3rd POV:
''So, you know Aerith. Right? I didn't ask before, but how do you know each other?,'' Zack asked, the two making their way to their meeting place, so that they could have a talk.
Nox was leading the way, so Zack couldn't see his face. If he would, he would have seen that Nox was amused. He was not ignorant to what he actually meant to ask.
''We're together,'' Nox answered point blank.
''Oh...Why didn't you say anything when I said that Aerith and I used to be together?,'' Zack asked next.
''Because you didn't ask,'' Nox shrugged, making Zack want to rip his hair out in frustration.
Also, it was not a subject Nox could have opened or touched without actually giving in to the voice and killing him.
'I still think-'
'Go back to your corner,' Nox immediately interjected in his head.
''We are here,'' Nox said out loud.
---
''How is he doing?,'' Nox immediately asked when they entered, while Zack stood still in the door way, having frozen up upon seeing Aerith, this time much closer. It was not the same as looking at her from afar. This time it was much more...raw.
Aerith gave him a kind smile, understanding that the current situation must be difficult for him. She was glad he was safe, whether he had an excuse or not made no difference to her feelings. But she moved on.
''I think he is doing better,'' Tifa replied, giving Zack a kind smile, recognizing him from all these years ago. But then she remembered that he is...or was a SOLDIER and she immediately decided to keep her distance for now. She would have shooed him off, but Aerith said that someone else saved Cloud and he would be shortly joining them, so that they could all have a talk.
She fed Cloud, bathed him, clothed him. It was... a little embarrassing, but his needs were much more important right now, then any discomfort she was suffering.
(Nox offered several times, to take over at least one task. She has no one to blame but herself.)
''Well, if he hasn't woken up then I should probably bring a doctor,'' Nox said. Then again, Shalua wasn't a true doctor, but she was the closest thing they had to one who knew what to do with Mako. Considering she had to build her sister a Mako tank and did so well enough for Shelke to continue to do well.
''No! No, doctors. We don't know who we can trust,'' Zack hastily replied.
''We can trust this one. Besides, you and I need to talk. Right, Nox?,'' Aerith gave him a meaningful look after speaking to Zack.
Nox hummed and nodded. He was expecting something like this. A part of him wanted to listen in, but... that wouldn't be fair to her. And a breach of trust. She wasn't pushing for his secrets and trusted that they weren't anything truly relationship breaking, aka a deal breaker. He had no justification to invade HER privacy like this, considering the stance she took on his own secrets.
Yes, the memories were slowly returning. Or at least the feelings. Memories of his first relationship. It meant both compromising and trusting one's partner. Sometimes that would force one to make uncomfortable choices. And sometimes that trust could be broken, but when the partner pulled trough and proved that the trust was warranted, both grew closer as a couple.
Still didn't make things easy, however.
Nox threw her they keys to his condo.
''For privacy and to give Cloud space away from...,'' any drama,'' Well, whatever the case he needs his rest.''
''I'll go bring Shalua,'' Nox said after that and left first.
''Shalua? Who is that?,'' Zack asked, speaking Tifa's own thoughts out loud.
''You two will see. Now, come. His home is right over here,'' Aerith waved at him and stepped out of Tifa's condo.
''So...this is Nox' home?,'' Zack asked looking around. It was modest, but it was comely. Filled with some furniture and even a plant sitting on the window bank.
Aerith's insistence mostly. She pestered him, wiht the argument that a barren home contributed to depression and vice versa. Also she always complained at not being able to sit anywhere, every time she came over.
(Like she wasn't always taking a seat on the bed.)
''Yup,'' Aerith cheerfully replied.
She decided to talk, to open up some sort of subject so that the two will have a starting point to get this conversation over. Someone needed to get the awkwardness out of the room after all.
''You know. I'm quite angry that you didn't answer to any of my letters. Did you at least get the last one? Angeal should have personally delivered it to you,'' she began and crossed her arms behind her back.
Angeal the not-dog with wings.
''Yes! I got it and... read it. Aerith...I'm so sorry. It's just...Nibelheim went completely wrong and I was incapacitated. Cloud too. It was ... a shock to learn 4 years have passed since then and then I had to flee with Cloud for a year. I...you probably blame me,'' Zack tried explaining. Not well, he felt, but he tried his best.
''No, actually. Zack, believe it or not, but I'm not blaming you at all. Thew fault was wholly on the circumstances surrounding you two. Something that was out of your control,'' Aerith tried reassuring him.
She didn't have all the details, but there was enough of a past between them that she believed him when he justified it as not being his fault.
''You still moved on,'' Zack muttered, somewhat petulantly.
''Yes. I waited 3 years for you and even then it took nearly another year till I wrote that last letter. Like I said, I don't blame you at all, but that doesn't mean that I'm not justified for moving on either. Sometimes... that is just how these things turn out. No one is really to blame, but things still turn out one way or another,'' Aerith told him sternly. She felt for him, really. But she needed to set boundaries and make it clear to him that what they had was over.
For her it has been five years, but for him it has been ...What? A year and some months, considering he lost track of time, during these 4 years he was... out... incapacitated... whatever.
She understood that for him all this was probably much more raw and hurtful.
Only by being direct and honest, however painful it was for him, could he start his... healing process. So that he may move on as quickly as possible.
''Yeah,'' Zack sighed defeated and dropped his shoulders. Yeah, that was kind of what he was expecting. He hoped that... He doesn't know. That they reunite and act like nothing happened. That they would get back together. Gods, he has no idea what he was hoping for. Not really. Something along those lines, at least.
It wasn't wrong for him to have wished for a happy ending after all he suffered surely, but...
Reality. Reality was often disappointing.
Zack crossed his arms and forced a smile on his face.
''So then, you and Nox. Eh? Are you two happy?,'' Zack wiggled his eyebrows.
Aerith gave him a sad smile, but answered him anyway.
''Yes,'' Aerith kept her answer short. Were he anyone else to her, but her former boyfriend she would have ranted off more. Happily at that. But she didn't want to hurt him.
Her mother was right. Someone like Nox... made her much happier. Not that there was anything wrong with Zack, he made her happy too. But she loved all the small things about Nox. And especially that she could coax a side out from him, that only she was privy to.
Granted, not exclusively. He was getting more and more friendly and she was glad that whatever plagued him till now, was being removed from his shoulders, so that more could see he wasn't the rude guy he pretended to be. Not until someone gave him a reason to.
It was more like... from everything that she gathered, that someone abandoned him in some way. Aka he was really emotionally hurt. Probably his first girlfriend. And so he pretended to be unapproachable so that he won't grow closer to other people, as a form of protecting himself.
It seems the best medicine for that was to be patient with him and not mind his rude remarks and be there for him till he gets it that, other people can be there for him, without abandoning him. After all, other people weren't his girlfriend and shouldn't be held at fault for something that she did.
But even then, it made her feel special that she was privy to his most charming characteristics.
And the fact he didn't treat her like a porcelain doll to be protected and treated her more like a partner.
The fact that he remembered most of the stuff she told him about flowers and didn't ridicule her dream. Zack didn't ridicule her dream either, but he was always with his thoughts somewhere else and never listened completely.
And most importantly, Nox knew when to STOP. Zack always seemed to be moving, always needing to do something, somewhere.
Heh. She supposed there were some similarities, but they were different enough. She was doing both a disservice and insulting them by comparing them like this constantly. She better stop.
('Aerith' shook her head in amusement. Guess the two weren't that different in that aspect.)
''Good, good. So about your dream, you must be rich by now. No? I mean Sector 5 was ... green. Like green GREEN,'' Zack exaggerated at the end there. Not THAT green.
Still Aerith chuckled a little.
''Not really. I sell all my flowers for 1 Gil. I decided to try an spread awareness about nature to others. My flowers are my way of trying to do that,'' Aerith explained. Nox wasn't that wrong when he said she took Zack's suggestion and made it her own dream.
''Ah,'' Zack made a sound of realization and kicked his shoe a bit, getting slowly awkward. He didn't know what more else to talk with Aerith about.
''So what does Nox do anyway? He told me he killed a Black Dragon that was attacking people?,'' Zack began. If he couldn't talk about her, then he would talk about Nox.
(More like he didn't want to talk about her anymore, since it hurt more and more the more the realization sunk in that he fumbled the bag. Perhaps he wasn't to blame, but still.)
''Is he part of SOLDIER?,'' he asked her, hastily adding another question after speaking. He doubted that, considering his eyes were still completely red and there were no traces of green. But maybe it was an experimental procedure?
''Nox...does many things. He has a pharmacy. Sector 7 desperately needed one at the time he settled here. He even trained Astrid and Naomi in potion making and it is a pretty successful business venture.
He told me that he traveled all over Gaia and slayed lot's of monsters. So he often goes and helps the Neighborhood Watch in slaying the more dangerous monsters. He also brings any monster drops back to the pharmacy for potion making.
He helps me out with tending to my flowers quite often. He doesn't have my green thumb, but he gives his best. I mean look at the Lilac I gifted him, I can tell it is well taken care off.
And...,'' Aerith rambled having forgotten her earlier reservations to spare his feelings.
Zack listened attentively, feeling his smile curdle as she happily chatted about Nox. Nevermind this was worse.
He was saved by Aerith receiving a message on her PHS.
''Oh, Nox and Shalua have come back,'' Aerith explained to him having read the message.
Zack nodded feeling thankful for small mercies.
---
''And?,'' Tifa asked impatiently.
Shalua has brought out her kit, just some small instruments, to try and read several things from Cloud.
''You do need to give me some time. Evaluating him doesn't happen on a whim, unless you want faulty readings. And once we start making predictions on wrong numbers then we will have more problems on our hands. You wouldn't want me to give you Aspiring for a broken leg either, now would you,'' Shalua patiently began explaining, making Tifa fidget more impatiently while also feeling ashamed after for displaying behavior that needed chastising.
''Could someone tell me what brought him to this state in the first place? I need to know if it is just Mako poisoning or more,'' Shalua asked them.
Zack looked unsure, but Nox nodded at him.
''I trust her. Start telling your tale,'' Nox ordered him. The idea was that only the five of them, minus Cloud technically, since he was comatose, would talk. But Shalua spoke sense, so it would be the six of them.
Seven actually, since Shelke was most likely watching over her sister. It was only a probability till then.
They do say that no plan survives first contact with the enemy.
''Right. So. Sephiroth and I were sent to Nibelheim, because Shinra cite an unusual disturbance in the area, specifically the Mako Reactor-''
''And I was to be your guide,'' Tifa added.
''Yes. We were sent to investigate it and then end the disturbance...,'' Zack trailed off, contemplating if he should reveal that Cloud was there too. He remembered how he pleaded for him to not tell Tifa that he was there too. Cloud never told him why he didn't want Tifa to know he was there, but...Zack didn't see any other way how to explain what happened.
And whatever the case, he was NOT about to ignore Cloud's accomplishment for what he had done. That deserved praise.
''What you don't know was that in case the people in Nibelheim wouldn't cooperate, we were sent an Infantry trooper with us. A local. Cloud Strife and my best friend,'' Zack revealed.
''What?,'' Tifa asked with shock,'' What do you mean? Do you mean to say that Cloud was there during Nibelheims destruction?''
Shalua raised an eyebrow while continuing her evaluation of Cloud and listening to them. 'Nibelheims destruction'? She didn't hear anything about that and she doubted a whole town could disappear without anyone noticing. Shinra's media as a propaganda tool could only do so much, as she was aware to a certain extent.
''Oh, I assure you. He was there. He is the one that saved you when we all fell down the river when the bridge collapsed and he was the one that barred you entry when you wanted to follow us into the Mako Reactor,'' Zack clarified for her.
''Cloud...,'' Tifa whispered feeling dejected. Did she do something wrong? Why didn't he want to meet her or show himself to her? She was looking for ward so much to reunite with him. Was it her fault?
She always thought it has been 7 years since they have last seen each other. Turns out that was the case for only of them.
''In any case...,'' Zack continued. For a moment his training kicked in, making him want to continue to protect Shinra's interests, but then he remembered he no longer served them and he hardened his resolve.
''In any case, we did investigate the Mako Reactor. It was a monster. Only not in the way you might think. Shinra... Shinra did human experiments,'' Zack revealed, shocking exactly one person in the room. Tifa, who widened her eyes and put a hand over her mouth.
Zack was a little perplexed when the others gave no reaction and continued to listen to him.
''Right. They were kept inside tanks and a valve loosened enough that the Mako flow was thrown off course, meaning more Mako was being sent to the Mako tanks then needed. Which caused the Reactor to perform worse.
Sephiroth said he felt a familiar feeling when looking at the tanks. It was at this time that Genesis dropped by. You see, long story short, Genesis, Angeal and Sephiroth were the product of human experimentation. Only the way Genesis and Angeal were created when compared to Sephiroth was different. Sephiroth was...perfect. Perfect in the sense that his cells didn't degrade, didn't fight each other. So Genesis dropped by with the hope that Sephiroth would lend him some of his cells so that Genesis can find a cure.
Only he tried to convince him with the worst pep talk known to man. Called him a 'perfect monster' and didn't receive shit. So that was the end on that front, though Genesis did eventually find his cure. That... is a story for another time.
Sephiroth on the other hand visited the mansion in Nibelheim. And he began investigating. Apparently, he once used to reside there, when he was much younger. So he read through every book and document he could get his hands on and ignored me mostly.
He read trough them like a man possessed, shutting himself off in that library. He never went out once. Until one day, it all came to a head-''
Flashaback:
''What are you talking about?,'' Zack asked, desperately trying to understand what Sephiroth was going trough. They were friends, weren't they? But Zack didn't know how to help him, if he didn't know what plagued him.
''You're not a monster, Sephiroth,'' Zack said. Was it that? Did Genesis' words get to him?
''Mother, forgive this dullard. This pest. He doesn't know our splendor,'' Sephroth said smoothly to the air. Even when he was going off to the deep end, he still kept his calm.
It was...weird in a way, Zack had to admit. It did make his job harder, because he didn't know just how much off into the deep end Sephiroth went. Could he still speak sense to him or was his friend gone?
''Sephiroth talk to me, please. If I don't understand, then please explain it to me!,'' Zack replied.
''The Jenova Project. My mother, Jenova was a Cetra. But the humans and Cetra fought each other. She was meant to rule this planet. She was stronger, smarter. But then humans took the planet away from them, from her, from us,'' Sephiroth spoke.
''What?,'' Zack asked. What the hell? Sephiroth was always smart, logical. Did he not realize how many holes there was in this story? Hell, even he, could spot that the story didn't add up.
''Then... what do you intend to do with the information?,'' Zack asked slowly, his hands moving to the hilt of his Buster Sword.
Sephroth stilled.
The air shifted.
Zack tensed.
Despite being a First Class SOLDIER, there was a huge gap, between him and Sephiroth. He barely reacted in time to block the slash and he was catapulted into the wall, books falling over him and he went unconscious for a bit.
Flashback end:
''When I came to myself and I left the library down in the mansion, I found Nibelheim in flames. I pursued Sephiroth to the reactor and we battled. This time he was less merciful. Or it's more like... I was an ant to him that got too annoying the second time around.
I collpased on the stairs, almost out of it, while he continued to promise to take Gaia back from the humans. Cloud... Cloud ran after me. The brave fool. I saw him, tend to Tifa briefly before moving her body out of the way, somewhere safe. Then he tried tending to me.
I told him that he needed to stop Sephiroth and gave him my Buster Sword-,'' Zack recounted.
''YOU WHAT?!,'' Tifa asked shocked.
''In my defense, I was out of it and not clearly thinking. But Cloud picked up the sword and went after him...and when he came out of that room and he collapsed on the stairs near me, Sephiroth was no more. I don't know what happened in there exactly, but Cloud defeated him. Clearly.
At least Hojo always said so. He found us there, where we collapsed and he took particular interest in how Cloud, a non-enhanced, could defeat his perfect creation. He tried turning him into a second Sephiroth, another perfect creation, but Cloud never made SOLDIER because he was always too sensitive to Mako. This time it was no different. He was...he was never quite present. I suppose that is a small mercy, since he was never aware enough of what Hojo did to him. Hell, I don't know what he did to him either, just that Hojo tried to make him into a better Sephiroth.
Eventually, something happened. Recently Shinra transferred Jenova here to Midgar and security watching over us got lax, that is when I escaped and began dragging Cloud after me. We escaped the basement in the mansion and found ourselves in Nibelheim, which was completely rebuilt, like an exact replica and ever since then we have been on the run,'' Zack finished his their story.
''What do you mean 'Nibelheim was rebuilt like an exact replica'?,'' Tifa asked with disbelief.
Zack just frowned and crossed his arms. She knew what he meant.
''Is there no end to their...,'' Tifa trailed off, feeling furious.
Nox narrowed his eyes. Did he say, they were kept in the basement of the mansion?
''While you were kept in the basement, where was Jenova being kept?,'' Nox asked.
''I don't know exactly. Probably the reactor still, since I never saw her in the basement,'' Zack answered.
Well...a small part of him felt a little guilty. He had every intention to pay a visit to both, when he visited Nibelheim. But after what happened in the Reactor, he reasoned that the same could happen in the mansion so he never bothered. To think the three of them were so close to each other once and he could have saved them.
''Whatever Hojo did to Cloud, seems to have made him... better. I suppose?,'' Shalua told them and looked under the microscope, incpecting the cells.
''What you told me helped. But If I don't know what exactly makes Sephiroths special or how he was created I can't give more concrete answers. That said, there is something foreign in his body and whatever it is that they are supposed to do they manage and regulate any Mako intake.
Did he by chance wake up some time ago or showed any sign of life? Did he say words?,'' Shalua asked them.
''Yes actually. He said a few words, when we were close to Midgar,'' Zack hastily explained feeling hopeful.
''When the two of you were being held hostage, how did your prison look like. Was it a Mako tank? Did you two receive a constant injection of Mako?,'' Shalua asked next.
''Yes. We were kept in Mako tanks and yes, we did receive a constant intake of Mako,'' Zack answered.
Yes, that may be very well what caused him to be in the state he was currently in. Though she may not have all the answers, she could, from all that she gathered, make a theory. Cloud was sensitive to Mako. Some people were like that. The fact that he was put in a Mako tank was deadly for him. The only reason he may live was because Hojo probably began experimenting on him immediately. The cells, whatever they were exactly, were working overtime to keep him alive. And they would have done their job...if Hojo had the sense to not continue giving him constant Mako injections and hold him in a tank, aka giving him time to recover. The past year, the cells were probably working to regulate the Mako in his body and, if he really woke up briefly enough to say a few words, they finally did so enough to bring him back to a functioning level. Or near enough.
''In that case, with what you said and what I have evaluated, I can confidently say that he is on his way to recovery and should wake up any day now. I don't know in what state he will wake up in, but he should be possessing most of his mental faculties. Keep in mind however that most who suffer Mako poisoning suffer different outcomes, from memory lapses to being a vegetable. I don't think he will wake up a vegetable if he spoke words, but ... try to be patient and careful when he remembers things differently,'' Shalua told them.
Then she proceeded to share her theory with them.
''Like I said, without knowing what exactly makes these cells special I can't give a more concrete answer. Once he wakes up, if you still want an answer, bring him to my lab, There I can perform more throughout test on him. And you?,'' Shalua asked Zack.
''Me? Oh no,'' Zack waved his hands and head as he understood what he meant,''Hojo always dismissed me as the back up. He only was interested in Cloud, since he was the one that killed Sephiroth.''
He also didn't want to be near needles or the like for ... a long while, even if he wasn't experimented on. Zack wondered what Cloud would do when he wakes up. Shalua spoke sense, but if he didn't want to be near needles then Cloud would probably want to destroy all needles. Or something.
''Suit yourself,'' Shalua huffed displeased and began packing her things,''When he wakes up, give him my offer. Maybe he has more sense in him then you.''
They stood around awkwardly for a bit after that, not really knowing what else to say, too preoccupied with sorting everything that Zack told them.
''Hey, could you all give me and Tifa some space?,'' Aerith requested.
''Sure, I need to escort Shalua safely back anyway,'' Nox replied, making up an excuse on the spot, Shalua nodded playing along.
''Can I accompany you?,'' Zack asked them, wanting to be away from Aerith for a bit.
''Sure,'' Nox shrugged. He wasn't escorting Shala to the laboratory anyway, but to her home. Still secretive, in some form, but not as secretive as the laboratory. And Zack had no reason to talk about her to his 'friends' at Shinra. Not that he wanted to have anything to do with Shinra anymore, as he made very clear. Even ignoring his friend Kunsel (or the fact that Tseng had Aerith's other letters, but that Zack kept to himself).
---
Wait.
Zack was lying on his bed, but then bolted upwards in a sitting position as realization struck.
Where the hell did Nox even find a doctor that understood Mako like Shalua did? Most knew just the most basic stuff about Mako poisoning. But she knew enough to even form a theory, even with her gaps of knowledge.
What the hell?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nox was lying on his back, sucking on a lollipop. He didn't have any issues with having a drink every now and then. But smoking wasn't for him. Hank once convinced him to try it out, once. It was revolting, but... sometimes it was nice to have something sweet to distract himself a little. And he needed that right now.
He was currently in Aerith's room, on her bed. She was sitting at her desk, chin resting on her hands, while the two were waiting for Elmyra to call them down to dinner.
''Jenova is not a Cetra, is she?,'' Nox asked redundantly.
Aerith whipped around, eyes wide.
''No! Absolutely not!,'' she hastily replied. She stood up and walked over to her bed sitting on it while twisting a little to look in his eyes.
''The Planet calls her 'The Calamity from the sky'. It was her that killed the Cetra's. She was sealed, but... I guess humans didn't know any better,'' Aerith sighed.
He figured. But it was nice to finally have his suspicions confirmed. Now he had an face to add to his enemy.
''You talked with Tifa?,'' Nox asked her. She sighed and laid down, resting her head on his shoulder and hugging him sideways.
''Yeah. We talked. Mostly about how their last meeting went. Or what she thought was their last meeting. It was kind of cute, in a way. The way a young romance can be,'' Aerith began, making Nox hum in agreement.
He hummed perplexed when Aerith suddenly grabbed his lollipop and tried wrestling it from him. Not harshly, but gently. Finally he opened his mouth a little curious why she acted instead of telling him what she wanted to do with the lollipop.
She put it in her own mouth.
''You're nasty,'' he immediately frowned.
''What?,'' Aerith mumbled shocked. She thought it was romantic.
''It's unhygienic,'' Nox elaborated.
''We KISS. This is not the first time we exchanged spit,'' Aerith pointed out.
''Yes, but it was never a french kiss. And even while french kissing, not THAT much spit is being exchanged,'' Nox explained.
''What is a 'french kiss'?,'' Aerith asked, continuing to suck on the lollipop.
''Kissing with tongue,'' he replied.
''You mean a tongue twister?,'' Aerith asked him confused, correcting him.
HOW THE HELL WAS THAT ANY BETTER?!
''Yes, I thought it was called french kiss,'' Nox calmly played his blunder off.
''...Is it a deal breaker to you?,'' Aerith asked him a little hurt.
Nox blinked, thinking a little. Only to realize that he said it more out of a reflex, than any real disgust. It wasn't like they both weren't healthy. They totally were.
He took the lollipop back and put it in his mouth.
Meh, may as well be nasty together. Screw whatever anyone else thought.
''Not that much,'' he teased her, making her huff and thinking that he just put on a show to screw with her.
''You said you talked with Tifa about her last meeting with Cloud,'' Nox reminded her and gave the lollipop back to her.
''Yes. Like I said, it was romantic. They were together on the water reservoir. Cloud asked her to meet him up there. He talked about wanting to become someone strong, a SOLDIER. She made him promise to come help her if she was ever in a bind and he readily agreed.
You think he ever figured it out?,'' Aerith asked him.
Nox hummed curiously.
''She didn't confirm it, since I didn't ask. Tifa has that problem that she sometimes can't express herself directly so she talks about something indirectly.
She totally didn't care about being rescued like a damsel in distress. It was her way of asking him to come back for her,'' Aerith explained handing the lollipop back
''Maybe,'' Nox shrugged. Could be.
''It may give some insight as to why he didn't want to reveal himself to her five years ago. After all he never made it into SOLDIER and sometimes... us guys tend to get too hang up on the details. He probably didn't think himself worthy, since he didn't make it into SOLDIER,'' Nox replied.
''Well, if that is the way he thinks, then I'm gonna beat some sense into him and make things clear to hi when he wakes up. He killed Sephiroth of all people,'' Aerith pointed out.
He didn't, but 'Aerith' asked her to let some things play out, since certain events were important. But he certainly did a lot of damage to Sephiroth.
''Still, five years is a long time. Zack said he was almost always out of it, in that Mako tank. Doesn't that mean that he is technically still 16?,'' Aerith said out loud.
''I haven't considered that, but you are right,'' Nox frowned.
''When he wakes up... do you think you could take him under your wing? He has potential,'' Aerith asked him.
''Zack said he wanted to teach him,'' Nox pointed out.
''It is his choice. You two can't make decisions in his stead. Just make him an offer and then ... you know. Nothing stops you from both teaching him,'' Aerith pointed out.
She also couldn't see Zack being a good teacher. For that one needed to be patient. Maybe he could deliver, maybe not. But, from what she gathered, because 'Aerith' didn't talk much about her own world, Cloud was important to the events that will come. And Zack was dead in her world.
Better safe then sorry.
''Yeah. I guess. Sure, I will do that,'' Nox acquiesced. He frowned and pulled out the stick, any crystallized sugar being absent, having been dissolved completely.
''You have another?,'' she asked him.
''No, that was my last one,'' he replied.
''Aww. I wanted more of that sweet taste,'' she whined, getting a mischievous idea.
''Sorry,'' Nox apologized. He did suck too much on it.
Hmm? He raised an eyebrow when Aerith pushed herself up and stood over him.
''I have an idea,'' she whispered to him.
(And that was her cue to give them some privacy. 'Aerith' did not want to see what they would engage in.)
Oh. Oh!
''Your problem solving skills are impeccable,'' Nox nodded serious, his hand moving to the back of her head and pulling her forward.
They started simple. Tentative, after all they never shared more then a simple kiss. But in Aerith's case it was more like she never has done something like that. It was her, who opened her mouth first and then felt silly now knowing what else to do.
She read some books. She had an idea of what she was expected to do, but now, here, she realized she was out of her depth. Did she push her tongue forward? Should she wait till he pushes his tongue in her mouth? Were they meant to fight? Or were their tongues just meant to touch on the tip?
Nox decided to give her some mercy and stood up, making her sit on his lap now.
He disengaged from the kiss and moved his mouth to her ear.
''Are you trying to catch flies? You don't need to widen your mouth that much. Here let me show you,'' Nox whispered, before grabbing her chin and putting his mouth on hers again.
He opened his mouth only a little, tilted his head and pressed his lips over hers. Contrary to what she expected, he didn't immediately push his tongue in her mouth. No. Instead it looked more like he was...applying some very light suction to her lips. She felt her lips being pulled a little with every kiss he gave her. She shuddered feeling his tongue go over her teeth.
They parted, her being the one to disengage the kiss since she was running out of oxygen.
''You can breath trough your nose, or you can take a breath through your mouth, every time we part,'' Nox explained.
She hummed. Slowly getting the hang out of it. Slowly the were making out properly, but Aerith wanted more. Feeling confident, now that she got the hang of it, she bit briefly on his lip and pulled it with her teeth, before engaging again and pushing her tongue in his mouth.
She kept his mouth open, some spit escaping and trailing down his chin. The kiss already taste sweet, because of the lollipop, but Aerith wanted more. She licked his chin getting letting more of that sweetness hit her tongue.
Nox chuckled.
''We're nasty,'' he commented.
''Sorry,'' she replied, blushing and resting her chin on his shoulder as she hugged him to hide her face. She wiped her mouth, before the spit could dry.
She didn't sound sorry at all, especially since Nox could feel her smiling.
She was happy that he changed the sentence. No 'you', but 'we'.
Nox hugged her tighter, feeling amused and happy. Meh. What love wasn't nasty?
That was fine. They could be dirty together.
''Hey, you two. Dinner is ready!,'' Elmyra called out from downstairs.
They stayed together a little more like this, before the parted. Both wiping their mouth from any remaining evidence.
(Elmyra totally observed that they did something. Aerith looked too red, for that to not be the case. She decided to give them some mercy and not tease them. She was once in love too after all.)
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Cloud groaned and blinked, feeling the light blinding. He put his hand over his eyes, trying to block it out.
''Cloud?,'' he heard someone say.
He stirred more.
''Cloud!'' he felt some hands on his chest, trying to desperately cling to him.
He blinked a few more times.
Clarity slowly returned to him.
''Tifa?,'' he asked her unsure and sat up a little from the bed.
''CLOUD!,'' she jumped him, arms around his neck as she hugged him tightly.
''Tifa? What happened,'' he asked slowly, he hesitated a little before he used the hand that he wasn't using to keep himself up right, to hug her by her back. The more clarity returned, the more aware he was getting. And she was hugging him ... very tightly, he realized. He didn't remember her being so... grown up, last time he saw her.
He patted her gently on the back.
''I need air,'' he tried playing it off.
Tifa immediately parted from him.
''Sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you,'' she wiped her tears of joy as she profusely apologized.
''It's fine,'' he awkwardly tried to assure her as he finally sat upright properly on the bed.
''What do you remember?;'' she asked him.
He rubbed his hair a bit.
''...Nibelheim burning. I was...a SOLDIER. How long has it been, since then?,'' Cloud asked her, confused. He thought she was asking about their last meeting.
Tifa blinked, remembering what Shalua told them. Oh. Oh! She ... she shouldn't be too confrontational. And she definitely needed to talk with the others.
''Five years. It has been five years, Cloud,'' Tifa replied.
''That long, huh?,'' Cloud muttered, not reacting too much about the fact he 'lost' five years of his life. Did that mean he thinks, he has been doing something else, the past five years, instead of spending them in a Mako tank. Tifa wondered.
''You know, I never learned but what rank were you in SOLDIER?,'' Tifa asked him.
''First Class,'' Cloud smiled confidently.
''I see. Do you remember our promise?,'' Tifa asked him carefully.
''Our promise?,'' Cloud wondered out loud, confused until something clicked.
''Yes. You kept your promise after all, so ... thank you for saving me,'' Tifa replied sincerely seeing his expression.
''Your welcome,'' Cloud said simply.
''What happened to your partners? Sephiroth is dead. You killed him, but what about Zack?,'' Tifa asked him carefully.
''Zack? I haven't seen him in a while. Why?,'' Cloud shrugged.
''...I met him recently. You both were SOLDIER First Class. No? Would you like to meet him? Are you still with Shinra?,'' Tifa asked him.
''No. I'm a merc now. Shinra and I... we had a falling out, you could say. And if Zack isn't with Shinra either, I suppose it would be nice to meet him again. Catch up or something,'' Cloud replied and stood up.
He inspected his get up and frowned.
''I don't remember wearing these clothes last time,'' Cloud said.
''Oh, sorry. When I found you, you were out of it... for some reason. I ...took care of you,'' Tifa carefully tried to answer, deliberately not pressing him about what happened to him.
''You... what?,'' Cloud asked unsure, not liking what she implied.
''Did you...?,'' he began asking.
''Yes! You were out for nearly a week since I found you. There is nothing you need to be ashamed about, quite the ...opposite...,'' she trailed off and blushed fiercely as her brain caught up with her mouth.
They both blushed and turned away from each other.
''Right. Well, thank you in that case,'' he awkwardly replied.
He looked around.
''By the way, have you seen my Buster Sword, when you stumbled upon me?,'' Cloud asked her and looked around her room.
''No. I'm sorry,'' Tifa answered with a frown.
''It is fine,'' he reassured her,'' I can always buy another sword. Or commission one like it.''
Right. Tifa avoided his eyes.
''Look, there aren't really any places that I can offer for you. I hope you don't mind taking residence here. This is my home, down here in the Sector 7 Slums, feel free to call it your home too. Here is a key,'' Tifa told him and handed him her spare keys.
''I don't want to impose,'' Cloud frowned.
''Cloud, I haven't seen you in five years. Are you really going to leave so soon? I'm sure I can talk with someone for your residence, if it bothers you that much,'' Tifa talked. A frown on her face as she looked dejected.
''Well... I can stay a bit, I guess,'' he said and looked away from her, pocketing the keys.
He...felt he did the right thing when she suddenly beamed.
''That's great. Look. I really would like to stay and talk, but around this time is the time when I open my bar. You can drop by or look around, but I need to go take care of business. Once I am done, how about we catch up. What do you say?,'' Tifa offered.
''Sure,'' Cloud nodded.
''And hey, if you want I can show you the ropes down here, about how to be a mercenary,'' Tifa also added.
''I'm not saying no to that, I doubt I can return to where I previously operated. Sure,'' Cloud nodded.
It did not escaped Tifa how he didn't offer any specifics. Or anything vague for that matter.
''Of course. Like I said, you can drop by or wander around. Until then, make yourself at home,'' Tifa replied and made her way to the door.
He nodded and that is when she left, after lingering a bit to see if he needed anything more.
The moment she closed the door, she hastily reached for her PHS and called Aerith. She NEEDED some emotional support right now.
But knowing the subject, Zack and Nox would drop by too.
At least... at least he woke up.
At least he moves.
At least he speaks.
At least he seemed to remember most things somewhat correctly, just with some memory gaps.
They just needed to be careful into snapping him back to reality.
(A.N.: 7072 words. Before you ask, why Cloud still experiences memory gaps, it is because, as far as I understood, that his trauma was multilayered. He always had confidence and self-worth issues, and he looked up to Zack wishing to be like him. Upon Zack's death he took on some aspect of his, because that is how he imagined a confident guy acted like. The fact he told him to be his living legacy probably didn't help, so there was also survivors guilt involved, by trying to keep Zack alive. After all, why was someone like him alive, but someone like Zack dead?
It was all a coping mechanism.
Some of the aspects fell away now, but Cloud still has his own issues. They just manifested in a far less extreme manner. The trauma is still there, after all, he lost his mother and his hometown. He is still coping in a way. He wishes he could have done more, and hates himself for how weak he was then. Not realizing that he was actually the coolest out of everyone involved.
Guy took on Sephiroth with nothing but his bravery and will as a normal human and defeated him. So what if he won because he attacked him from the back? It still counts.
But one's self perception can sometimes screw someone over and he things he could or should have done more. He WISHES he could have done more, if only 'he wasn't so weak'.
All that is repressed of course.
Hope you enjoyed reading the chapter. Cheers and stay safe out there.)