Lots of people, actually. I used to drive the higher-ups to drink.
[and you really never met angeal.]
Listen, Cloud, I dated Aerith for a year and a half before things went to shit. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: whatever you might think of yourself, she thinks way better of you. And she's the kind of person who wants you to think better of yourself.
That doesn't sound like someone who'd badmouth you behind your back, does it?
Wh- I'm not saying she's- that she'd gossip or- [That her telling Zack bad things about Cloud would reflect badly on Aerith had honestly not even crossed his mind.] I meant more like- We just, and I didn't know if-
[IS THIS OVERSHARE. But what if he Screwed It Up and she was worried about his self-esteem and didn't say anything for fear of chasing him off]
[sounds serious. Zack hums thoughtfully, and a bit of the whimsy in his voice from before is gone when he responds.]
Uh-huh. I used to flirt a lot [still does tbh, it's like breathing sorry] so I might've come close before if I'd tried, but it never went anywhere. There was just something special about Aerith that made me want to take it seriously.
Mm, probably. I try to avoid saying that sort of stuff to her face. Aerith is Aerith, y'know? She'd get mad if we treated her like anything more or less.
...maybe. [But that doesn't feel quite right either. Cloud doesn't have anything else he can call it though, so there's no point in dragging this out when Aerith isn't even here to give them insight]
-anyway uh, yeah, I'm down for a...double-date. Is it a double date if it's just us both going out with the same person?
Works for me. Let's go on a date. [it's cool everything's cool that totally doesn't make like, five-years-dead feelings rise up and prod his heart into skipping or anything]
[ A date!!! Aerith has been excited about this from the moment she brought it up, and now she's ready and waiting for the two of them to show up, her hair tied up properly and her arms crossed behind her back. Both her boys! Zack and Cloud! She's practically vibrating with excitement. ]
[yessssss, a date!! and he's not bothered by it being both him and Cloud, which is nice. Actually, if he's being honest with himself, having Cloud there makes it more exciting. they've gone this long with just him and Aerith or Cloud and Aerith, so he's happy to get the chance for all of them to hang out at the same time. Hopefully it goes as well as he's imagining.
Aerith gets there first, since he was out and about arranging things and telling Cloud where to go, so when he spots her at their agreed meeting place he sneaks over to her, dressed nicely and out of uniform, a bag slung over his back. He winds an arm around her from behind and kisses her cheek.]
[Cloud ambles up just about as that kiss happens and it's...nice. So that's good to know, good to know that seeing them together doesn't make him jealous.
Even Cloud's cleaned up a little, since this is an official date and all; he may even smell like he's put on some cologne. Hopefully that bag is date materials because if they were supposed to all bring each other gifts, Cloud is woefully unprepared.
Instead of interrupting he just quietly comes up next to the two of them, nudging Aerith gently on the other side to let her know he's there.]
[ Zack doesn't surprise her as much as he thinks he does - she expects him to try and sneak up on her now - so she turns in his arms, grinning as she lifts herself up to press a kiss to his cheek in return, drawing him close and squeezing gently. He looks good, handsome as ever, and she still feels a little in awe that she gets to be with him and Cloud, two wonderful people that she adores completely.
Turning her attention to Cloud is easy, smooth, and it makes her realise how natural and normal this feels. Being with them both separately is wonderful, but she wants them to all be together, too; she wants to bask in being surrounded by the people she loves. ]
Hi.
[ Leaning up, she kisses Cloud's cheek too, reaching to take his hand and squeeze it. ]
[Zack isn't bothered by her lack of surprise, his grin perpetually bright, and he's content to stay close like this as long as they both allow it. Though, because he's a piece of shit sometimes, he grins at Cloud after a second or two.]
Buy me dinner first, [Cloud shoots back, squeezing Aerith's hand in return before sliding his arm around her shoulders instead, so both he and Zack get an arm around their girl and she gets her boys on each side. Yeah. This...feels right.]
[ Aerith glances between them, her eyes widening a little before, okay, she makes herself calm down. This is their first date together, no need to push for too much. Instead she hums, taking both their hands and squeezing. Her boys!! ]
[Zack laughs brightly and steps forward once they've disentangled from one another, giving Aerith's hand a little tug and trusting her to bring Cloud along with her.]
Got it in one! I thought about planning something wild, but since this is a trial run on how this'll even work, I'm playing it safe. And before anybody can say it- yes, I am the real Zack! SOLDIER's honour.
[even he has his sensible moments! they're just kinda rare compared to normal people.]
[That is surprising, but probably a good idea, yeah. They still gotta test out hanging out together all at once, and Cloud isn't so unaware that he knows he's probably the most questionable factor in this, given his initial reaction.
Aerith does indeed pull him along so he lets himself trail a little bit at the end, other hand in his pocket as he tries to adjust to this.] Is that what the bag's for?
Are you sure? [ She's definitely teasing him, because that's what she does, letting Zack tag her along before she settles to walk at a normal pace beside him. She has Cloud in hand - literally - and she turns her head to glance at him, tugging gently.
No walking behind them, thank you. They'll all walk side-by-side because they're all as important as each other. ]
That's a secret, [is Zack's cryptic, smirking reply.] It's either a contingency plan or part 2, I haven't decided yet.
[he's just happy that they're doing something; the "what" is never really what mattered to him, just "who". To have them all together is exactly what he'd been after, so the rest is just the dressing. He kinda threw this together on a whim, so hopefully it'll work out alright.]
That's so suspicious. If it's something uncool, me and Aerith are ditching you. [EMPTY THREATS. Not only are both of them incapable of ditching Zack Fair, Cloud is incapable of thinking of Zack as uncool, even when he's being uncool]
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You don't think that's kind of weird?
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[seriously it's aerith, she's awesome and gentle and caring and loves you kind of a lot
also if she has things to say about you, You Will Know]
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[and you really never met angeal.]
Listen, Cloud, I dated Aerith for a year and a half before things went to shit. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: whatever you might think of yourself, she thinks way better of you. And she's the kind of person who wants you to think better of yourself.
That doesn't sound like someone who'd badmouth you behind your back, does it?
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[IS THIS OVERSHARE. But what if he Screwed It Up and she was worried about his self-esteem and didn't say anything for fear of chasing him off]
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[geez, he's more worried about this than Zack expected. he gives Cloud a moment to settle and then, again-]
Ask her.
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Was Aerith your first girlfriend?
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Uh-huh. I used to flirt a lot [still does tbh, it's like breathing sorry] so I might've come close before if I'd tried, but it never went anywhere. There was just something special about Aerith that made me want to take it seriously.
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shh it means he likes you]Mm, probably. I try to avoid saying that sort of stuff to her face. Aerith is Aerith, y'know? She'd get mad if we treated her like anything more or less.
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-anyway uh, yeah, I'm down for a...double-date. Is it a double date if it's just us both going out with the same person?
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[it was kinda just the first thing that came to mind.]
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Aerith gets there first, since he was out and about arranging things and telling Cloud where to go, so when he spots her at their agreed meeting place he sneaks over to her, dressed nicely and out of uniform, a bag slung over his back. He winds an arm around her from behind and kisses her cheek.]
Hellooooooo babe! You look great.
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Even Cloud's cleaned up a little, since this is an official date and all; he may even smell like he's put on some cologne. Hopefully that bag is date materials because if they were supposed to all bring each other gifts, Cloud is woefully unprepared.
Instead of interrupting he just quietly comes up next to the two of them, nudging Aerith gently on the other side to let her know he's there.]
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Turning her attention to Cloud is easy, smooth, and it makes her realise how natural and normal this feels. Being with them both separately is wonderful, but she wants them to all be together, too; she wants to bask in being surrounded by the people she loves. ]
Hi.
[ Leaning up, she kisses Cloud's cheek too, reaching to take his hand and squeeze it. ]
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So do we kiss next? Is that how this goes?
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Isn't that what we're planning?
[ Oops. ]
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Got it in one! I thought about planning something wild, but since this is a trial run on how this'll even work, I'm playing it safe. And before anybody can say it- yes, I am the real Zack! SOLDIER's honour.
[even he has his sensible moments! they're just kinda rare compared to normal people.]
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Aerith does indeed pull him along so he lets himself trail a little bit at the end, other hand in his pocket as he tries to adjust to this.] Is that what the bag's for?
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No walking behind them, thank you. They'll all walk side-by-side because they're all as important as each other. ]
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[he's just happy that they're doing something; the "what" is never really what mattered to him, just "who". To have them all together is exactly what he'd been after, so the rest is just the dressing. He kinda threw this together on a whim, so hopefully it'll work out alright.]
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