As soon as Cloud speaks and pauses the fight, Zack exhales deeply and slumps back, half-staggering before he drops down into a crouch. He can't even tell how long they've been going at it, but it feels like it could have been hours.]
Not bad? Dude, you're kidding. That was awesome!! I can't even tell you how long it's been since I had a spar like that!
[And he's weary to the very bone now, but in such a good way. His blood's still boiling, rushing through his veins like mako-fueled fire, and he steadies his breath bit by bit, winding down from that spectacular high he always feels in battle. He really, really needed this.]
[The grin crawls across Cloud's face before he can stop it, heart pounding with more pride than exertion. He'd always wanted to be able to fight like this, to move like this, to be capable ever since he was a kid but it isn't until now that he can really truly appreciate it. He'd had a few moments during their journey to save the Planet to relish it, sure, but now with Zack crouched across from him and beaming up at him, he really feels like he's earned it.
He shoulders the flat of his blade, breath heavy as he looks down at Zack.] So...is it like, First Class good? [It's so stupid, honestly, because he doesn't care about ShinRa's ranking system and he doesn't care about SOLDIER anymore but there's just- He just wants to know. He wants to know if he's as good as he always hoped he'd be.]
Yeah? [THAT SOUNDED TOO VULNERABLE, you aren't some sad little teenager Cloud, toughen up, fortify] I mean, I damn well hope so. At least now I know beating him wasn't a fluke. [Cough, look away. How strange, that he fishes for compliments and then immediately tries to throw them back]
[RED] Zack, c'mon. [Looks around for- right, there, he thought Zack got him. Cloud pokes a finger into the cut in his pants, cut bleeding sluggishly as it clots.] Look, you got me, I'm pretty sure I didn't get you like that. I didn't even notice until it started to hurt just now. You probably coulda taken me apart before I even realized it.
[Zack doesn't sound especially convinced. He leans back, then does his quirky little flip to get back to his feet, though there's a slight grimace on his face as he does it. Got up too soon, owwww.]
Wanna know the second reason I was hoping we'd take a break here? Not gonna lie, it's pretty tragic.
[He turns on his heel and shows it off- a smooth, clean slice right across the back of his pants, giving him a fun but embarrassing new butt flap. At least he's not wearing chocobo underwear today?]
I'm sure the view's great but another centimeter or two and I'd be at Aerith's stripping my pants for all the wrong reasons. You got me right back!
Nah, that's Cid. [Turns Zack around to see that gash. Oof, well, at least it was just the cloth and he didn't chop your ass off? It'd be a damn shame] Let's find a jacket or something, you can tie it around your waist.
Well, obviously she won't buy it. She can catch anybody in a lie, she's a wizard like that. But she's also pretty indulgent. And she digs cuddles. It's win-win!
[come young padawan let him teach you all the awesome perks of dating Aerith]
God, that's just. [Cloud kicks at the sign as he passes by it on his way over to Zack.] I still don't get how this is working. How are we not at each other's throats over her?
Um, because we're full grown-ass adults and she's not a piece of meat?
[There's a click as his sword returns to its sheath, following the habitual flourish; he's tried to shake it up a bit, move a little differently, since Cloud can be self-conscious about the whole copycat stuff, but, well. Old habits.]
I dunno. Maybe it would be harder if we didn't all get along, but I like her, and I like you, and I like that we're all happy. So I'm okay with it.
Hey. [Cloud jogs over to catch up, peering at Zack past his shoulder.] I don't mean anythin' by it. Just thinking aloud, right? I'm glad it's working out, I just never expected it to.
[The smile is back, casual and bright but with a touch of uncertainty; he's not angry, dancing around the drama with habitual ease.]
I played up the confidence back when it went down- I was probably just as nervous as you were about whether it would even work. But it was the only way I could think of for all of us to get out on top.
I get nervous plenty! You just forgot about it, that's all.
[there wasn't too much to forget, admittedly - he'd tried to stay strong because Cloud had been so much more deeply affected by what was going on, from Nibelheim onwards - but for good or ill he's always been painfully honest.]
You said it yourself, right? She's not meat. [Nudges again before rocking away.] And Aerith's always been larger than life, in spirit anyhow; she probably needs two boyfriends.
[she has enough love in her for the whole world. he'd be a very foolish man to expect her to love only him for her entire life.]
It feels... kind of like a dream come true, cheesy as that sounds. When I... on that cliff, y'know... I was thinking, man, it'd be nice if they found each other.
[Bites back the automatic mental flinch he has at the mention of the cliffs. Zack never brings it up; if Cloud lets him see any weakness, he might not talk about it again.
Their bootfalls are solid and echo through the hallways as they look for a clothing store, as Cloud wonders what to say to that. The silence stretches on long enough to be uncomfortable, Cloud chewing on the inside of his cheek.] ...she mentioned you to me. When we first met. I was telling her I was in First-Class, and she asked me if I knew you.
She did, huh... makes sense. It'd been more than five years by that point, with no word on what happened. On record we both died in Nibelheim, but... well, either nobody bothered to tell her or she knew it was a lie because she hadn't felt it yet.
[yet another reason to be pissed at Tseng, regardless- he must've known they were in Nibelheim the entire time and just stood by, letting it happen.]
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As soon as Cloud speaks and pauses the fight, Zack exhales deeply and slumps back, half-staggering before he drops down into a crouch. He can't even tell how long they've been going at it, but it feels like it could have been hours.]
Not bad? Dude, you're kidding. That was awesome!! I can't even tell you how long it's been since I had a spar like that!
[And he's weary to the very bone now, but in such a good way. His blood's still boiling, rushing through his veins like mako-fueled fire, and he steadies his breath bit by bit, winding down from that spectacular high he always feels in battle. He really, really needed this.]
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He shoulders the flat of his blade, breath heavy as he looks down at Zack.] So...is it like, First Class good? [It's so stupid, honestly, because he doesn't care about ShinRa's ranking system and he doesn't care about SOLDIER anymore but there's just- He just wants to know. He wants to know if he's as good as he always hoped he'd be.]
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[less scrubby neon purple, more espionage blue. also better weapon selection. materia perks ain't bad either.]
When I say good I mean rank good. First Class Command. I haven't had a fight like that since I fought that Genesis asshole. Or Sephiroth.
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Yeah? [THAT SOUNDED TOO VULNERABLE, you aren't some sad little teenager Cloud, toughen up, fortify] I mean, I damn well hope so. At least now I know beating him wasn't a fluke. [Cough, look away. How strange, that he fishes for compliments and then immediately tries to throw them back]
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also Cloud that's actually precious and he loves it a little too much. time to encourage the shit out of that.]
Yeah, definitely no fluke. Trust me, you're amazing.
[no joking, no teasing, no playful wink-wink. Just that classic Zack honesty.]
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[Zack doesn't sound especially convinced. He leans back, then does his quirky little flip to get back to his feet, though there's a slight grimace on his face as he does it. Got up too soon, owwww.]
Wanna know the second reason I was hoping we'd take a break here? Not gonna lie, it's pretty tragic.
[He turns on his heel and shows it off- a smooth, clean slice right across the back of his pants, giving him a fun but embarrassing new butt flap. At least he's not wearing chocobo underwear today?]
I'm sure the view's great but another centimeter or two and I'd be at Aerith's stripping my pants for all the wrong reasons. You got me right back!
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[that's gross, you're gross, and he's really proud of you for that one.]
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It'd be a damn shame] Let's find a jacket or something, you can tie it around your waist.no subject
[didn't they do that in the slums like six years ago??]
How 'bout your leg, you good? We can check for a bandage while we're at it.
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Zack laughs and gives Cloud a shove to the shoulder, going to fetch his sword from where he'd let it fall.]
Think we can convince Aerith to give us some TLC? I bet we could ham it up for extra cuddles.
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[come young padawan let him teach you all the awesome perks of dating Aerith]
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[There's a click as his sword returns to its sheath, following the habitual flourish; he's tried to shake it up a bit, move a little differently, since Cloud can be self-conscious about the whole copycat stuff, but, well. Old habits.]
I dunno. Maybe it would be harder if we didn't all get along, but I like her, and I like you, and I like that we're all happy. So I'm okay with it.
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[The smile is back, casual and bright but with a touch of uncertainty; he's not angry, dancing around the drama with habitual ease.]
I played up the confidence back when it went down- I was probably just as nervous as you were about whether it would even work. But it was the only way I could think of for all of us to get out on top.
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[there wasn't too much to forget, admittedly - he'd tried to stay strong because Cloud had been so much more deeply affected by what was going on, from Nibelheim onwards - but for good or ill he's always been painfully honest.]
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[she has enough love in her for the whole world. he'd be a very foolish man to expect her to love only him for her entire life.]
It feels... kind of like a dream come true, cheesy as that sounds. When I... on that cliff, y'know... I was thinking, man, it'd be nice if they found each other.
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Their bootfalls are solid and echo through the hallways as they look for a clothing store, as Cloud wonders what to say to that. The silence stretches on long enough to be uncomfortable, Cloud chewing on the inside of his cheek.] ...she mentioned you to me. When we first met. I was telling her I was in First-Class, and she asked me if I knew you.
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[yet another reason to be pissed at Tseng, regardless- he must've known they were in Nibelheim the entire time and just stood by, letting it happen.]
You didn't know, though, right? Who I was.
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