Reunion - minus Jenova (Rabanastre) Closed

[Kupo]

Zack was sick of travelling. Searching high and low for any of his friends without so much as a break was quite taxing. His feet were sore, he was tired - oh so tired! Yet his spirits couldn't have been higher. He had Aerith by his side now and he just couldn't help but smile every time he looked at her, heard her voice or simply felt her presence there beside him. It didn’t matter that they’d spent who knew how long hopping from boat to airship to walking in what seemed like an endless cycle of trudging and feeling a bit motion sick. She made up for all that, though he did find himself missing the Shinra helicopter every time they started a new leg of the journey.

Aside from Aerith, his motivation was found in the friends he really did miss. Angeal was on his mind a lot. On one of the boat trips he had sat down on the deck and started tending to the buster sword in the warmth of the day. It had grown weather worn and rusty in the years since he’d used it and as he removed that rust and honed the blade he couldn’t help but think of his mentor. After all, he was only just a little bit more important than this sword, this symbol of honour. This sword had seen so much blood and a lot more wear and tear than it ever ought to have. He’d used it to fight tooth and nail through Genesis and Shinra and Cloud had used it in his own journey too.

He wondered if Cloud had fully understood the symbolism of the buster sword when it had been in his possession. He also wondered if he ever found Angeal he’d have to give it back. That was a thought that he wasn’t sure if he’d enjoy. It would be satisfying to return it to its rightful owner yet it was like a limb now and giving it back would be a little bit like losing part of him.

Now as they arrived in the vast mass of buildings known as the City of Rabanastre, the sword was shining happily in its holster on his back. Zack was looking up at the buildings and round at the locals with wide eyes. He always seemed to be in awe of these otherworldly places and felt a bit like a child in a toy shop – it was too much to take in all at once so instead he glanced this way and that, his Mako blue eyes darting all over the place as he tried his best to absorb as much of the surroundings as he could.

It was early evening now, and the light illuminating the city was soft and hued slightly orange as it fell over everything in sight, casting long shadows. Zack and Aerith wandered in the warmth left after a hot day. They spent a lot of time wondering round bazaars, trying food and asking some of the traders if they’d seen anyone that matched the general descriptions of their friends. He was genuinely shocked when a strange lizard-esque merchant said that he had seen a guy that looked like Cloud not all that long ago. He really didn’t know what to make of it – Cloud was a very distinct looking guy and the merchant sounded so certain. He pointed them in the direction that he’d seen this Cloud look-a-like wander off in and Zack and Aerith rushed off.

They’d been looking so long that he was half expecting never to find him but that’s how he’d felt back in Balamb when it seemed fate took a lovely twist. He was trying so hard not to let his hopes rise too high lest this hint prove to be false. In fact he was just telling himself not to expect the word of a weird looking lizard person to add up to much when he spotted the blonde spikes. Instantly he regretting not trusting the merchant completely and forgetting himself he ran forward as lightly and stealthily as he could. There was no mistaking him now that he was close and so he slowed to a walk, approaching his living legacy from behind almost like a wild animal stalking its prey. He was so excited, so happy to see his friend that his playful nature was just taking over.

Then he pounced, springing over the small distance that still separated them in a heartbeat, and grabbed him round the shoulders in a one armed bear hug. Then he took his fist and rubbed his knuckles into his head.
“Imagine finding a backwater boy like you in a big city like this!” he exclaimed, a little strain in his voice from holding him in a vice like grip and making sure that his knuckles really were digging into that golden covered head.

[Cloud]

Five days in such a large city made Cloud weary, he wanted to leave but the first airship in days won’t be arriving until later that night. It wasn’t the strange people that he had met since his arrival, the lizard like merchants grew on him, it was just that the city seemed to thrive on a sense of chaos that was lost to him. He didn’t enjoy such things. Despite this, there he stood in the middle of a bustling market, people shoving their way through the crowd seeking the wares they desired. Against all appearances, Cloud was not as lost as he looked, he just didn’t know what to do. He had visited different markets, learning new things about places he had never been to or head of, trying strange new foods in the same manner. The blonde was pulled from his deep thought by the familiar sound of helicopter propellers off in the distance, a curious site to see a Shinra transport this far away from home. Cloud had no doubt that they had interest in cities such as this; however what that interest would be was beyond him at this point. No one knew what Rufus Shinra was thinking anymore. He watched the ‘chopper disappear off in the distance behind some buildings, leaving his sight and mind. He had more pressing matters to worry about; he didn’t have the time to baby sit them too.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

“Huh…?”

Reaching into his pocket, Cloud removed his cellphone and flipped it open, slightly surprised by having a signal.

“Hey Cloud, how are you? You’re not answering the phone again, what are you up to? Tseng called, he wants to meet with you. He wouldn’t say why, but it sounds important. Cloud, please call back.”

“Sorry… Tifa…”

He closed the phone with a snap, mindlessly stuffing it back into his pocket while his thoughts were on Tseng. It had been over two years since he had heard from anyone in Shinra. After the fight in Edge, Cloud distanced himself from the corporation and its people the best he could. It seemed no matter how far from it he got, they always seemed to reel him back in. Even now he was already doing what they’d want. Everyone wanted to know the cause of the merge and its effects, Shinra was no exception.

No sooner than the step forward he took, he was suddenly ensnared in the arm of a man with considerable strength. His initial reaction was to fight back, but much to his surprise knuckles were digging painfully into the top of his skull. What was going on?! Who was this?

“Imagine finding a backwater boy like you in a big city like this!”

Cloud’s eyes widened, it couldn’t be! He pulled himself out of the other’s grasp and quickly turned to face him. “Z…Zack!?” He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, was this a hallucination? Slowly he took a step towards the SOLDIER and reached out, gingerly touching the side of his face. His fingers brushed up against skin, Zack was real! His mind raced back to the rain soaked day that took Zack’s life, and here he was standing before him with the same carefree smile he always had as if nothing had ever happened. Before he could stop himself, Cloud pulled Zack towards him and tightly embraced him. He didn’t care how or why Zack came back, he was just happy that he did.

“Welcome back…. old friend.”

[Kupo]

He could feel the shock hit the young man in his grip at the sound of his words, even if he couldn’t see his facial reaction. He loosened off the hold and allowed Cloud to slip free of his arm, removing knuckles from his poor head. “Z…Zack!?” came his voice, that soft voice. It had been too long since he’d heard him. He had changed since the ShinRa days, that was plain to see. He looked a little older now and Zack would have sworn he’d gotten at least a tiny bit taller too. It seemed that Cloud was just as unsure about the reality of the whole situation as Zack had been when talking to the merchant, as he reached up to touch his face.

The grin on Zack’s face felt like a new permanent feature, he doubted he’d ever be able to stop smiling in those moments. So as the younger of the two confirmed that he was physically real he stood there quietly, smiling like an idiot. The sensation of his fingers on his face brought back a lot of memories. Memories of turning to a little more than catatonic boy and intrusting to him all the things he had failed to accomplish in life. And looking back now it seemed he’d done a damn good job. It seemed like no matter where Zack had stumbled and failed, Cloud had succeeded. Sephiroth in Nibelhiem was the perfect example of that. Zack had been unable to kill the fellow SOLDIER first class yet Cloud had taken up his sword and done it for him.

In that brief moment of nostalgia, Zack couldn’t have been more proud. He was glad he’d become his living legacy and-

“Whoa-!”

He didn’t get a chance to finish his thought, he was taken off guard by Cloud’s sudden hug. He hesitated for a fraction of a second simply because he was taken aback by the gesture but a heartbeat later his arms were wrapped around his friend too, sharing a hug.

“Welcome back…. old friend.”

“Cloud...” He really hadn’t known what to expect when they finally found each other but he certainly hadn’t expected such a warm welcome. “Cloud, I’m sorry... for everything.” His voice was serious, but only for a moment as he pulled out of the hug at length.

“I gotta say though, you did a damn good job without me. I was your inspiration right!?” he added with a chuckle. Zack had finally gotten out that apology and it felt like another weight was taken off of his chest but he didn’t want to dwell on the past in such a happy reunion. “You know though, I’m not the only one who’s happy to see you again...” he said happily, grabbing him by the shoulders once more and wheeling him round to face Aerith. He didn’t want to hog all the reunion glory and he knew Aerith would be keen to share in this happiness and that Cloud would be just as excited to see her again. He flashed her a grin too as the spiky haired pair stood facing her.

[Griever]

There was something about Rabanastre that Aerith liked, though she couldn't quite put a name to it. It felt like an open, inviting sort of place, despite its tall buildings and crowded streets; there was a kind of life to the merchant calls and the constant hum of talk here that was nothing at all like Edge or Midgar, the vibrant bustle of a place that had never known the horrors of Meteorfall or Geostigma. Here she could look up and see the sky above her, no matter how high the walls around soared. It was a freedom that she never had been able to take for granted, when for so many years, the whole of her world had lain under a metal plate.

The days of travel and fruitless searching weren't so bad, now that Zack was with her. In his company, she was content, even when their scant leads turned up empty. They talked a lot, of what they saw, of where they went, of their long-ago memories, flower carts and little dates in the slums. But they never talked of their time in the Lifestream. There was a mutual, unspoken understanding there, that it was the one subject that bore too much weight to touch. They both knew exactly what it had been, and that was enough.

The important thing was now. To live, because they could.

There were times of silence, too, long periods where words weren't necessary at all. It was a strange thing from Zack, who always had such a tendency to talk about anything that came to mind, no matter how trivial. But that was something she'd always liked about him.

The quiet was okay. In some ways, it said more than speech ever could.

Zack was wandering ahead of her, taking in the sights of the unfamiliar city with the wide-eyed curiosity of a child, and Aerith was smiling as she watched him. When they arrived, she'd been right there with him, but now she found herself hanging back a little, distracted by thought. More and more, recently, Cloud had been on her mind. The simplest things sparked questions - had he been here? Did he know this place even existed?

It would always start out like that, anyway, but inevitably the questioning turned to deeper things. Here, in the middle of so much that was unfamiliar, was he okay? Maybe he was out there somewhere, trying to change the whole world again...or maybe he just wanted to let things be, for once. No one could blame him for that. He'd carried his burdens for too long already.

Really, it didn't seem possible, that he could be here, of all places. That...bangaa, was he called? He'd been so confident, but the world was so big now. A thousand people could've looked like Cloud, to someone who didn't know him. There was hope, almost wild hope, in her as she followed Zack through the pressing crowds, but she didn't dare to put all of her trust in it. They'd been disappointed too many times already.

So when she finally saw that familiar blonde hair, that particular stance of his, Aerith found herself frozen in place. Zack was all boyish exuberance and laughter, but for a moment, all she could do was watch and let herself take in the sight of him. A smile spread across her features, slow, almost hesitant to believe it. Cloud looked...he looked stronger than she'd seen him since they had first met. All of his doubts, all of the weight he'd carried around, had finally been settled. Before she knew it, she was laughing, and she didn't even know why.

And then Zack spun him around to look at her, and she was as unprepared as the blonde. Green eyes widened; Aerith started visibly at the sudden sight of his face, then fixed Zack with a faintly reprimanding glance before turning her focus entirely to Cloud. Slowly, she took a step forward, and somehow she knew she was smiling like an absolute fool, and she didn't care at all.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Suddenly, she found herself moving toward him, and she caught one of his hands in both of hers, overwhelmed by the need to be sure he was there, he was real, even as he'd done to Zack.

"Cloud..." There was so much more she wanted to say, so much, but the words wouldn't even form. Her thin fingers tightened. It was okay. This was enough.

[Cloud]

Cloud tried to say something, anything, to Zack. He had nothing to be sorry for, the blonde was far from holding anything against his friend for what had happen years ago. In his mind Shinra was responsible, but nevertheless, what was in the past was then, and here is now. He had learned that it was for the best to look forward, ‘dilly dallying’ over what had been would only get you scolded at by your closest friends, and perhaps some unneeded misery alongside it. The only problem was that seeing Zack did not only bring him great happiness, but many, oh so many, unanswered questions. Cloud couldn’t help but wonder why his best friend had returned from the Life Stream, or more importantly how. His eyes narrowed slightly as he fell into deep thought, going silent as Zack went on. The merge obvious was the culprit, but it still didn’t answer how.

Cloud looked back into Zack’s eyes and gave him quick affirmative nod. Zack had indeed been a big part of what drove him, his relentless desire to make sure that his death would have not been in vain. So many had died because of what Shinra had started. It was hard to imagine how many lives were affected. In some way probably everyone suffered in some way, not even the children were spared. Even now Denzel was probably worrying himself over Cloud’s whereabouts, unable to let go of the man who had saved him from the ruins of Midgar.

There it was again, guilt. It always showed its face in some form whenever Cloud was least expecting it.

He had no time to dwell on it for too long; before he knew it Zack took him by the shoulders and spun him around. As if seeing Zack wasn’t enough of a shock, he was now face to face with Aerith. Her brilliant green eyes, smooth skin and flowing brown hair; he took in her sight entirely while in disbelief. Laying her body to rest was perhaps one of the hardest things Cloud had ever done. His memories of her were among some of his most cherished and conflicting.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

And then as quickly as the troubled thoughts had appeared, they were gone. He couldn’t help but laugh at what she said. It was so true yet quite an understatement. He had missed them so much, had done so much in their memory, now to have them both standing here before him; the emotions were all starting to catch up with him. He had to look away as she took his hand, almost startled by the small tears forming in his eyes. <- (Tears of happiness, mind you.)

“Yeah, too long. I’ve missed you both more than… I can ever say.”

There was nothing else he could say. What was there that could be said to them? Welcome back? No, they never left him to begin with. Cloud knew in his heart that they were there the whole time, helping him along the way.

It was a sudden and spontaneous, just as it had been with Zack, Cloud pulled her close, embracing her with one arm while keeping a hold of her hand with his. “There are so many things I wish I could change, that I could do again, but now that you’re here, I feel as if I am getting my second chance.”

Cloud, with slight hesitation, let go of Aerith and took a step back so both of them were within his sight. “Aerith, Zack… Thank you, for being there for me, and now I can return the favor. ”

[Kupo]

Zack was beaming as he felt the shock emanate from Cloud and he chuckled as Aerith glanced at him as though she was about to scold him. He might have pushed the reunion on the pair just a tad but it was going to happen anyway. If Aerith wasn’t ready to see Cloud yet then she never would be. He knew it didn’t matter as soon as the idiot grin on his own face seemed to infect her too. He even spotted the teary glint in Cloud’s eyes and felt an urge to make fun of him for it but that didn’t feel right, not yet at least. Maybe he’d tease him about it later... He watched cheerfully as the tentative first touch turned into a hug.

Everything he said rang true for Zack too, words just couldn’t do justice to the feelings between them and it really was like a second chance to make up for all he’d failed to do before and this time without Shinra ruining everything. What he said next though touched Zack the most though.

“Aerith, Zack… Thank you, for being there for me, and now I can return the favor. ”

He wanted to tell him to be quiet, that there was no favour to repay. If anything Zack felt that he still owed Cloud for failing to come through for him when he’d needed it the most. Instead of saying this he simply bounced forward and grabbed them both round the shoulders and pulled them towards him. With an arm around each holding them to his sides and the evening sun on their backs he let out a hearty laugh.

“You can return the favour! You can buy dinner!” he exclaimed giving Cloud an extra squeeze. He tossed his head back and turned his eyes up to the riot of colours that was the sky. He’d promised Aerith he’d show her the sky and been unable to do so but now, under one as glorious as this, reunited with his closest friends none of his failures in the past seemed to matter one tiny little bit. It was hard to imagine anything more perfect than their current setting. He let out a sigh, feeling the pressure leave him at last. It had been a long time coming but he finally felt free of the past and ready to really savour the present.

[Griever]

"You've gotten stronger, Cloud." A smile was playing on Aerith's lips as she released his hand, albeit with a strong twinge of reluctance. "I'm glad."

He had seemed so confident, back then, when they'd been traveling the world together in search of Sephiroth, always stubbornly moving forward. But she knew him too well to believe it. It was easy to put on a brave face when the alternative was consuming doubt. So he hid it, from her, from the others, even from himself, behind a mask of strength and surety. But sometimes - in those rare moments when he thought no one was looking - it came to the surface, and when it did, it seemed almost too much to bear.

She didn't see that anymore. He had grown in the past few years, more, she was certain now that she was face-to-face with him, than she had realized from her distant vantage point. No more carrying a weight that wasn't his to bear. Cloud was different, calmer, and maybe not quite so straightforward - but it was genuine. She could look straight into his mako-blue eyes, and he wouldn't turn them away in hesitation.

Tifa deserved some thanks for that.

Zack's voice abruptly cut into her thoughts, then, even as he caught her around the shoulders with one arm, ending her musings and pulling her back to the present so quickly it almost startled her. Laughing and shaking her head, sending her brown curls swinging this way and that, she shoved playfully at him with one hand. "Stop that, you. Wasn't it bad enough, sneaking up on him like that? Now you want to take his money, too?"

The reprimand was halfhearted at most, undermined by a lingering smile. Of course, there was more she wanted to say - more than words could quite express - but maybe Zack was right. Maybe it was better, for now, just to step back. Not to think. There would be time, later, for everything else.

Everything they had wanted to say and couldn't, everything they wanted to do...it all stretched out in front of them now, so clearly Aerith could almost see it. Looking on that, the doubts and questions at the back of her mind seemed insignificant by comparison.

"Cloud..." She stepped away from Zack to turn back to the blonde, hands folded behind her, "I want to know everything. Tifa, Marlene, how is everyone?"

[Cloud]

Cloud nervously laughed at the thought of buying dinner for three in Rabanastre. Sure, food was expensive everywhere, now that supply chains were severed and just now being rebuilt, but prices in the large city were exceptionally high. Nevertheless, he was fairly certain he'd have a hard time turning down Zack's request. They were probably quite hungry.

It felt so strange, to be suddenly standing here with them, laughing and carrying on as if nothing had happened, as if they were never taken from him. Since his departure from Edge, he didn't have much time to think about the past, about Zack or Aerith, just what was staring him in the face, the daunting problem that plagued the entire planet. Perhaps that is what Tifa would prefer, him keeping occupied with a new obstacle instead of dwelling on the happenings of yesterday. He had long since come to accept that their deaths were of no fault of his own, but that didn't stop the pain from resurfacing when he'd least expect it. Now, emotionally he was confused, how was he suppose to feel about what happened on the edge of Midgar, or at the Forgotten Capital. Those memories will now constantly conflict with this new reality.

“No, it's all right, you two are probably hungry.” Cloud muscled his way out of Zack's grip and took a couple of slow steps ahead, looking aimlessly down the crowded street. “Aerith, there is so much to tell... almost too much. It would be easier to show you... but..” The blonde turned to look back at the former flower girl, his eyes focusing on her's. “.. . I haven't seen everyone since the merge. In all honesty I don't know if all our friends are alive. Communication has been difficult for everyone outside of Shinra. Marlene and Tifa are safe in Edge; Marlene has grown since you've seen her. Strong like her father, but with a gentle heart. Tifa...” He paused briefly, glancing away for just a second. “Tifa has been helping with the delivery business and running a bar, so busy like always. Busy and always worrying.”

Cloud gave a slight over the shoulder nod and turned back the other way. “Come, this isn't the place to talk, I'll take you to where I've been staying, then feed the void otherwise known as Zack.”

[Kupo]

Zack let himself look hurt as Aerith told him off and as Cloud freed himself from his grip. He tried to keep his face that way, concerned and sad but he just couldn’t pull it off at all. Within a heartbeat the smile came rushing back with a chuckle. He was too happy to even act hurt, it seemed. He was about to explain to Aerith that he was joking and that he didn’t mind paying for dinner when continued talking. For a moment he was quiet. He’d met Tifa, briefly, on that disastrous mission to Nibelhiem but he’d never met Marlene nor most of Cloud’s friends. He let him talk uninterrupted, knowing that there were things between that group that he wouldn’t ever really be a part of.

He had accepted that when he and Aerith had first started looking for Cloud and decided then that it wouldn’t bother him. He listened to them quietly, smiling all the while and thanking his lucky stars that he’d found them both so soon. He was roused from thought when they were beckoned to follow the delivery boy.

“Hey!” He called playfully with mock offense in his tone at Cloud’s description of him. “I’m not that bad, am I?” he laughed as he set out after his friend. “Call it a reunion treat and I’ll do the same tomorrow? Okay? Though, that’ll make the next time Aerith’s treat.” He flashed her a happy glance with his sky blue eyes. “I wouldn’t worry about that though, looks like ‘operation wallet full of money’ has been successful.”

He leaned in to Cloud and covered his mouth with a hand. “Seriously, she’s loaded!” he pretended to whisper. He was making the most of this opportunity to joke around with the pair of them. He had his share of serious questions he wanted to ask but like he’d said, here wasn’t the place to talk. He’d wait until after dinner instead and spend the time in between laughing and playing around. Nothing soothed away awkwardness like laughing and it was a service Zack was happy to provide.

Soon enough the trio were approaching an unassuming building nestled in amongst towering buildings all around. It had a quaint feel and a big bike waiting outside. “Hey, Cloud? Is that yours?” he asked pointing to the mechanical beast. Zack had never been all that obsessed with transport but Cloud with a bike made him reminiscent of their desperate flight and that little bike and sidecar they’d used to flee Shinra’s troops. It was a sad thought though so he kept his smile and decided not to bring it up any further.

[Griever]

"I see." Aerith nodded her acceptance, though her face grew thoughtful, as she clasped one hand about the other in front of her, lowering her head. Yes, even without her, time went on. She had known it, logically, but thinking about it now, the scope of the change that had come in that time seemed to rise up in front of her all at once. Little Marlene...she would be nine now, wouldn't she? Hardly the little girl she'd left with her adoptive mother, so long ago. Everyone had come so far in those five years. Growing, changing, drawing together...or drifting apart...their lives all kept moving forward ceaselessly, further and further from the companions she had known on their long journey together.

But that wasn't a sad thought, not really. It meant they'd won. And no one should have to fight forever. As she watched Cloud, taking in his expression, his eyes, his bearing and his movements, she wondered if he had really come to acknowledge that he could finally stop fighting yet. There had always been a certain heaviness about him, lightened now, certainly, but as she watched him she perceived it as more than the burdens of his past that he had finally left behind - it was his battles, as well, that he carried with him. Ever the soldier, no matter how many times he said it was all a lie.

"Well..." Aerith took a few steps forward to stand beside the blonde, turning her eyes up to the pink-hued sky, "you don't have to worry about them. They're alive. I...can feel it." There was a subtle implication in those words that she knew he would understand, though she didn't elaborate. She still didn't speak much of her abilities as a Cetra, but her time in the Lifestream hadn't diminished them at all; if anything, they seemed to be that much stronger for it, resonating deep within a part of her that had been touched by the Planet. With a reassuring smile for Cloud, she turned back to Zack, content to watch him for a moment as he stared off, seeming lost in his thoughts.

She'd never told him about her lineage or the things she could do. It wasn't a conscious choice, really, but at first she had been afraid to, afraid he'd react like everyone else...it didn't bother her at home, being the strange slum girl, but for some reason, she had never wanted Zack to see her that way. And then time went on, and the subject never came up, and the opportunity passed slowly by, until too suddenly it was gone.

This time, she resolved, she'd tell him everything. No more wasted time.

But Cloud was right, she had to admit, and finding a place where they could all talk with a little more privacy sounded good, after all the time they'd spent apart. She fell into step just behind the two of them, shaking her head at Zack, laughing. "Oh, stop exaggerating. You know there's no market for flowers anymore. Everyone sees them out here. We aren't in Midgar anymore." Not that they never sold; the novelty of exotic blossoms foreign to the lands she traveled to was enough to pique a little interest, but still. That was all they were now, a passing curiosity. "Besides, you just ate. Right now, we should be spending our time catching up. I want to hear all about what Cloud's been doing."

[Cloud]

"Alive... all of them..." Cloud muttered quietly under his breath. He should've known better than to doubt their strength, but with all that has happened he couldn't help but feel a little relief at her words. Over the years he had grown apart from the group, going about doing things his own way. It perhaps was not the best course, taking much of the burden upon himself, but he did so nevertheless. Because of this he rarely spoke to any of them, especially as of late.The Merge made it seem like home was worlds away, and his friends even further, widening the gap between them.

Cloud, once again pulled from his thoughts, gave Zack a slightly surprised look. Loaded? What did he mean by that? Sure, he knew of the small flower business, but he didn't realize that Aerith had already picked up where she left off. Not knowing if he was joking, Cloud left it at that, not really wanting to pry into Aerith's financial business. Zack's choice of works, however, caught his attention. Reunion, not exactly what he wanted to hear. The word lost all novelty after the incident in Edge. The trio of remnants that caused him a fair amount of trouble had used it liberally during their endeavors. Jenova would stop at nothing to be whole again.

It was with that thought that everything else ceased to exist. Cloud suddenly wondered, if Aerith and Zack were able to come back, who else may return? Jenova, Sephiroth and any other threats before his time? It was the last thing the people needed, and more than Cloud himself could likely take. Mentally he shook his head. No, these were thoughts for later; he had to focus on the now. There was nothing more important than what was right in front of him.

"Huh...?" The blonde looked in the direction Zack had been pointing. Fenrir, his trusty black motorcycle, sat there glimmering in the sunlight. He gave an affirmative nod. "Yes." He hadn't realized they walked so far already. He really needed to stop his mind from wandering so much. "It wasn't that easy to get here, but travel is difficult without it."

From there Cloud led them both into the hotel. It was a fine establishment, not too glitzy of course, but not too plain either. He certainly didn't plan on staying for as long as he had, but airships don't move for any one person. After a short elevator ride up several floors, they'd find themselves in his room. Like any other hotel not from their world, it was a unique experience; each and every one offering new and different services, but one seemed universal no matter where you went. "We can order some room service and talk while we wait. I am sure there is much you would like to know."

[Kupo]

Zack couldn’t help but wonder when Aerith said she could feel that their friends were alive. Was it just one of those things people said when they were hopeful? Aerith had always seemed optimistic but he’d never taken her for one to say something like that if she didn’t believe it. So was it an Ancient thing? He didn’t know. He was curious but it didn’t matter enough to question her about it. Cissnei had been the one to tell him about why Shinra were so interested in the flower girl from the slums. He hadn’t understood exactly what that meant back then, or why she had never told him about it, but he had decided not to ask her.

If she wanted to tell him, she would, and to him, it didn’t matter if she was different. He liked her as she was based on their time together. Her past, her history, her family: that would never change that. So he’d let his curiosity slide away, though, every now and then he’d get a little flash of it again. But then, he supposed, there had always been something special about Aerith and he’d known that since the day they had met. He smiled at her as she told him off, nodding as he conceded that he didn’t really need to eat again.

He glanced to the blond who seemed thoughtful as Zack’s question roused him from his mind. He wondered if the same things were on his mind. Seeing two of his friends here like this, revived from death and in a strange, otherworldly city must have roused those feelings. The same thoughts Zack had too. Who else was back and why? Were they even real? Would they stay in this world for long? Was it right if they did? Zack had thought about it a lot since he found himself alive and more so since he’d found Aerith but he hadn’t had the heart to bring it up with her.

If their time was limited he didn’t want to waste precious moments talking about such a gloomy subject. It frustrated him that he didn’t know though. He’d never been the smartest person and it annoyed him that he couldn’t make sense of all this. Maybe he ought to ask his friends about it but for now, he was enjoying their company to cast a dark shadow over it. Besides, he was fairly sure that they would talk about it eventually. Was it really so bad that he didn’t want to be the one that brought it up?

He smiled to Cloud as he explained that travelling was difficult without the bike. “Well, I guess you’re doing well for yourself too,” he chuckled and refrained from making another joke about Aerith’s wallet. He let her follow directly behind Cloud as they entered the hotel, choosing to tag along at the end himself. The room itself was nice enough with its simple furnishings, a table with chairs, a dresser, a bed and a window that let the fiery evening light wash over everything within and cast long shadows. Zack wasted no time in making himself comfortable on the end of the bed and glancing out the window at the foreign wonder that was Rabanastre.