sound that came out of Cloud, whether it be a dream or not was the most lovely sound he had ever heard.
He started at a fast pace and listened to the sounds of pain as they turned to ones of pleasure his tone completely changing as Zack continued with his relentless pounding, one hand still pumping at Cloud's erection. After what he would assume was a couple minutes Cloud let out a very uncharacteristic laugh, an almost evil chuckle. Followed by a loud almost mocking moan. "Oh Zack," it was an almost sing song voice that Zack knew all to well and it wasn't Cloud. "I kno~w you can do better then this." The man stated, at this point Zack let his gaze drift up to the face of the person he was in the process of fucking to find, no, not Cloud, but the face of his ex. That one from Midgar, that one he was sure he had gotten rid of. Zack froze completely.
"Wh-what?" Zack exclaimed. The man below him frowned.
"What, were you not expecting me here?" He asked before smirking at Zack and wriggling his body underneath Zack's. "Come on, I love you, how could I let you leave me without saying good bye?" It was at this point that Zack pulled himself out of this man and backed up slightly. The thin, pale man before him sat up with a pained look on his face, this was all a dream, but why did it make Zack's heart pound so much. "You're not REALLY going to leave me for that...mutt. ARE you Zack?" his ex asked.
"Y-yes I am!" despite everything, Zack's retort was powerful, but as he expected his ex just smirked at him. "I told you! Cloud's the one I love! NOT YOU!" Zack yelled, his ex's smirk faltered and a frown and a serious look took it's place.
"Oh...maybe I'll have to change your mind...what if I get rid of this Cloud." He said, the serious tone of voice sent a shiver up Zack's spine, he believed this man would do it, he had no doubt in his mind. "Just give me a while...everything will go the way I plan Zack...just you watch." He said with a smirk before laughing.
"No... NO I WON'T LET YOU!"
"NO!" Zack sat bolt upright and immediately wished he hadn't, he fell back onto his pillow as his head started to pound. "Fuck." this was the last thing he wanted to deal with, his demon ex burrowing into his head and into his dreams. He was terrified that in the end he may find the need to hunt him down one day, but he would leave that to worry about at some other time, he did not want to have to worry about that. He sat back up and shifted slightly to get himself out of bed when he felt a distinct sticky feeling around his groin, he fell back onto the pillow and sighed loudly. "Can anything else go wrong?" He asked himself quietly closing his eyes. He shook his head as he got out of bed and pulled the dirty sheets off the bed before heading into the bathroom to clean himself up.
"Just give me a while...everything will go the way I plan Zack...just you watch." The words rung through his mind as he leaned against the side of the shower stall, he let out a loud sigh and shook his head before sticking himself directly under the flow of water and proceeding to clean himself up.
Out of the shower he pulled on clean underwear before lugging the dirty stuff downstairs and into the basement which was empty aside from the washer and dryer. He threw them in and turned on the machine before heading back upstairs to deal with his hair. The task of drying and styling his hair the way he had it every day took long enough that after pulling on clothes for the day he could hear the buzz of the washing machine going off, drifting up to him through the vent in the corner of the room, connecting the house to the basement. He went and switched the load over into the dryer before going upstairs and heading into the kitchen, he did not feel like putting any effort into his food so he stuck a couple pieces of toast into the toaster and sat on the floor against the fridge to wait for the sound of the spring telling him his toast was done. He stood and, out of lack of motivation just spread some peanut butter on top of the pieces and ate them like that. Simple and tasty, he had no complaints. He glanced over at the clock on the wall. 10:20AM, he was waking up later and later since his first day getting here and again he had no complaints. He figured Aerith would be by soon and they would head out. For the time being though he decided finishing off the decorating in his room would kill the time.
"Good times..." he found himself saying as he rummaged through the box of stuff he had brought, the remains of stuff which wasn't already up on the wall. His fingers rested on a rope, nothing special, just a rope that was clearly snapped at one end and starting to fray. He wrapped it around his hand and laughed. This one of the few things that reminded him of his ex and his ex's family that he had kept, he figured anything that had made him nearly piss his pants in laughter wasn't a bad memory to keep things from. Not a single streak of pain went through him at the memory. The laughter of himself and his ex and the pained cries and chuckles from the others who had been with them. Maybe his past wasn't as bad as he played it out to be, but he was glad to be here now though, he couldn't help but think this was much, much better. Especially with how well everything seemed to be going, sure he wasn't completely accepted or anything but it was much better then it should have been, or at least he thought it was.
He was brought out of his decorating when the doorbell rang. He had ended up threading the rope around the perimeter of the room about half a foot from the ceiling. He had at the time been debating whether or not to put the crystal tiger he had been given by his ex's family on his dresser or not, it was such a beautiful and expensive little trinket he hadn't been able to get rid of it, but maybe it should just stay in the box. He ended up just placing it next to a picture of himself and his family before heading downstairs. He opened the door and was not surprised as he saw Aerith standing there smiling up at him.
"Good morning Zack." She said cheerfully.
"G'morning Aerith." He said pulling on his shoes and exiting the house closing the door behind him. "We heading off now then?" he asked, although he already seen the wagon full of flowers sitting in the driveway and knew they were. Aerith just nodded and the two of them headed off down the sidewalk.
"So what did you do yesterday?" She asked with a large, bright smile. Zack didn't know where to start with that question...or how much detail he should go into.
"Well...I went and talked to Cloud." he said, Aerith cocked an eyebrow her interest piqued, "It went pretty well I guess, not much happened really...but after that Sephiroth and Genesis came over and we hung out. Shocked me too, when they just showed up at my door." he said with a laugh as he noticed the slightly shocked expression on Aerith's face. "It was a good day." he said shaking his head but smiling brightly she returned the smile and nodded.
"Hey, you know my birthday is coming up right?" she asked smiling at him seeming very excited.
"Really...I didn't know that." He said, kind of wishing he had remembered that, but that was one of the few things he had forgotten, if he thought about it he was sure he could remember it was around this time but he would never be able to remember a date.
"Yup." She said with a nod, not shocked at all that he hadn't remembered the day, "Three days away. I haven't really decided whether I should do anything or not though." She said looking down at her feet.
"I think you should, it would be fun. Having everyone together, it would be great." He said with a smile, "Even if you don't, I owe you elven birthday presents." He said laughing, she laughed too.
"Don't worry about it. I don't want you spending a lot of money on me, it's not even an important birthday." She said shaking her head and looking up at him, "But thanks Zack." Zack smiled down at her as they finally stopped in the park. He immediately launched into thinking over what he should get her for her birthday. He looked her over and quickly decided and figured he could go out later and get it for her. He couldn't get the smile off his face. Many little girls came up and bought flowers, more then usual, not that that bothered Zack or Aerith. What shocked Zack was when a familiar person approached.
"Hello, may I buy a couple flowers?" the voice was smooth and kind as he smiled at Aerith. His white hair was not tied up but it stuck out at the side like it seemed to always do. "There's a patient at the hospital I think really deserves these gorgeous decorations." he said. He looked up at Zack who was staring at him, dumbfounded. "You were at the hospital with Cloud yesterday, weren't you?" he asked. Zack felt the shocked and curious look Aerith shot him as she picked out a few flowers but Zack paid her no attention.
"Yeah, I'm Zack Fair, I moved here a few weeks ago." He said holding out his hand for Weiss to shake.
"And I'm Weiss." He took Zack's hand and they shook firmly, "Did you really manage to befriend someone like Cloud so quickly?" he asked.
"Well, I had Aerith's help getting close to him." Zack said letting go of Weiss's hand and shrugging. Weiss nodded and frowned lightly, blinking when Aerith practically thrust the flowers towards him.
"Here you go, sir." she said. Weiss's surprised expression changed to a pleased one quickly as he took the flowers. He pulled some money out of his pocket and handed it to Aerith.
"Thank you very much." he said bowing slightly. He turned to Zack, "And it was nice to officially meet you Zack. Good bye." he said as he turned and walked away. After he was out of hearing range Aerith turned to Zack.
"You went with Cloud to the hospital?" she asked with disbelief written all over her face.
"Uh, yeah. Is that so weird?" he asked cocking an eyebrow, the slightest of worry on his features. Aerith nodded and Zack sighed.
"I can't believe he likes you so much, I've never gone to visit his mother before." Aerith said shaking her head.
"Yeah well it's not like we're engaged or anything, come on, it's no big deal."
"What did you do afterwards?" Aerith asked and Zack froze up for a moment at the question wondering whether or not he should tell her exactly what happened afterwards.
"Uh...well..." Zack started trying to find the right words to describe what they had done yesterday, thankfully he was saved as someone approached. Zack had never seen this guy before, and he looked like the last person on the planet who would ever come to buy flowers from a young girl in the park. Zack just sort of stared at the large black guy who seemed to tower over Zack, and his shoulder span was nearly twice Zack's. It was a little intimidating, even to a SOLDIER member.
"Hello Barret, is something wrong?" Aerith asked him cocking her head to the side and frowning in a very concerned fashion. Zack suddenly understood, but he hadn't expected such a big guy to have such a cute little girl like Marlene, though he had been told already she was adopted.
"Yeah, somthin's wrong." He said and Aerith's concerned eyes narrowed as she waited for him to elaborate, even Zack was curious and slightly worried. "Marlene's real sick. I don't know how she got it, but I've never seen her like this before." He said, and now that Zack looked at him more closely it looked like he was on the verge of breaking down and crying.
"Marlene?" Aerith was shocked and looked genuinely upset at the news, Zack couldn't blame her though, even he had gotten really close to Marlene since he had gotten here. He frowned deeply but let Aerith continue. "Is she going to be alright?" She asked. Barret seemed about to answer when another voice cut in.
"Whoa, whoa! Marlene's sick, yo?" Reno stepped up to stand at Aerith's other side, Rude standing right behind him. "That's not cool, man. Is she in the hospital?"Zack had to blink a couple times wondering if he was still dreaming or something, this didn't seem like the kind of thing Reno would have any part in. But what did he know, all he really knew right now was that he felt sort of left out at the moment.
"Yeah, don't know when she's gettin out either, so I'm gunna buy her some flowers." Barret said, Aerith was already picking some out for poor Marlene. Zack couldn't help but wonder if the person Weiss had bought flowers for was Marlene, she definitely did seem like she would be the kind of person who would get that sort of treatment from the people who worked with her.
"Hey, throw in some flowers from me too Aerith." Reno said motioning to her with his chin. She nodded and Reno reached into the pockets of his black pants looking for his wallet. "Hey, Barret, you heading down there now, yo?" Reno asked. Barret nodded, "Aight, then I'm going with you. You kay with that Rude?" Reno said looking over his shoulder at his friend who nodded.
"Here you guys go." Aerith said holding a small bunch of flowers out to both Barret and Reno before accepting their money. She then turned to Zack, "Do you want to go with them too?" she asked. Zack nodded.
"You can stash that in our office on the way." Reno said pointing at the cart of flowers and Aerith nodded. The five of them started down the street towards the hospital in the city over, the same trek Zack had made the other day, except this time with a very strange array of people with him instead of one gorgeous blond. Zack wasn't spoken to on the way though, at least not until they stopped by Reno and Rude's office to drop off the cart. Reno unlocked the door and ushered them with one hand, still clutching to the flowers he had purchased. Before Zack stepped in he put his arm out and closed the door, "I wanna say something to you." Reno said with a frown and a rather serious face. Zack found it rather humorous since the look very clearly didn't suit Reno.
"Is something wrong?" Zack asked his brows furrowing slightly, his tone unable to stay completely serious since he was talking to someone like Reno.
"Hey man look, I'm sorry for how I treated you the last time we talked. I may have been unfair." He said with a shrug crossing his arms and leaning against the door causally. Zack blinked a couple times as he took in what Reno just said.
"No it's alright...I mean yeah, you were pretty harsh...but I picked at a sensitive subject I understand." Zack said shaking his head. He saw the smirk cut onto Reno's face.
"You're a nice guy, I was wrong with what I called you, yo." Reno stated. He put out a hand, "So let's start fresh, pal."
"Fine by me." Zack said taking Reno's hand and giving it a sturdy shake. As they let go the door opened again and Zack was thinking over this whole 'fresh start' concept...maybe it wasn't that bad to get to start fresh with everyone, it could have been worse, couldn't it? As they headed off again he couldn't help as his eyes drifted up to sky as he lost himself in thought he was pretty sure he hadn't thought as much in his life as he had in the past few weeks.
As they approached the hospital Zack analyzed the group he was walking with. Aerith, who was walking next to him looked rather down, a frown on her face and her green eyes directed towards the floor. Reno seemed rather nonchalant with his hands in his pockets the smallest frown on his face but his eyes facing forward, his stride was long and careless though. Rude didn't show any real emotion on his face and walked with his hands in fists swinging at his sides. Barret though looked like he could break down at any second, back in the city, he was pretty sure he would find the sight quite amusing, but right now he could only manage completely concerned.
They headed up to the floor Cloud's mom was on and down the hall past her room. One of the nurses looked like she was going to say 'no more then two people can visit at a time' but looked the group over a couple times before letting them go on in. Marlene was being fed, or told to eat, by Weiss. He was smiling at her and praising her for doing as she was told. He looked up at the guests and Marlene followed his gaze. She smiled as she noticed them, "Hi daddy." she said as Barret walked towards her and kneeled down next to her ruffling her hair slightly and smiling, though he still looked like he was about to cry. She looked at everyone else, "Hi, Ms. Aerith, Mr. Zack and Mr. Turks." She said looking at each of them in turn.
"Yo, it's been a while hasn't it." Reno said stepping forward. "I brought you some of Aerith's flowers...but looks like you already got some, hmm?" he said eyeing the canary yellow flowers on her bedside. Weiss looked at the ground and scratched the back of his head.
"Ah, yes I bought her those." He said under his breath. Everyone in the room, minus Marlene, looked towards him. He bit his lip a little before looking up at them with a smile, "It's not a problem is it?" he asked.
"Course not, yo." Reno said with a smile, "The more the merrier right?" he said with a laugh. Weiss smiled.
"Well, I'll leave you guys alone now." he said standing giving the group the slightest of bows before walking on past them. Reno shrugged slightly before he stepped and looked down at Marlene.
"You remember me?" he asked with a toothy grin.
"Yeah, you're that guy who's always drunk and asking me how old I am." Marlene said with a laugh. Reno laughed as well and Barret gave him a sharp look which Reno noticed immediately.
"Hey, hey don't worry about it." he said shaking his hands as though to show he was innocent, "I would never do anything to Marlene, I may be a punk ass pervert but I have my boundaries." He said with a smile.
"Yeah, don't worry daddy, he said he'd wait till I'm in high school." Marlene said innocently looking from the red head to Barret. Barret turned a glare to Reno who slapped his palm to his forehead and the innocent comment that was almost enough to get him killed.
"Marlene...you weren't supposed to say that...do you want daddy to kill me?" he said lowering his hand as he looked at Marlene with a smile, his eyebrow raising in the middle. Marlene blinked a couple times not understanding why she wasn't supposed to say that. Zack laughed awkwardly and stepped forward resting his hands on Reno's shoulders pulling him back slightly.
"It was just a joke Marlene, that's why you shouldn't have said it. Right, Reno?" Zack said looking from Marlene who nodded in agreement to Reno, his words sharp. He let go of Reno who backed up more, farther away from Barret.
"Of course, I could never do anything to Marlene ever, besides...I was drunk when I said that..." he said his voice trailing off in a thoughtful manner near the end. Barret still didn't look all that impressed. Aerith walked around and gathered up all their flowers moving and putting them into the vase with Weiss's before stepping up beside Marlene.
"How are you feeling, sweetie?" She said running her hands through the little girls bangs smiling down at her.
"I'm fine...I just feel a little sick." It didn't look like she was lying, she probably wasn't but it had to be something more then just feeling a little under the weather for them to have brought her into the hospital none of them asked though. "thank you for the flowers everyone." she said looking from Aerith to the other men in the room with a smile. "They're really pretty." Zack felt a pang in his heart at those words, she was so innocently adorable he didn't know what he would do if something was seriously wrong with her. He was pretty sure he wasn't the only one who was feeling that way though as he looked around at the rest of the rooms occupants. Reno had a very forced smile on, Aerith had a frown on, Barret was looking out the window with a solemn expression...Rude though, Rude was the only person Zack couldn't read at all.
"Ah, I'm sorry, but you guys are going to have to leave soon. A doctor is coming to look at Marlene." Weiss said stepping into the room.
"Can't they stay?" Marlene asked with a frown obviously loving the company. Weiss was silent for a moment as he looked around. His gaze landed on Barret.
"You're her father right?" he asked. Barret nodded, "Then I'm sure you can stay. But the rest of you are going to have to leave soon." He said shrugging, "Sorry...we aren't even supposed to let more then two or three people in a room at a time. I'll come tell you when you have to go." He said walking back out of the room.
"You guys have to go soon?" Marlene asked frowning up at the group of adults.
"Yes sweetie we're going to have to leave soon, I'm sorry." Aerith said running a hand through her bangs and smiling down at her before standing up and taking a step back.
"Don't worry though we'll come back and visit you again, yo." Reno said with a laugh giving the young girl a salute, she gave a short laugh and Reno smiled fondly at her.
"Well, we better get going." Zack said scratching the back of his head with a smile. Aerith looked at Zack and nodded in agreement, "We'll come visit you again as well Marlene don't worry."
"Okay goodbye Aerith, goodbye Mr. Zack." She said with a smile tilting her head to the side and looking as innocent as she had ever been. Zack and Aerith waved.
"Bye Marlene." The two of them said together before walking out of the room and waving to Weiss on their way down the hall. As they walked they passed the room which Cloud's mom was staying in. Zack couldn't help but look at it as they passed it before turning to Aerith.
"Do you know what's wrong with Cloud's mom?" he asked in a hushed voice. Aerith looked at him, her look almost shocked at the question. Before looking up and thinking about it for a while. She shook her head as she looked back at Zack.
"No, I don't know that much about it, but she's been sick for five years now...since Cloud was 14...I remember how upset he used to be..." she explained in a quiet voice holding her hands behind her back and looking down at the ground a small frown pulling onto her features.
"For 5 years..." Zack whispered looking off to the side towards the room Cloud's mother was staying. "So..." he turned back to face Aerith, "Cloud's been on his own since he was fourteen?" Zack asked.
"Yes." she replied nodding slowly, "His father died a long time ago...I don't even remember when anymore." she said shaking his head. Zack nodded and looked forward, he had sort of figured that Cloud's dad was out of the picture already. They walked in silence getting closer and closer to the front door.
"How did he manage to live by himself like that for so long?" Zack asked more to himself, shaking his head and looking down at the tiles moving quickly by his feet. Aerith was looking up at him.
"My mother used to take care of him alot...but he managed very well on his own, even with all his cats and everything."
"Those cats...why does he have so many?" Zack asked looking back to Aerith with eyebrows furrowed tightly together. Aerith actually let out a short laugh which caught Zack off guard since they were talking so seriously before this.
"Cloud can't leave someone or something alone, not like how he was, so he couldn't help but pick them up when he found them. He'd probably bring any animal he found outside by themselves home." Aerith said with a shrug.
"He really is a good guy isn't he..." Zack said shaking his head. It wasn't a question, he was sure of what he was saying but he figured it didn't matter whether Aerith took it as a question or not, he was curious as to what Aerith thought about him anyway.
"He is." Aerith stated nodding looking off to the side slightly, "He may be strange or different...or whatever you think he is," she said with a laugh, "But he really is." She said sending a very soft smile towards Zack.
"Yeah...I know." Zack said as he finally pushed the door open and stepped outside a light breeze ruffling the spikes of hair that stuck out at the back of his head. He started walking down and out onto the sidewalk when he finally realized that Aerith was eying him. "What?" he asked with a frown.
"So you and Cloud, did you just visit his mom here yesterday, or did something else go on, I mean you DO like him don't you?" Aerith asked unable to keep from smirking up at Zack. The tanned haired man blinked a couple times.
"Well yeah I like Cloud, but that doesn't mean we did anything. What would make you think that we did?" Zack said with a chuckle shaking his head and turning his gaze away from Aerith, but she didn't let up her gaze. Zack sighed loudly, "We went and got ice cream afterwards and...I kissed him." Zack said looking down at the ground a slight blush forming high on his cheeks a goofy smile coming to his face. He glanced back at Aerith who hadn't said anything.
"You KISSED him." she almost yelled in utter disbelief. Zack took in her completely shocked expression before looking down at the ground his blush darkening and covering more of his face.
"Yes, is there something wrong with that?" he asked directing the question at the ground slightly embarrassed but he was unable to keep the goofy smile off his face as he thought over the small step forward he had made the other day with Cloud. Before he could even try to think of listening to an answer from Aerith though she threw her arms around his neck and he was left supporting her entire weight as her feet sprung off the ground.
"Congratulations!" she exclaimed loudly, "I'm so proud of you!" she said rubbing her face into Zack's neck. Zack couldn't help but be slightly confused at her outburst it was clear that the blush that had taken control of his face had no intention of letting up either.
"It was just a kiss, it's not like we're officially going out or anything." Zack said managing to get Aerith off of his neck before he was strangled.
"Yeah but with someone like Cloud, that's a huge step forward Zack. It's just a matter of time, right?" she ended with a question cocking her head to the side and smiling up at Zack looking more like a puppy then he was sure he ever had.
"I guess." Zack said looking away and scratching the back of his head, he sure hoped it was just a matter of time from here on out. "But he could just forget it ever happened, hell I sort of think I just dreamt it." he said shaking his head and sighing his mind replaying parts of the dream he had had the night before quickly as they continued walking after this brief stop.
"Anyway, I'm proud of you Zack, you are definitely getting somewhere trust me." Aerith said with a smiling patting Zack on the arm. Zack couldn't help but have the hope surge up in him truly believing Aerith, she was such a nice person, he couldn't help but silently be angry at himself for turning her down the way he had when she had confessed to him, though she seemed perfectly fine with just helping Zack with his own relationships at the moment. He would have to make it up to her for her birthday...her birthday, he stopped in his tracks at the thought. He needed to get her something and he needed to get her something good.
"Um, Aerith I have to do something in town here, do you mind going home by yourself?" he asked his brows raising in the middle in a sympathetic matter, "I'm sorry I didn't remember sooner, but it's really important." Aerith blinked as he spoke taking a step back.
"Oh that's fine, I believe you Zack." She said with a small smile looking a bit down.
"Hey, don't worry this is worth it, and you'll love me for it trust me." He said before taking a few steps back, "I'll talk to you later. See ya Aerith." Zack said before turning and running down the streets, realizing it was rude but being unable to do anything about it now as he looked over his shoulder and waved at Aerith, she waved back with the slightest of smiles on her faces before continuing her relatively long walk back to her house.
Zack had ended up looking in about ten different stores before he found one, a jewellery store where he figured he may as well test his luck. Walking in everything seemed to shine, the dark decorating accenting the crystals displayed all over the relatively large show room. He looked around, impressed by what he was seeing, until, of course, he eyed the price tags on the jewels.
"Hello, may I help you look for something?" a girl asked stepping up to stand next to Zack. He looked down at her and was shocked to see how young she looked, definitely not like someone who would be working in such a refined looking place, though her clothes looked nice enough. She had her short black hair tied up as much she could with a long ribbon which hung down to the bottom of her shoulder blades. She couldn't be more then 5 foot 2 inches and had a huge smile plastered on her Wutainese face.
"No I'm just looking, but thanks." Zack said with a small, dismissive wave of his hand. The smile did not leave her face, she was clearly very good at what she was doing, or just enjoyed her work, Zack wasn't going to ask, though he knew more then anyone that the people in this town all had very interesting backgrounds and he would love to hear this young girl's, but not now.
"Alright," she started, elongating her syllables as she spoke, in a relatively childish tone, "but come find me when you've found something, or admit that you need help." she said with a laugh showing him a large toothy smile. He laughed to as she walked away and he went around again to appreciating the fine jewels that littered his surroundings, and flinching at the rather intimidating price tags. He knew it was all within his price range but he didn't think he was willing to spend this much money on a birthday gift, even if Aerith really deserved it, he would never ever think of something like this before.
It took a lot of looking around before he finally found stuff within his price range and his eyes fell on the perfect thing. He smiled as he saw a silver chain which at the end held a gorgeous aquamarine, translucent orb, it had a radius of about an inch and it looked perfect. He smiled and let out a sigh completely happy with this catch. As though a bell had gone off the young Wutainese girl, who Zack swore couldn't be more then 16 years old, was at his side.
"You found something you want?" she asked with a smile.
"Uh yeah." Zack replied looking from the young girl to the necklace before pointing at it. "That one please."
"Oooh, nice choice. Is it for your girl~friend~?" she asked with a laugh jokingly extending her words. Zack found it ammusing as she took a key off her neck and opened the case taking out the neckalce.
"No, just for a friend, I owe her a lot." he said with a smile. She looked up at him before turning and walking towards the counter, Zack followed her and she rung up the necklace without saying another word. Zack was relatively pleased with the number it rang up to, sure it was still rather high but it was for Aerith and he knew he had to give her at least this.
"Well thanks for shopping here." the young girl said as she packed the necklace into a box and covered it with fabric to keep it from breaking. She handed it to Zack and smiled, "Hope she likes it." she finished with that huge smile of hers. Zack nodded as he turned and headed for the door.
"Bye." Zack said waving over his shoulder. The young girl waved back rather exuberiently as the door closed behind Zack. He looked down at the box in his hands before starting on his rather long walk home.
During this walk home he came across a small acessory store on the corner of a street and found something else to get for Aerith. He exited the store shortly with a soft pink ribbion of a very nice material tied around his wrist. He really did hope that Aerith appreciated the stuff he was getting for her. He was sure though that she would appreciate anything he gave her, no matter if he made it, or spent hundreds of dollars on it.
Stepping into his house and locking the door he stepped into the kitchen. He placed the gifts down on the table before making his way to the fridge taking out an apple and biting into it before heading upstairs. He wanted to get one more thing to add to his present for Aerith. Again looking through his pictures he found the one where Aerith, Tifa, Genesis, Reno, Rude, Tseng, Cissinei and Rufus managed to cause enough commotion to make an entertaining picture but still fit in the frame of the photo. He smiled down at all the young faces before rummaging for a some sort of paper he could use to wrap the gift up in.
After not finding any sort of paper to wrap it up in he headed downstairs and and put the ribbion in the box with the necklace. He managed to find a thin paper picture frame from school and put the picture in it so he could scrawl on the back 'Happy Birthday Aerith. I owe you for 11 birthdays. Love, Zack' before putting it in an envelope and writing Aerith on the front. In the end he was very happy with it and sighed as he headed on upstairs. He glanced at his window and decided, why not.
He crawled out onto the roof and lay himself down next to it so he could look up at the stars that had started to litter the sky. He smiled, his arms folding behind his head as he let out a content sigh. Things were definitely going his way, nothing could ruin this, he was sure of that much. He seemed to be making progress with Cloud; Genesis and Sephiroth were here and he had managed to reunite with them as well; Aerith was as kind as she had ever been; Reno had finally forgiven him and was even trying to make friends with him; he had met many new people who, for the most part, seemed friendly enough. It was nice and he could breath easy knowing all this. This place was just what he wanted it to be now. It seemed to be heaven.
"How many times do I have to tell you to shut the fuck up!" So much for heaven. Zack sat up as the voice rang through the night air. He knew it was familiar but he couldn't place it right away. When he saw the figure that was clearly Cid's though it seemed to all come together for him. He was turned and yelling at a man who was walking quickly behind him, a man whose long hair trailed out behind him but was lost in the darkness of the night, Vincent.
"Then why do you keep ignoring me?" Vincent shot back. Zack hoped they couldn't see him where he was sitting, so far it didn't seem like they did. He wondered what was really going on between them. This was the second time he had seen them argue like this. He couldn't help but be curious, he couldn't help but eavesdrop, though they didn't seem to be trying to keep it all that hush hush.
"Because you won't leave me alone!" Cid yelled taking a drag from the lit cigarette between his fingers. Zack could tell Vincent was not impressed by the response, despite how little he could see of his face.
"I don't know WHAT you think I am but I've had it with you, Highwind." Vincet growled in a voice Zack could barely hear, but it gave him goosebumps. The black haired man sure could be intimiadting.
"Finally, what do you think I've been TRYING to do." Cid said and Zack could practically hear him rolling his eyes as he watched him turn around and start to walk away leaving a dumbfounded Vincent. Zack's eyes trailed and lingered on Vincent, he saw a flash of scarlet which were Vincent's eyes as the pale man turned towards Zack before walking off in the direction he had come, opposite Cid. Zack had tensed up completely at the look Vincent had given him. He hoped the fact that he had heard that little quarrel didn't put him on bad terms with both of them, that was the last thing he wanted. But he wasn't sure it was anger Zack had seen in the look Vincent had shot him.
Zack sighed loudly, shaking his head as he stood up and headed back in through the window and sat down on his bed. Maybe heaven wasn't the best word to describe this place. If anything he would have to call it, interesting, for such a forgetful city.
This is when you yell at me for taking so long to write such a short chapter. I'm sorry, school just started up so I've been very busy for the past while. It's a long weekend here in Canada though so I'll definitely try and get some stuff done with this story at least. Also I only mean to sound slightly racist with how I spoke about Barret, that is me showing that white people are allowed to be racist too, cuz it pisses me off that only coloured people can make fun of other coloured people(and white people). Anyways, next chapter = the first chapter in Cloud's PoV, so I hope you're looking forward to it.|
~Fire