ARRIVAL.

[insusurromods]

𝑰𝑵𝑺𝑼𝑺𝑼𝑹𝑹𝑶: 𝑨 𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑳𝑫 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑻 𝑫𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑵𝒀

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 you moved under your own power. The shadows that dwelt in the corners of your vision vanished, the world is bright and the shackles of destiny fall from your liberated limbs.

You're free.

But before you can take that next step, before you can alter your fate, a terrible howling fills your ears. It's an ill wind full of malice, one that rips you off of your feet and back, back, back from this chance to seize your destiny. The shadows coalesce into a single entity, its hands locking around your throat. It cannot let this stand.

You think that maybe this is the end. The world goes dark as it rushes past you, this is the end.

Except you wake to the feeling of rain on your skin.

The cliffs around you bare the scars of a fierce battle. Before you, a massive city faces the sea. Behind you, greenery sprawls for miles. Midgar has never looked so beautiful, but it has also never looked so unlike itself. The Sister Ray points proudly towards the sea. A bustling city crawls out from its shadow, looking wealthier and more robust than the slums ever did. You don't have long to ponder this.

Because you aren't alone. Others are coming to, looking just as confused and uncertain as you do. Some are battleworn and bloody, as if they were pulled from a fierce battle. Others appear to be in perfect health, as if they were simply pulled from a long slumber, though no less confused and lost. The howling that filled your slowly begins to fade, and as it does, the rain begins to clear.

𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐀𝐑 is within a few hours walking distance. 𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐌 lies not much further in the opposite direction. There is no presence urging you to walk to one or the other, no voice from on high telling you what path your feet should walk. Underneath this infinite blue sky the choice to go - or to stay - is entirely yours.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐎 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐓?

Comments

[backwater]

[ Lookin' fancy, Midgar.

Zack is standing at the edge of the cliff. He's not sure how; every nerve in his body is screaming for him to let those buckling knees of his succumb to what feels like nine times the gravity he's used to. Every breath he takes is labored, wheezing. His hands don't look like his hands anymore, ragged and branded to the bone with gunshot contrails. But he can't bring himself to look away.

There were things in the air. Back home, they called them wisps, he thinks. His grandpa once told him that they'd steal him away if he didn't go to bed on time. Now Zack's wondering if that applies to not dying on time too, because he's sure...

There's motion behind him. No time to think. Those bodies laid out on the ground aren't the ones that peppered the blood-soaked sands before the explosion. His heart softens when he sees them, grounded and vulnerable. Just like someone that he's hoping made it too.

At the first soft noise, he takes a step forward. He extends a hand, flashes that Crest-white sun-bright Zack Fair brand grin. ]

Eeeeeeasy now. I got ya. You're gonna be all right.

[ambitiousblond]

[Laying on the ground was uncomfortable, to say the least, but here he was with no idea of how he got here. It's not the worst situation he's woken up with but it ranked right up there with waking up in a dungeon. That had been interesting but this was an improvement compared to that.

He couldn't lay around on the ground forever so he eventually sat up, brushing hair out of his face with annoyance. He felt dirty and disheveled, not exactly how he wanted to be seen in public but there was nothing he could do about it now.

He wasn't sure what he expected but suddenly seeing Zack Fair's face in front of his as he started to get up was not one of them. He couldn't hide his shock, stumbling back in the most undignified away before taking a moment to recover his composure. Zack was supposed to be dead years ago- he hadn't been involved in any of that but he had read the reports when he had access to them.

But here was Zack smiling brightly at him as if none of that ever happened. He remembered that he was gunned down by Shinra troops than this would be a very awkward meeting, to say the least.]

Mr. Fair.

[backwater]

Huh?

[ Forgive him his transgressions, Mr. President. It's just that he's been a whole lotta DEAD for a whole lot of your career. That's why he doesn't think twice about sticking a hand out to grab Rufus under the arm, hoisting him steadily on to his feet when the guy can't seem to manage it himself. Helping! That's what heroes muthafuckin' do.

He doesn't really... know the vice president. (Or the man who was the vice president, back when he was still, y'know, breathing.) He's seen pictures of him on glossy magazines that deal in gossip and hearsay, but that was ages ago and only in passing. Angeal kept him busy enough to keep out of that stuff. He mostly knows Rufus through Kunsel's textflurry, but it's not like he does anything but skim those.

So something's ringing a bell, but Zack can't quite figure out where the noise is coming from. ]

Do I know you...?

[ambitiousblond]

Do- what?

[Rufus couldn't stop himself from staring at Zack for a moment. He wasn't being arrogant- even in Zack's time he was sure he was one of the most recognizable people on the planet as the Vice President of Shinra. Then again, he supposed SOLDIERS were kept more isolated from the general population. Still, it was strange not to be instantly recognized.

He decided that he wouldn't introduce himself to Zack right away. He wasn't sure what kind of welcome he would get if Zack remembered being gunned down by the Shinra army. Instead, he gave Zack a slight smile, he would let Zack recognize him if he could.]

I've heard about you but we've never actually met. I suppose you can say you're rather famous.

[backwater]

That's... not exactly a good thing. Is it?

[ Zack withdraws his hand eventually. It goes straight to the back of his neck, ruffling the spiky expanse there. He's not sure what to do with Rufus. Is this a fighting situation? The guy doesn't seem volatile. And he's already killed way too many people he's shared a helping hand with. He's fucking tired of it.

Zack isn't like Rufus. His eyes are open, plain to see the passive plea in them. Don't make this bloodier than it has to be. Please.

He speaks carefully: ]

I'm not tryin' to do anything here but survive.

[ambitiousblond]

I won't stop you from doing that.

[He meant it. SOLDIER had been one of the worst things his father had created and he was determined that nothing like that would ever happen again. It hadn't been easy for the Turks to find the remains of Jenova but it had been worth it to hopefully put an end to all of that.

History wouldn't repeat itself if he had anything to say about it.

He doubted Zack would trust him and for good reason but he would still be honest with him even if his expression was more guarded.]

Shinra isn't going to come after you. You're free to go where you like.

[backwater]

[ You know who this guy reminds him of? Lazard. Not because he's a grovely nerdy little shit in an elegant coat, it's just something about voice bone and eyes that hits him a certain way. Maybe they're related? Well, if they're Shinra, he'll probably never know. They've got a whole department devoted to keeping secrets, it's not like this one is gonna pull him in to tell him what's the scuttlebutt.

And the way this guy talks... ]

You say it like your word means somethin'.

[ Zack takes a step closer. Not to be intimidating—maybe a little bit to be intimidating—mainly to make it plain as pie that he's not going to be taking dodgy runaround answers from this one. ]

Who are you?

[ambitiousblond]

[Rufus didn't back away as Zack approached him. Even though he had no part in creating the SOLDIER program, Rufus knew he was responsible for everything that Shinra had done now. As difficult as this would be, he wasn't going to avoid this conversation.

He owed Zack that much.]

I'm not asking for your trust.

[So there was no hiding it then. He would always be the Shinra empire, for better or worse.]

I'm President Rufus Shinra.

[backwater]

[ Zack almost laughs. Almost. It comes from the part of him that assumes that anything he knows about the world he remembered is the right thing. But he's quick enough to know it's not.

Rufus Shinra. President Rufus Shinra. Kunsel's texts come back to him quickly. ]

Guess they let you come back from that 'business trip' after all. Here I thought that was just a clever way of saying you were... y'know.

[ He does that click-click with his tongue. Dead. ]

... How long have I been gone for?

[ He doesn't know if Rufus would know a thing like that. He's barely even asking anyone but himself. ]

[unbridled_strength]

[She groans, slowly pushing herself up on her arms. What happened? How did she get on the ground? She doesn't feel hurt. Well nothing more than what sleeping on the ground would cause.

Then there's a hand in her field of view. SOLDIER style boots and pants. She takes that hand, feeling relieved, until she looks up, and the face smiling at her, is not the one she expected. Not at all.]

Zack?

[backwater]

[ Zack blinks slowly, the sort of way you would when you hear your name, said low and familiar, by someone you don't recognize in the freakin' slightest. He really needs to do some work on how easy he is to read. His pokerface is soooorely lacking here.

Uhh. Uhhhhhh. UUHHHHHHHHHH—! ]

Yeah. It's me.

[ When in doubt, use the Eyes. That's the move, man. Chicks never question the eyes. Couple it with a smile that looks like it's all for Tifa, go slow and smooth on saying: ]

I'm just glad that you're okay.

[unbridled_strength]

[Okay, that's a weird look he's giving her. Does he not...remember her? You'd think an impression would have been made, after the last time they met.

You know. When she almost died.]

Yeah...

[She'll just...stand up on her own.]

What are you doing here?

[backwater]

[ Does he remember a little girl in an oversized cowboy hat? Yup. Clear as day. Does he remember a kick-ass MMA pro fighter with abs for days and legs for centuries? Nnnnnot so much.

It is. Kind of coming to him now. Like maybe he knows her from somewhere. Anyway, she's not on her own here! Zack is gonna help her get to her feet and brush a little dust out of her hair and now she's good as gold. Right? ]

Was just about to ask you the same question. Looks like—

[ Uh-oh. Here it comes. It's the voice, the pang of regret that comes with it, a suddenly fleeting image of a girl all crumpled up on the landing below him. ]

Holy shit! Tifa!?

[unbridled_strength]

[Did he-? Did he just check her out??

N-no. Probably not. Right? No reason to blush. Cuz she's not. At all.]

Yeah, it's me. It's been a long time. I'm glad you're okay.

[She actually means it. She'd been really angry, give years ago, but she's grown up a lot since then.]

[backwater]

[ The hand hovering over Tifa's shoulder slips right into his hair instead. Oof. Now he remembers a loooot—and none of its good. Even if she's being chill right now, those words are still ringing in his ears—

I HATE you.

Can't say he blames her. He wonders how it's been, harboring words like that for. Oh. Wait. How long has it been? Dammit, he should have read Kunsel's texts. Why does he never ever do that? ]

I'm glad you're okay. I, uh...

[ The part of his head that's still all Zack and just wants LOVELOVELOVELOVE and most importantly for everyone to love him wants to do some explaining here. Something to ease the awkwardness that's been probably definitely a couple years building between them. But the mature part, the part that's been carrying Cloud across the better part of a continent, well, it recognizes that there is no excuse for him. For any of them. ]

Thank you. For being... kind. I probably don't deserve that.

[unbridled_strength]

[It took her a while to get here, to a place where she could be kind. She's reconciled that Zack wasn't to blame. Shinra was. Sephiroth was. Zack had been trying to help, she just couldn't see it at the time.]

That's not true. I was... I wasn't thinking straight. Back then. I'm sorry, for what I said.

[backwater]

Whoa—hey. None'a that.

[ Zack's got both his hands on her shoulders before he can convince himself not to do it. Sorry if they're still a little bloody. He's mainly concerned with looking at her with that smile on his face that's still got that same comforting affectation, even after all these years. ]

You don't have anything to apologize for. Not to me, not to anybody. You got that?

[earlylight]

[That smile! She could see it a mile away. Zack. Aerith is motionless, her feet unable to carry her. But the hesitation doesn't last. With a happy smile, full of life and mischief, she runs to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.]

I'll help too! [After a good hug. Sorry, Zack, you've earned it! She tilts her head back to look up at him, green eyes merry...and sad.]

No one will be left behind.

[backwater]

[ This hug... It's been a long time coming, hasn't it? Just like how it all began, Aerith appears out of nowhere with just the kind of wordless comfort he needs, fire-fresh and delivered without even a where've YOU been to color it. Zack has a groaning somebody leaned up against his shoulder now and a bundle of pink ribbon and soft floral scents tucked beneath his arm and suddenly he feels like he's strong enough to get all three of them where they're going. Thanks, Aerith.

Before he can even say anything, she's doing the Aerith thing, and it's like nothing's ever changed, like they can just go back to the church and the cart and live the life he suspects they were always meant to. ]

You hear that, buddy?

[ He tilts his head toward the groaningly unwitting charge leaned against his shoulder. ]

What Aerith says goes. We're gonna get ya home.

[ He can't remember how long it's been since he's grinned this hard. At least until Aerith finally disentangles herself and he realizes with a start that she's—smeared with his blood, no, dammit no, this is not how this is supposed to happen. ]

[earlylight]

[If she could have found him, she would have been side by side with Cloud, doing what she could to save him. But instead she felt him pass from a distance, unable to do anything but pray and grieve. She doesn't have to ask him where he has been; she knows. But it's time to live again and, of course, he is being the perfect hero already!]

I'll try to heal you both.

[His blood is sticky on her skin, on her clothes, but that sensation doesn't faze her. What matters far more is getting the bleeding to stop so Zack can have a chance to be without pain again. She wraps an arm around him to support him, pointing out a rocky outcropping where they can get some shelter, at least.]

Can you carry him that far?

[backwater]

I'll be fine. Just worry about our friend here, eh?

[ Like the three of them are taking a quaint stroll in the park, he keeps them going. It's so easy to ignore how tired he is when Aerith is around. And yeah, this whole situation is weird and throwing him for a loop, but the circumstances are great so he's not gonna question it.

Zack and Aerith and their charge get to the outcropping and Zack is careful setting the guy down. He's out like a light, but Zack checks his pulse and finds it strong enough. He brushes his hands off on his jeans and claps his hands together. ]

All right, Aeri. Do your thing!

[earlylight]

[Easier said than done! Her expression falls a little, but not for long. Aerith is one determined lady and, well, the cats out of the bag. She had tried to hide her nature from him - being half-Cetra is a bit strange - yet she isn't about to let someone suffer needlessly so she can try to keep a secret.

So when their poor friend is set down, she crouches down and sets about healing him, hovering her hands over the obvious wounds and stitching them together. Then she stands up and puts her hands on her hips.]

You're next, SOLDIER. [Yeah, there's no escape, Zack.] I guess...you know what I am?

[backwater]

[ Zack can't help it that his expression falters a little when hers does. She's his rock, after all, or maybe more like a beacon beckoning him home when he is lost. All this time, the only direction he's had has been centered around seeing her, even if it's just one last time. ]

Oh. Yeah. The Turks...

[ Is about all he has to say, isn't it? They'd told him, but it's another thing to see it, even if there's always been a part of him that always knew, right from the start, that Aerith isn't like anyone else. ]

You're one of a kind, Aerith. [ He leans in, smile flashing brightly. ] But I always knew that.

[earlylight]

[She will gladly be his rock if he still wants her around. The constant fear attached with her birth has to do with how others will react. And he is rather special to her. It would hurt a lot if he rejected her because of something she can't help.]

They're nosy.

[In true Aerith style, she says those words lightly, teasingly.]

Not all of them are bad. I just didn't like the idea of being put away again.

[His response is so him and her heart lifts immediately. Delicate hands will seek out his wounds, using her magic to heal the bullet holes.]

So are you. That's why I'm not going to let you die. [Cheeks turning pink, she ducks her head shyly.] I wish I had been there with you.

[backwater]

[ Oh yeah nah. There'll be none of that. He lifts her right back up with a delicate touch beneath her chin. The blush is cute. And he's journeyed so, so far to see it. ]

You're here now.

[ He can feel his wounds mending, but the bigger thing on his mind is how much Aerith has changed. The scrappy kid he remembers is now this beautiful, elegant woman with sure hands and an even brighter spirit. She's breath-taking. ]

That's all that matters.