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Hey Papa! And everyone at home, I guess... I found a couch outside, and it's really, really comfy! And you can bounce on it! I dunno why it's outside though... it feels nice... who would leave a nice couch like this?

A-anyway! Can we keep it? It can fit inside, right?

Maybe we could get Uncle Zack to sit with us in the living room so he's not stuck in his bed all the time?

[Simon is referring to this monstrosity, left oh-so-kindly by the road near their house in this thread. Since he's blind, he cannot see it. So. Yes. :|]

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[Zack's stunned by Cloud's confession; to be honest, it hadn't really hit home before, how much of a problem it had really been, how hard it was for everyone. So for a long moment he's just in shock, stunned into silence and immobility, left frozen and still pinned. Cloud sounds... so tired. And even Aerith doesn't look okay.]

...I...

[After a moment Cloud sighs and climbs to his feet, heading for the hallway.]

Sorry Aerith. I'll go check on the boys. [Running away again; his specialty.]

[Which leaves Zack with just Aerith, who feels like she's got a ball of frustration rattling in her. She'd hoped they could just be happy once he woke up, but Cloud hitting Zack had touched off a few of her own nerves.

She walks over to Zack, looking down at his stunned expression. He's gotta get out of that somehow.]

C'mon! Up and at 'em, SOLDIER. Unless you're planning to sleep here tonight.

Edited 2009-05-05 01:44 (UTC)

[Zack hesitates a moment, then pushes himself back to his feet, scuffing a hand through his hair.] ...Aerith, I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen...

[A quick peek into each of their rooms confirms that the boys -and Hurdy- were still asleep. Good, so they hadn't woken anyone.

Cloud still doesn't feel comfortable about going back to see Zack though, and instead just rests back against the wall before sinking down to sit. He shouldn't have gotten so angry. It hadn't been Zack's fault. But Holy, he'd been so scared that Zack would be...like that forever-

No, no excuses. No more. He should have just smiled and clapped him on the shoulder and welcomed him back. He shouldn't have taken his frustration and fear out on Zack, and when he'd just woken up, too. What kind of friend was he?]

Zack...

I know. And I don't want to hear any more "sorry"s, Zack. All right?

[She sits down on the couch one more time, and this time she's not planning to get back up soon so she's curling up a little.]

...Alright. [He watches her on the couch for a moment, awkward, and then goes to sit next to her, hands clasping together in his lap. This is hard.] ...Are you okay...?

[She thinks about this, and really, there's no way she can believably say "I'm fine" after storming off like that. She leans into the couch.] ...I'm kind of tired...that's it. It'll go away soon.

[Another moment of hesitation, and then Zack reaches out and gently tucks a lock of her hair behind an ear.] You want to go have a rest? I'm okay now, so... you guys don't have to watch over me or anything.

[The gentle touch gets a flicker of confusion across her face before she smiles a little.] Not that kind of tired. Well, maybe a little of that, too, but I'm don't want to sleep yet.

Are you sure you feel okay? It's all gone? [She turns to look at his eyes, searching for any of the earlier cloudiness or confusion.]

[Zack returns the smile, looking a little more at ease to reassure her.] Yeah, I feel fine! A good sleep will have me back to myself. [And true to his word, his eyes are clear, looking the same as they had five years ago the last time they'd met in Midgar, a glowing blue as opposed to the normal colour he'd had for a year now.]

[Her smile seems to open up a little more.] You've got your clear blue skies back...not that they weren't nice eyes before.

[The smile flickers, and she looks away before giving a more normal grin.] You like having it back, don't you?

[He looks a bit sheepish at that, but he's definitely happy.] Yeah, I do. I... really missed it, y'know? It was always a big deal for me, becoming a SOLDIER. One thing I was really good at... I couldn't believe how easily it was taken away. And of course since it was gone, Cloud was extra protective and all...

You disappeared and turned up poisoned. [Can you blame him if he was overprotective? ...Of course, Zack already knows that. Aerith gives a small sigh and nudges his thigh with her foot.]

There's plenty of other things you're good at, you know.

That's... not exactly it. But it doesn't matter anyway, because it's over now - problem solved. [He gives her a little nudge in return with his elbow.] So~ plenty of other things, huh? Enough to make a list?

[Problem solved--no need to talk about it anymore right now. Onto better things.]

Are you asking me to make you one? I'm afraid what that would do to your ego. [Return poke in the shoulder.]

[She gets a laugh for that.] Too much work? How about one thing?

You're great at lifting up people's spirits. Hm...and building things. Flower wagons, at least. Two things.

Oh? I thought you didn't like my wagon! The secret's out now!

It could have been cuter! But it got through four years of being carted around the slums. [She suddenly clucks her tongue, although it's not at Zack so much as what she's remembering.] You know this one time, some kids from sector three tried stealing it to race in? I had to chase them down to get the wagon back.

Men aren't much good for knowing what's cute unless it's women. I'm glad it lasted that long for you, though.

[Pffft, you're getting both a laugh and a shove in the arm for that line, Zack.]

[And then Aerith's expression turns a little concerned as something occurs to her--it does not take this long to check on two bedrooms. She pushes herself off of the couch and approaches the hallway, calling out:]

Hey, Cloud?

[Lookin' for spiky hair.]

[SCRAMBLING UP, someone was not just on the verge of- no. Not.]

Um- yeah, sorry. I'm here.

[And Zack's a heartbeat behind Aerith, just as concerned.] ...What were you doing?

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[Action] BACK IN THE LIVING ROOM...

[Action] Cloud's out until further notice :c

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