[ After he falls into step beside her, Aerith reaches out and takes Zack's arm, resting her free hand on him as well, like some part of her thinks something might swoop down from a crack in the plate above and carry him off. She didn't expect getting what she wished for more to be quite so scary like he's a thousand times more precious after having returned in one piece.
And it is precious, all of it, down to the questions he asks and the memories they bring back.
Her eyes dart sideways, a little smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. ]
You did a great kip-up that day Zack!
[ She would almost be convincing too, if it wasn't for the way she follows the words up with a light laugh. ]
Well, I told her about how you were with SOLDIER, and how you wanted to help me fill Midgar with flowers. She was pretty impressed with the cart.
[ Less so with the years of waiting and pining that happened since, but they're not far from her house now, as evidenced by the sprigs of grass and stray blossoms growing in the odd patch along their path, growing denser as they approach the weirdly idyllic spot the Gainsborough house stood ]
[Zack's face lights up from the memory of the cart. The cart, the one he'd made for her so she can liven the spirits of the people and fill Midgar with flowers. An ambitious endeavor, for sure, but it was theirs, a memory he'll treasure forever.]
It was a beautiful cart, what can I say? But we do have to make a new one -- a better one, even!
[If they can. They have more time and resources now, ironically, but it's not exactly the safest idea. One word of a flower wagon whispered in Shinra's walls and the Turks will swarm them within the hour. Maybe not at Tseng or Cissnei's command, but...
Zack shakes those thoughts off. Easily done once they're within close range of the Gainsborough house. He's never been here before, too busy or too shy to make that sort of move when he was younger; now, it feels like he's meant to be here. It's all so welcoming and warm, very different from any place within Midgar, like it has its own sunshine and energy. A small pocket of sunshine and paradise in a clouded slum.
This is definitely Aerith's house.]
Oh, man! Look at this place! It's like its own little world outside of Midgar!
[He quickens his pace to a light jog to approach one of the flowerbeds along the path.]
[ Her heart feels full, standing here with him in her garden. Many of the flowers that spread in all directions, covering every stretch of ground and sprouting from every pot and container, were barely a few leaves when Zack came into her life, it's almost metaphorical, but she's too caught up in getting to watch him see the place for the first time to mention. Maybe later, maybe now they really will have time. ]
Do you like it?
[ She comes up behind Zack, unable to stop herself from taking the time out of his sight to look at the flowers while gesturing toward Zack excitedly mouthing the words 'this is him!' Which, she knew they knew, they seemed to know everything and say nothing, but after all the years talking about Zack to them, it feels right to point him out. ]
Come inside, there's a balcony upstairs, you can see the whole thing.
[ And, though she doesn't want to say it - maybe it's safer if they're in the house. The thought is grim but the smile on her face doesn't falter, reaching for his hand and lacing her fingers through his before she takes a few steps towards the door, privately praying her mother was out, and there weren't any Turks lurking around to ruin the moment. ]
Do I like it? I don't know much about flowers but I can tell you, without a doubt, I love it! This is what I was talking about when I said you should fill Midgar with flowers.
[He's almost kneeling by the flowerbed and gesturing toward the various types -- he'll learn them all by name and be able to differentiate, one day -- when Aerith approaches. He misses her little chat with the flowers, sadly (especially since he'd tease her to no end about it), but it's alright. They've got plenty of time for introductions.
He stands upright and lets her lead him toward the house. There's a bit of hesitation in his steps -- he's excited to see her home, meet her mother, relax, of course, but part of him feels...undeserving, like he's intruding somehow. It's not easy to shake it off, no matter how much Aerith reassures him, how many times he tells himself it's okay...
Zack looks around them one last time before going through the threshold.]
I feel like I should be carrying you in or something, you know?
[A playful suggestion, hopefully it'll settle his nerves.]
[ Not expecting the suggestion, color rises to her face when Zack mentions carrying her into the house, and without breaking stride she reaches a hand out, gently shoving his shoulder. ]
Oh, you. Still so silly!
[ Once they're both through the front door, Aerith can't stop herself from looking out at the garden warily while she swings the door shut behind them, locking it just in case. There's still a hint of that seriousness in her expression when she turns back around to look at him, head tilting to the side as she crosses the distance between them to rest both hands on his arm. ]
It's been a really long time Zack. [ She begins, gently, carefully, still making up her mind as she goes about what it is she wants to say to him, now that he's here. ] Do you need to go upstairs and lay down? I want you to tell me everything that happened to you, I have so many questions, but, if you're tired I can wait a little bit longer.
[The inside of the Gainsborough is as warm and inviting as he'd always imagined it would be. A perfect reflection of its residents. It kind of reminds him of some of the homes back in Gongaga, not in terms of appearances, but how lived-in and comfortable and welcoming they are; it's easy to envision a family within, enjoying a meal, kids running on the creaky steps, a mom in the kitchen cooking or cleaning and gently reminding them to be careful. It's been years since Zack considered any of that, having gotten used to the cold and impersonal accommodations provided by Shinra.
It hits him with a hard pang of nostalgia. It has been a really long time.
He blinks back any potential teard and swallows hard just in time for Aerith's approach. He smiles, tries for the confident and easygoing one he's known for but it doesn't come...and it's okay. She's seen him at very low points before, back in the church after Angeal...
Zack shakes his head slightly, his expression subtle but still fond.]
I've been laying down -- or up -- asleep for a long time.
[Between the lab and the convalescent clinic here in Midgar, he thinks he should be afraid of laying down ever again. But this is fine.]
But yeah -- I can tell ya everything and we can sit and talk, yeah? Anywhere's fine. Upstairs on the bed, outside in the garden, down here... It's up to you.
[ This close to getting the answers she's wanted for so long, Aerith feels her stomach knot up, afraid of what he's going to tell her. Her lips purse into a thin line and she gives him a nod, trying not to let her thoughts turn too terrible when he mentions being laid up for so long. ]
Let's stay inside for now.
[ As good as it might feel to sit out with her flowers and talk about this, Zack doesn't have to spell anything out for Aerith to get the sense that laying low is smart right now. Aerith glances toward the table briefly before she turns back towards Zack, throwing her arms around him and giving him a tight hug instead of leading him over. Soon, she imagines, he'll tell her everything, and they'll be left with a whole new future to contend with, Aerith wants to make sure Zack knows she's happy he's here, no matter what the truth is. ]
I missed you, before anything else, just know that, okay?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
And it is precious, all of it, down to the questions he asks and the memories they bring back.
Her eyes dart sideways, a little smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. ]
You did a great kip-up that day Zack!
[ She would almost be convincing too, if it wasn't for the way she follows the words up with a light laugh. ]
Well, I told her about how you were with SOLDIER, and how you wanted to help me fill Midgar with flowers. She was pretty impressed with the cart.
[ Less so with the years of waiting and pining that happened since, but they're not far from her house now, as evidenced by the sprigs of grass and stray blossoms growing in the odd patch along their path, growing denser as they approach the weirdly idyllic spot the Gainsborough house stood ]
no subject
It was a beautiful cart, what can I say? But we do have to make a new one -- a better one, even!
[If they can. They have more time and resources now, ironically, but it's not exactly the safest idea. One word of a flower wagon whispered in Shinra's walls and the Turks will swarm them within the hour. Maybe not at Tseng or Cissnei's command, but...
Zack shakes those thoughts off. Easily done once they're within close range of the Gainsborough house. He's never been here before, too busy or too shy to make that sort of move when he was younger; now, it feels like he's meant to be here. It's all so welcoming and warm, very different from any place within Midgar, like it has its own sunshine and energy. A small pocket of sunshine and paradise in a clouded slum.
This is definitely Aerith's house.]
Oh, man! Look at this place! It's like its own little world outside of Midgar!
[He quickens his pace to a light jog to approach one of the flowerbeds along the path.]
This is awesome!
no subject
Do you like it?
[ She comes up behind Zack, unable to stop herself from taking the time out of his sight to look at the flowers while gesturing toward Zack excitedly mouthing the words 'this is him!' Which, she knew they knew, they seemed to know everything and say nothing, but after all the years talking about Zack to them, it feels right to point him out. ]
Come inside, there's a balcony upstairs, you can see the whole thing.
[ And, though she doesn't want to say it - maybe it's safer if they're in the house. The thought is grim but the smile on her face doesn't falter, reaching for his hand and lacing her fingers through his before she takes a few steps towards the door, privately praying her mother was out, and there weren't any Turks lurking around to ruin the moment. ]
no subject
[He's almost kneeling by the flowerbed and gesturing toward the various types -- he'll learn them all by name and be able to differentiate, one day -- when Aerith approaches. He misses her little chat with the flowers, sadly (especially since he'd tease her to no end about it), but it's alright. They've got plenty of time for introductions.
He stands upright and lets her lead him toward the house. There's a bit of hesitation in his steps -- he's excited to see her home, meet her mother, relax, of course, but part of him feels...undeserving, like he's intruding somehow. It's not easy to shake it off, no matter how much Aerith reassures him, how many times he tells himself it's okay...
Zack looks around them one last time before going through the threshold.]
I feel like I should be carrying you in or something, you know?
[A playful suggestion, hopefully it'll settle his nerves.]
no subject
Oh, you. Still so silly!
[ Once they're both through the front door, Aerith can't stop herself from looking out at the garden warily while she swings the door shut behind them, locking it just in case. There's still a hint of that seriousness in her expression when she turns back around to look at him, head tilting to the side as she crosses the distance between them to rest both hands on his arm. ]
It's been a really long time Zack. [ She begins, gently, carefully, still making up her mind as she goes about what it is she wants to say to him, now that he's here. ] Do you need to go upstairs and lay down? I want you to tell me everything that happened to you, I have so many questions, but, if you're tired I can wait a little bit longer.
no subject
It hits him with a hard pang of nostalgia. It has been a really long time.
He blinks back any potential teard and swallows hard just in time for Aerith's approach. He smiles, tries for the confident and easygoing one he's known for but it doesn't come...and it's okay. She's seen him at very low points before, back in the church after Angeal...
Zack shakes his head slightly, his expression subtle but still fond.]
I've been laying down -- or up -- asleep for a long time.
[Between the lab and the convalescent clinic here in Midgar, he thinks he should be afraid of laying down ever again. But this is fine.]
But yeah -- I can tell ya everything and we can sit and talk, yeah? Anywhere's fine. Upstairs on the bed, outside in the garden, down here... It's up to you.
no subject
Let's stay inside for now.
[ As good as it might feel to sit out with her flowers and talk about this, Zack doesn't have to spell anything out for Aerith to get the sense that laying low is smart right now. Aerith glances toward the table briefly before she turns back towards Zack, throwing her arms around him and giving him a tight hug instead of leading him over. Soon, she imagines, he'll tell her everything, and they'll be left with a whole new future to contend with, Aerith wants to make sure Zack knows she's happy he's here, no matter what the truth is. ]
I missed you, before anything else, just know that, okay?