insusurro | ARRIVAL.

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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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. ]

[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?

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!

[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?

[ 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.

[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.

[ 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.

[He really isn't playing fair with that handsome face of his! She gives him the tiniest of pouts before smiling softly, a well of infinite tenderness making her eyes bright.]

I can feel souls pass. I knew when it happened.

[Mending the wounds that took his life is something she has needed to do. She can't undo how he suffered, but she can put an end to it. The world needs Zack Fair.]

Cloud needs to see you.

When... What...?

[ Nevermind. It doesn't matter. Zack is perking up at the mention of that one name in particular. He has, after all, been looking for him all goddamned morning. How he could lose someone in a coma is beyond him. ]

You've seen him?

[ He twists and turns, looking over each of his shoulders. And then— ]

.... Waiiiiit a second. How do you know his name?

[She shakes her head and presses her lips together tightly. Admitting too much feels dangerous and even if she tries to explain, he might still be confused. The last thing she wants is to be called creepy by him.]

Yes! I met him in Midgar.

[His reaction makes her giggle.]

I'm sure you can find him if you look really hard~

[ Well no worries there. Zack would never call her that. Besides, he likes how she's not like other people; it's always been refreshing.

The idea of Cloud and Aerith, two of his most treasured friends, running into each other puts a smile on his face. ]

You gonna be a peach and offer to help me find him?

[ He extends a hand. ]

[She doesn't have the self-control to deny that smile, Zack. Does that make her a peach? Or just a sucker for Zack Fair? She rises onto her toes to kiss the tip of his nose, taking his hand without any hesitation.

Yes, they have a ~~Chocobo~~Cloud to find!]

He'll be so happy to see you. But he might have trouble showing it, so we should hug him!

ARRIVAL.

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