Author's Note: I do not own Final Fantasy or anything affiliated with it. The rights to it belong solely to their respective owners.
Ch.16 A Date and a Truce
Once Zack, Aerith and I began searching for the parts to the flower wagon, we made our way to the accessory shop. Once there, the clerk said "Oh hi, Aerith? Are either of these two your boyfriend?" I shook my head. "I know I'm not," I said. When Zack said nothing though I frowned, looking at him. Zack's face was a curious shade of something between red and pink, and it only got worse when Aerith said "Hmm... I'm not sure yet." The clerk nodded and looked at Zack. "Hey, aren't you... You are! The guy who was chasing that kid around! I heard about you from the neighborhood folks. I thought you were just some dumb outsider, but it turns out you're a pretty good guy! I'm sorry we misjudged you. This is just a small token of our appreciation," he said. He pulled out a Soma, Hi-Potion and Remedy, handing them all to Zack.
"I have to say though, Aerith... You're not gonna find a decent, honest, kindhearted guy like this very often. This one has my stamp of approval. I hope you're very happy together," the clerk said, before going inside. While Zack grinned at the compliments I looked over at the two of them with a critical eye. The way the guy spoke, he assumed they were already in a relationship. And if things kept going the way they were, that might just happen. "No, he's not my boyfriend. I just met him. But maybe... There's something there. Maybe. Oh, wait," Aerith began, before turning to Zack. "Can I take a look inside the store?" she asked. Zack crossed his arms, confused. "So what? The whole reason you wanted to go was to shop?" he asked. Aerith frowned and hung her head. ""Then I won't," she replied. I glared at Zack, about to go off for upsetting my "little sister", but then he grinned.
"I'm just kidding! Take as long as you like," he said. Mollified, I stood back while Aerith smiled. "Thanks. Just for a little bit. I promise. She looked at the items, and I smiled. "You really like this store, huh?" I asked. She nodded. "Yeah, it's just fun to look around," told him. Zack was silent, thinking, until he said "Aerith?" "Hmm?" she replied. "To show my gratitude for that "hellooo" that woke me up... I'll but you something," Zack said. Aerith and I both blinked, before Aerith said "Oh, you don't have to. You're repaying me with a date, right?" "You said, 'Don't be silly!'," he reminded her. Aerith tried to think of a reply, saying "Well..." Zack gave her his ever-present grin. "Then consider it a one-day anniversary gift of friendship," he said. "Are you sure?' Aerith asked. "Positive," he replied.
"Okay..." Aerith said, before pointing at a pink ribbon. "This one," she declared. "Alright. I'll buy it. Be right back," Zack told her. He went inside to talk to the clerk, and a while later came back out with the ribbon. He began putting it on her, and once he was done Zack said "How's that?" "Did you put it on right? Will it stay on?" she asked. "It should be fine. Yeah, you look great!" Zack said, stepping back. Aerith did a twirl with her new pink ribbon, and I had to admit that Zack was right. It suited her. "Thank you, Zack! I'll always wear it from now!" she said, and I knew she meant it. "Hey, do you have some time?" she asked. "I guess so. Why?" Zack asked. "Why don't we go to the park?" she asked. Zack smiled, surprised. "Hey, that sounds like a date!" Zack said. "Uh-huh!" Aerith said, before freezing, and looking at me. Zack froze as well; they had completely forgotten about me.
I grinned. "Well, if the two of you are gonna be on a date, then I'd better scram, huh?" I asked. They both stuttered, trying to come of with a response. Instead I just kept grinning, and said "Well, you two have fun!" Then I ran ahead, going through the gates while leaving the two of them there, jaws slack in shock. As I ran I smirked. Those two thought I was just letting them off the hook. F that. I was just getting to the park before them so I could find a spot where I wouldn't be seen. This was, as far as I knew, the first date Aerith had ever been on, and I wasn't going to just leave her alone. Even if it was with Zack. Once I reached the park I found a large pillar I could hide behind, and did just that. A while later Zack and Aerith did appear, both of them appearing to enjoy themselves.
I looked closer and saw that they were holding hands, but did nothing. Holding hands was fine, I reminded myself. "That was a little surprising. Jace letting us be alone, I mean," she said. Zack nodded. "No kidding. I expected him to tag along and watch us, especially considering how protective he is of you," he said. Behind the pillar I grinned. Oh Zack, how clueless you can be. Aerith decided to change the subject. "So, you work with Shinra, right? Meet any SOLDIER members?" she asked. Zack raised an eyebrow, and replied "Maybe." "Do you think they're happy?" Aerith thought aloud. Zack frowned. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Heroes to children, protectors of peace. But, they're not normal. They get some kind of special surgery, right?" Aerith questioned.
Zack's frowned of confusion turned to one of displeasure. "So they say," he replied, a little more crisp. "Normal is best. I think so, at least. Those SOLDIER people are kind of... weird," Aerith said. I frowned as well at that. Weird? Zack echoed what I was thinking, saying "They're... weird, huh?" Aerith nodded. "And they're scary. They fight, and they love it," she told him. Zack frowned even further, and said "Actually, I'm with SOLDIER." Aerith gasped. "I'm sorry!" she said. Zack nodded, forgiving her instantly. I smirked. That was one good thing about Zack. They were silent for a while, until I noticed that Aerith was looking intently at Zack's face. "So pretty..." she said. At that I almost laughed and blew my cover, but managed to stop myself. "The face?" he asked.
Aerith shook her head. "The eyes!" she said. Zack grinned. "You like them? Then take a closer look," he said, leaning so that his face was closer. "Eyes infused with Mako energy. A SOLDIER trademark," he explained. Aerith smiled, but then noticed how closer they were and immediately blushed. "Oh, you!" she said, lightly shoving him. Zack laughed and stood straight. "Color of the sky, right?" he asked. She nodded. "Mm-Hmm. But no scary at all!" she said. Zack shrugged. "I'll admit thing's haven't been normal lately. What about you, Aerith? How's your life going?" he asked. Aerith shrugged as well. "I was thinking it would be a normal day, but then my best friend and some guy fell out of the sky," she said. I grinned at that, when suddenly Zack phone rang.
Mine did as well, and I quickly answered it before my cover could be blown. On the other end was none other than Lazard, who said "Agent Vallis, return to the Shinra building at once. Genesis has attacked us." I frowned. I had been entertaining the thought that Shinra could just forget about me, and I could live a semi-normal life. Looks like that wasn't going to happen. "Understood," I said shortly, before hanging up. "Well, it looks like duty calls," Zack said. "I guess so. Will I... see you again?" Aerith asked, worried. "Of course!" Zack replied, and she smiled. I chose that moment to emerge from behind the pillar, acting as if I had just gotten there. "There you two are! Zack, did you get the call?" I asked. He nodded, and I turned to Aerith.
Quickly we wrapped our arms around each other, and when we pulled back I kissed her forehead. "Well sis, I'll see you soon," I said, She nodded, and looked at both of us. "I hope your friend's okay, Zack, Jace," she said. I blinked, saying "Huh?" Aerith giggled. "You talk in your sleep. Both of you," she revealed. Zack nodded solemnly. "yeah, it'll be fine. I know that now," he said, and walked away, I gave one more wave to Aerith before following.
Once Zack and I made it back above the plate e were running along the highway, when we looked up to see the Shinra building. Currently there were a large number of flying monsters around the building, I could hear the sounds of gunfire even from here, and smoke was also coming from he building itself. "The Shinra building!" I called. Zack saw it and his expression hardened into one of anger. "Dam you, Genesis! What's the matter with you?! I will stop you once and for all!" he announced. I sighed, letting him get angry while keeping my thoughts to myself. In my opinion both Genesis and Shinra could be blown to smithereens; the world would be a better place without them. But Zack was still loyal to Shinra, and I was obligated to also help even if I wasn't.
And so, I drew Potentia and said "Yelling won't solve this problem. Fighting, on the other hand, will!" I charged forward and Zack did the same, pulling his sword off his back. We were stopped by three G Assailants, all of whom cast Fire at us. I countered one of them with Blizzard, and dodged the other before swinging at the copy. It jumped back and used its malformed wings to move even further away, tossing one of its knives. It grinned and actually caught the knife in mid-air before charging it with Thundara and jumping back. The knife flew forward and imbedded itself in the Assailants chest, releasing the stored voltage and sending the copy flying. The other two targeted Zack and he moved between them, spinning on one foot and bringing his sword around in a lethal sweep.
One of them ducked underneath the move while the other stabbed his knife into Zack's side, causing him to shout in pain. In return he turned, stabbing the Assailants in the stomach even as he was bleeding. He used his free hand to grab the knife, grunting as he pulled it out and cast Cura on the wound. The copy fell back before casting Fira, and Zack countered with Fira. His spell actually consumed the smaller one and hit the copy with both, frying it inside its armor. The other one was struggling to stand after being cut across the chest, and valiantly charged. I ran at the copy I had electrocuted and pulled the knife out of its chest, stabbing it once more in each arm before letting go of my sword to pull its helmet off. The face of Genesis greeted me, making it that much easier to stab it in the forehead.
The copy fell to the ground and I picked up my sword, flicking it to get rid of the blood. I looked over to see Zack kill the last one by dropping a Blizzara spell on its back, breaking its spine. We kept going and we were stopped by a pair of Moth Slashers, and didn't even stop. Instead I simply focused and cast Gravity. An orb of darkness appeared in the other above them before coming down and bursting, hitting both machines and cutting their health by a fourth. Then Zack cast Drain and sapped away some of its strength, using it to restore his own. The Slasher used Drill Attack and spun at me , and I rolled to the side, casting Gravity again as I did. The added force started to crush the mech, and I could feel a Limit Break occur. I put away my swords and pulled out my guns, calling "Take this! Gunfire!"
My body glowed orange-red and I fired until both of my guns were empty, the bullets covered by the same light as me. They punched right through the metal plating of the Moth Slasher, slashing and cutting wires before they stopped. Sparks flew from the bullet holes and the Slasher jerked violently, falling over and exploding. Zack blocked a swipe from the other one and severed its arm, doing the same to the other and then its head in rapid succession. The decapitated machine fell over and we resumed our run. Once we were three-fourths of the way through along the highway we found our path blocked once more... by Angeal. "I need your help," he said, not wasting time. Zack narrowed his eyes. "Do you? Honestly, what are you thinking, Angeal?" he asked.
Angeal shrugged. "I'm not really sure myself. At times, I feel as if my mind is mired in fog. But Zack, Jace, no matter what happens, I have to protect my honor. As long as I hold the Buster Sword. Zack, Jace, join me in battle. Our enemy is all that creates suffering," he said. I looked at him, trying to see if Angeal was lying. But his expression was just as stoic as ever, not giving any indication. I looked over at Zack, and I could see that he was thinking the same as me. After all that Angeal had done, after everything he had said, would it be worth it to trust him again? Eventually we nodded, and Zack looked back at Angeal. "Alright... We'll help you," he said. Angeal nodded and rose into the air with his wing, before lowering behind us.
"I'll carry you there," he said, grabbing both of us by the back of our shirts. My eyes widened as we rose into the air, and I kicked my feet. "Wait a minute! Hold on!" I said. "Let me go!" Zack said. Angeal laughed, and said "Flying feel pretty good." He flew forward, towards the Shinra building, with Zack and I beneath him.
Zack and Aerith's date went over well, but now Genesis has attacked again! Can they stop him?
Please review! If you flame me Liam Neeson will look for you, he will find you, and he will kill you. (I'm just kidding... or am I?)