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#aerith lives au
setoangel01 · 5 days
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A Zack Lives AU at the end of Crisis Core when he runs into Aerith selling flowers at Loveless Avenue. For Day 1 of Zerith Week 2024 - "New Beginnings" for @zerithweek
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andrewwtca · 8 days
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lies for loose lips (wc: 6,632)
— Final Fantasy VII
— Zack/Cloud, minor Aerith/Tifa
— Advent Children era, Zack lives, Aerith lives, crack treated seriously, hurt/comfort
Zack can't keep a secret for his life and Cloud's had enough.
He comes up with a cute little revenge plan.
Zack is intoxicated by all of Cloud. Zack needs to focus. Zack needs to kiss Cloud. Zack pulls back and Cloud steels himself. “Alright… I need you to keep a secret.” A pause. “Never mind,” Zack says. “I love you. Wanna go out?”
a silly fic I finally finished after months. Zack the whipped puppy and Cloud the flustered angel, being stupid kids together.
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Through the Jungle
The Prodigal Son - Chapter 2 (Previous Chapters)
Fandom: FFVII
Pairings: Zack Fair x Aerith Gainsborough (Zerith) and minor Cloud Strife x Tifa Lockhart (Cloti)
Rated: T
Story Summary: Zack Lives AU. Leaving the Golden Saucer behind, the group heads to Zack's hometown of Gongaga, where after nearly a decade apart, Zack finally reunites with his parents.
Chapter Summary: Arriving on the shores of Gongaga, the group make their ways through the perilous jungle awaiting them.
................
"Damn…" Cloud muttered softly from the driver's seat when the buggy came to a full stop. The tires jostling slightly atop the sandy beaches near the entrance to what could only be gateway to the dense Jungles of Gongaga.
Zack allowed a smirk to cross his lips hearing Cloud's awed tone as well as the similar reactions crossing the expressions of all the other passengers that were all unabashedly staring at the absolutely impressive jungle awaiting them. Widened eyes and gaping mouths of his companions had him feeling relieved to see the sheer majesty of his home hadn't changed much since he left it behind a decade ago.
For a few blissful seconds, Zack took it in himself as the group exited the buggy to get a closer look.
Feet firm on the sandy beach, a dainty hand suddenly grasped at his arm. He looked down to see his girlfriend's awestruck expression, marvelous emerald eyes wider than he could recall them being, peering eagerly at their surroundings.
"Wow! Oh Gaia, everything is so…green!" Aerith chirped happily with an adorable little bounce in her step. Her exhilaration was palpable and Zack couldn't be happier about seeing the wondrous expression gracing her beautiful face.
A low whistle sounded beside them, "Gotta agree with ya' there, girlie. Fuckin' hell, I don't think I've ever seen so many damn trees in my entire life," Barrett muttered, reaching out to touch a nearby frond as if in a hypnotic daze.
"DON'T TOUCH THAT!" Zack suddenly yelped, grasping Barret's outstretched arm before he could make a terrible mistake.
"Da fuck!?" Barrett yelled, pulling his arm back from the plant as if he had been burned.
Zack chuckled nervously, "Sorry but you'd thank me if you'd seen what even touching that shit does to your skin!" Zack shuttered in remembrance when he learned that lesson the hard way as a boy, "It'll give you the itchiest most annoying rash you'll ever get in your life! Believe me! You gotta avoid the plants with the thorns and red tipped leaves, but those bluish ones beside it are alright, though." As if to showcase his truthfulness, Zack brushed his glove-less hand against said greenery with a fond smile on his lips.
Yuffie guffawed at the horrified look that still hadn't left Barrett's face. The man in question swatting at her before the self-appointed 'most beautiful and greatest ninja of all time' promptly bent over with her nauseous stomach roiling unhappily at the sudden movement.
"Serves ya right, ya brat!" Barrett shook his fist at Yuffie, who while acting like she's only seconds from certain death, still somehow found the energy to stick her tongue out and flip him off.
Aerith giggled into Zack's bicep as Tifa rubbed the loudly whining Yuffie's back.
"So…anything else we need to watch out for here, Zack?" Nanaki's soft drawl asked from near his left hip as the feline sniffed cautiously at a patch of bright purple flowers.
Zack hummed, putting his hand up to his chin and peered around. "Well…Yeah. There's some more plants I'd steer clear from but it's mostly the fiends you gotta watch out for. The Kimera bugs are bloodthirsty bastards, there's also these giant flying jellyfish that love to paralyze you with cheap-shot lightning attacks…Oh! And whatever you do, stay the hell away from the Touch Me Frogs! We don't have any Maiden's Kiss on us and if we were all attacked together by a nest of 'em, that would be really, really bad news..."
"...Maiden's Kiss?" Aerith asked with a curious tilt to her head.
"Yeah! It turns you back to normal when you get 'Frogged'!"
Cloud stared at him strangely for a moment before he felt compelled to ask, "…'Frogged'?"
Zack blinked stupidly at him. "Yeah. The Touch Me's will actually turn you into a frog. Can't tell you how many times it's happened to me…" he admitted while scratching the back of his head in slight embarrassment.
Yuffie huffed out a laugh, "Now that, I believe," which Zack would have given her shit for (and an atomic noogie) if she didn't look so damn miserable with her greenish complexion and arms wrapped protectively across her stomach. "Urk…Nope. No more laughing…Bad idea."
Tifa peered in concern at the teen for a moment before she suggested, "Alright then. I say it's a good idea to stay clear away from weird plants and any monsters, especially those frogs, until we can stock up on that certain potion."
"Uggghhhh…" Yuffie moaned as she leaned her head miserably against Tifa's shoulder.
"...And maybe we could also stock up on some stomach medicine while we're there," Tifa continued, allowing the loudly grumbling Yuffie to lean her slight weight on her.
"Hell yes..." the Wutain groaned into Tifa's generous chest as the older woman comforted her with gently pats to her back.
"Oi! Dat's a fine idea dere, Lassie!" Cait Sith piped for the first time since they arrived, the quick-footed robotic feline suddenly launched upwards and made himself quite comfortable atop Barrett's shoulder, much to the latter's dismay.
"Hey! What the-!? Whataya!? Urg!" The dark skinned man cut himself off, glaring certain death at the robot. Yet Cait Sith remained unfazed, merely smiling in the face of his anger, Barrett muttered, "fuckin' cat…" under his breath rather than knock his furry ass to the ground.
Zack thought the scene was strangely sweet.
All the while, Cloud peered out at the group as if in deep thought before glancing back toward the jungle. The blonde looked way out of his depth and uncomfortable which was odd considering how quick he assumed the leader role under Zack's advisement. Yet now he seemed hesitant at the prospect of the looming vegetation when he turned to peer back at Zack.
"That's the plan then. Looks like you're in the lead, Jungle Boy." Cloud announced.
Zack laughed loudly at the sudden declaration, slapping Cloud hard on his un-armored shoulder before he eagerly took over the leader role of the group with Aerith always faithfully by his side. Her adorable giggles and bouncing steps right beside his own.
"Damn straight I am, you Mountain Hick!" Zack called out to the blonde over his shoulder.
"Hey!" Tifa's affronted voice called back.
"Not you, Teef! Now, come on, everyone! Let's mosey!" he stated happily to the rest of the party.
.....................
Cloud stood there for a moment, merely rubbing his sore shoulder, and while trying to hide it, he couldn't help but smile at Zack and Aerith's retreating backs before following them into the jungle.
"Oh my!" It was Tifa's voice that broke out when they first saw the field of bright pink mushrooms lining a mossy cliff-side. The excitement encapsulated her cherry-cola eyes and a huge smile gracing her lips as the group approached Gongoga's world famous import hidden deep inside the jungle."These are Gongaga mushrooms, right Zack?" she inquired, peering questioningly over her shoulder at him. The martial artist was already kneeling next to a large patch of the smaller mushrooms resting right underneath the shade of one a thousand times larger.
Zack knelt beside her and once he saw they were indeed the correct mushrooms and not some poisonous look-alike imposters, he happily replied, "Yep! These are Gaia's famous Gongaga Mushrooms! In fact, this is the only place on the planet they're grown."
"Really?" Cloud asked curiously as he squatted down near Tifa to get a closer look.
"Yeah. Something about the temperature and soil I think makes them only able to flourish here," Zack replied as Aerith plopped herself in the thick grassy patch beside him, green eyes wide as she brushed her hands over the bright pink fungi and marveled at the size of one of the nearby giants.
"They're such a pretty color too!" Aerith added while Nanaki walked over to sniff at them curiously; the feline 'hmmed' lowly in his throat as if pleasantly surprised at their rich meaty aroma they exuded.
"Wow." Tifa mused softly on the information, gentle smile never fading as she lightly ran her fingertip along the edges of a few. "I've always loved to cook with them! They add such amazing flavor to every dish, but in Midgar they're always so expensive the rare time I seen them come to the markets. I could only afford to use them in a few dishes on a couple special occasions."
Zack watched with barely concealed giddiness as Cloud peered at Tifa's contemplative expression, those light blue eyes of his doing nothing to hide his obvious adoration for the gorgeous brunette. The way Cloud and Tifa shyly danced around each other, yet were so damn in love that anyone with eyes could see it, was as cute as it was frustrating to witness.
Seemingly psyching himself up, the blonde ex-infantryman gently nudged at Tifa's shoulder with his own before offering, "Hey, uh, why don't we stock up on some of them here? I'm sure they're a lot cheaper since they're grown here."
"Hmm, you're right. Maybe they even have them dried to make them more portable," Tifa wondered with a dainty finger pressed to her chin.
"Yeah, and uh, I'm sure the dishes you make for us on the road would be even better," he quickly cleared his throat and looked away with cheeks that nearly matched Tifa's eyes, "You know, if that's even possible."
Tifa's eyes widened at the sudden compliment but a warm smile quickly overtook it instead, "Thanks, Cloud. I think I'd like that…" she shyly responded.
Zack and Aerith watched their interaction with bated breath, and once it was over, they shared a pleased look and quietly fist-bumped at the progression those two were making.
Of course the adorable moment didn't last long when Yuffie suddenly piped up, "I don't get it," she grumbled, bouncing a few (most likely stolen) materia on her knuckles as she waited for them all to get a move on, "What's so special about a bunch of pink mushrooms?"
Zack smirked at the ninja, "Just wait til you taste my mom's cooking and then you'll see."
Barrett chuckled, tapping Yuffie's shoulder that sent the thin teen nearly careening into a nearby tree, "Damn straight! There is truly nothing that tastes as good in the damn planet like home cookin'." The older man pursed his lips, "Hey, uh, SOLDIER boy, I shoulda brought this up earlier, but do ya think your folks would be alright with all of us bargin' in on them without any warning?"
Zack quickly stood to his feet and offered his hand to Aerith as he replied, "My mom always was looking for any excuse to cook so I'm sure they won't mind." His voice was steady even if Zack himself remained unsure of his parent's reaction to his sudden presence. Wanting to put his friends at ease and wipe the concerned look Aerith shot his way, he continued, "We didn't have the biggest house so we might have to eat outside or find other lodging to fit us all overnight, but hell, we're used to doing that already so it shouldn't be a big deal."
Barrett's brows pinches for a moment. "Hey, Zack, ya know we wouldn't wanna to intrude if ya want some time alone with yer folks either." Barrett said with a kind, fatherly expression Zack wasn't used to seeing aimed at him since Angeal died. The very same look his father bestowed upon him while resting a firm yet comforting hand on his shoulder after gifting him his first real sword on his 13th birthday.
Now Angeal was dead (by his hand no less) and he'd left his father a week after that night without a word. All of it given up more than 10 years ago for a dream that ended up in a hellish cacophony of greed, delusion, betrayal, and concluded in a town filled with fire and smoke.
A sharp wave of grief of the past 10 years hit him abruptly, yet before he could think of anything to reply to the kindness he didn't deserve held in Barrett's eyes, Yuffie interrupted.
For once, Zack was damn grateful for the distraction.
"Ughhh! Great! Than let's hurry the hell up and go already! Anything to stop staring at a bunch of dumb mushrooms, ya old fogies!" Yuffie piped up, her arms now full of the protesting Cait Sith who was the latest victim of her Materia "borrowing" scheme.
"Hmm. Yes. Let's continue. I'm rather intrigued. I'd love to see how they taste when cooked, especially if it's as good as Tifa states." Nanaki commented, licking the edge of his mouth where a pink speck of mushroom fell to the ground by his feet.
Zack looked down in bewilderment hoping eating them raw had no adverse effect on the large feline but decided not to say anything and to merely keep an eye on him.
Shaking off any lingering feelings of his past coming back to haunt him, Zack slipped back on his normal happy puppy mask and stated, "Alright, alright, hold onto your Chocobos, Yuff."
"Stop calling me that, ya jerk!" she grumbled but Zack continued unperturbed.
"I promise we'll leave real soon but we can't show up empty handed! C'mon, give me a hand with picking some of these!"
Cloud looked skeptical yet he followed his friend to the patch of mushrooms regardless, "Wouldn't your folks already have some?"
"Probably, but the ones that grow furthest from the village always tasted better in my opinion. Now come on, there's a special technique to picking them so they don't break!" Zack motioned for the others interested in learning to join him near a large cluster of the pink beauties situated in a little alcove a few yards away. The plump pink flesh perfectly ripe and the woodsy smell lingering near them was rich and aromatic.
Perfect for picking!
With that, Zack showed the group the specialized Gongaga technique for picking the mushrooms so the tops and stems were left attached and completely undamaged. Zack's smile grew as Aerith and Tifa both did it perfectly on their first try and gave each other a high five in celebration. Yet Cloud wasn't as lucky for he broke his first mushroom right in half while angrily swatting at the mocking Yuffie, who wasn't any better when her mushroom practically exploded into pink chunks of shrapnel. At least Nanaki was happy not to waste the rare fungi and ate the pieces.
Barrett and Cait Sith seemed merely happy watching it all unfold.
Zack leaned back on his heels as they continued their mission. A gentle smile curling his lips at getting to watch his girlfriend and friends as they (after another brief instruction) began gathering the mushrooms like seasoned pros. Yet his unperturbed mask he relied on far too much lately faltered slightly once he realized he was actually happy for any excuse to help delay the trip to his hometown just a little while longer…
..................
A plethora of Gongaga mushrooms safely stowed away in Barrett's knapsack, the group continued into the denser region while trying (and failing) to avoid the fiends along their way.
Clusters of large Kimera bugs were easily dispatched while they almost got overtaken by Grangalan, the annoying egg-like creatures that reproduced faster than Grassland rabbits. As they got deeper into the thick foliage, they ran into a few nesting Mastodons they fortunately slipped past without fighting. Unfortunately, in a case of bad luck named Yuffie Kisaragi, they landed in a field of poisonous plants called Frightflowers. The evil flora were a pain in the ass if they weren't killed immediately and if it wasn't for Aerith's masterful Ensuna casting, the fight could have been deadly with their poison effect alone.
When all was said and done, nearly all of them were nursing more than a few new scrapes and bruises they didn't bother wasting potions on, but thankfully, nothing worse than that. Zack was merely grateful that they hadn't run into any Touch Me Frogs, but in an effort to avoid their spawning areas, it still stalled their progress more than he'd like.
Zack had also forgotten how strenuous traversing this jungle could be. Hanging ropes and vines, rickety wooden ladders, tons of hiking mountains and crossing fast-moving rivers greeted them the further into the jungle they went. And while himself and most of the group could easily handle the extra physical strain, it was obvious his girlfriend was quickly falling behind.
Flushed cheeks, sweat heavily lined her brow and her wispy chestnut locks were flattening as the exertion plus the humidity in the air began to wilt down her energy to a mere whisper of what it was mere hours prior.
Zack tried his best to take plenty of rest stops so she could have a moment to catch her breath, but it was an uphill battle. They were also losing daylight and it was a special kind of hell to get trapped in the jungle after nightfall where you couldn't even see your own damn hand in front of your face. Not to mention, the hungry nocturnal fiends he'd rather not deal with in the inevitable low lighting.
"I'm so sorry, Zack." Aerith's voice tore him from his musings. The last Cetra breathing heavily as she plopped down on a downed tree log and looked so incredibly miserable that it hurt his heart. "I know I'm slowing everyone down, it's just… Ugh! I thought after a few weeks of non-stop traveling I wouldn't be huffing and puffing like this anymore. I feel so weak…" she grumbled angrily while wiping her perspiring forehead with the back of her trembling hand.
"What are you talking about!? You just saved our asses back there! Don't even think that you're weak because you're one of the strongest people I know!" Zack chided while sliding to sit next to her and wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulder.
Aerith smiled at the statement but he still saw the doubt in her eyes and it broke his damn heart.
Zack bit his lip, yet before he said anything further, he lifted his blue eyes to the figures of the rest of the group standing at a nearby creek filling their canteens with fresh water. Seeing they weren't in hearing range, he continued, "I'm serious when I say you're actually doing great, sweetie. Traversing these jungles isn't easy whatsoever and the heat and humidity only makes it that much worse, especially if you're not used to it."
"I still feel bad… It's like everyone is always catering to me because I can't keep up," Aerith muttered lowly, playing with the ends of her frayed braid in an effort to keep her eyes away from Zack's concerned expression.
Zack pursed his lips, hating to see the self-deprecating look on her face and wanted nothing more than to reassure his angel, "That's not true! We've stopped plenty of times for the others. There's Barrett for instance in the Shinra tower with the giant ass flight of stairs and Yuffie whenever she needs to hurl every damn time she steps into a moving vehicle."
"Yeah, but that's not the same," Aerith pouted.
Zack bit his lip for a moment before he asked with a soft smile, "Hey, did I ever tell you about my friend Satatoro?"
Aerith's eyes perked up at the sudden new information he was sharing and he cheered inside at the interest in her pretty green eyes. "No, you didn't."
"Well, we both were born here and were friends since before we could walk. We were both so determined to join ShinRa to become First Class SOLDIERS yet he'd always be focused so much on strength and trying to pack on muscle that he never even bothered to do cardio to build up his stamina. The dude would nearly pass out when going for a light jog to my secret workout spot!"
"...So, you're saying I need to work on my stamina, hmm?" she teased lowly while brushing her hand on his thigh, loving to watch the adorable shade of coral red fill the apples of his cheeks.
Zack chuckled, "Babe, all I'm saying is that he lived here his whole life and he would have given up on this trek hours ago and yet here you are still pushing through!" he grasped at her wandering hand and held it against his chest, smiling so tenderly it made her heart throb against her sternum. "You're doing wonderful, Aeri. Don't you ever think otherwise. …Promise me?"
Aerith pursed her lips indecisively yet Zack didn't give, his big pout and patented puppy dog eyes she could never refuse had her throwing in the proverbial towel. Zack could be the most stubborn man on the planet when he set his mind to it. The Last Cetra finally relented with a sigh. "Fine. I won't say that anymore, okay?"
"Great!"
The Flower Girl huffed out a laugh before smiling at her wonderful and encouraging boyfriend. She quickly leaned up to place a quick kiss on the edge of his smiling mouth before resting her slight weight against his unmovable muscular frame. Bonelessly, she leaned against him, not even bothering to hide how absolutely exhausted she was anymore. "While I know I'm doing okay for making it this far, I still feel like shit for slowing us down… and now I can't feel my feet anymore."
Zack peered at her in concern before a brilliant idea popped into his head that had him smiling.
"...What?" Aerith asked when noticing him staring at her with barely restrained glee.
"I think I can help with that!"
.................
"...Are you sure this is okay?" Aerith asked, her thin frame cradled tenderly in Zack's arms in a bridle carry, the Buster Sword strapped to his back didn't allow for piggy back rides after all.
"Any excuse I can carry you is valid to me, babe," Zack sent her a bright smile down at her. "Besides, once we get some Chocobos, it'll be a helluva lot easier to traverse this terrain. Believe it or not, but they can even jump on the giant mushrooms to get to the tops of some of these cliffs! I think you'll love the color of their feathers too. They're a green super similar to your eyes, but of course, your eyes are much prettier," he winked at her.
Cheeks warming at his flirty words, Aerith smiled. "Wow, really?" she asked, glancing at the giant mushrooms and all the unexplored areas they could reach using those.
"Yeah… I wonder if my Chocobo is still around…"
"You had a Chocobo growing up? You never told me that!" she slapped his chest lightly and sent him a pout.
"Sorry!" Zack chuckled when she tried to pinch him. "I thought I did but must have forgot to mention it, but yeah, I did! Raised him since he was a chick. I named him Mochi after my favorite treat my late grandma used to make me all the time as a kid."
"Oh my! How cute!" Aerith's beamed, instantly picturing a tiny Zack running around with an adorable green Chocobo Chick following faithfully behind him. She hoped his parents had pictures she could see of that!
"He certainly was. We were both always getting into trouble but it was fun. I hope he's still around. He was kind of a wild bird so he might have taken off when I left, but if he's still around, you can ride him around. It would make the trip a lot easier and I'm certain he'd fall in love with you just as quickly as I did." he said with a tender smile.
Aerith eagerly returned it, her heart thumping at just how happy Zack made her without even trying.
The love and adoration he showcased with every little act of kindness and encouragement he bestowed upon her without asking for anything in return. He truly was the sweetest, gentlest, most wonderful man on Gaia filled with a heart of pure gold. She truly felt like the luckiest woman on the planet to have a love like hers, one that fought fate to make it back to her... And now she was on a journey with him and all her new friends and heading towards the place Zack grew up! Somewhere he always talked about and now she really was here with him at her side…
It was as if all her tiny wishes had come true.
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Overcome with the sudden rush of emotion, she burrowed further into his embrace.
The close contact and warmth of his body filling her lungs like a haze, she couldn't help but reply, "I dunno, Zack," The Flower Girl whispered lowly while leaning her head into the comfortable crook where his neck met his shoulder. Resting her flushed cheek on the thick woven black turtle neck until her nose brushed across the skin of his jaw. Aerith bit her bottom lip when she felt Zack noticeably shiver at the unexpected intimate contact. She leaned closer until her mouth brushed against his ear. "I think I prefer you carrying me better."
Zack swallowed thickly, his flushed cheeks and darkening blue eyes peering down at her; the expression on his face filled with so much love and admiration it made her head spin. "Yeah?" he asked, glancing down at her lips and holding her just a little tighter against his chest.
"Yeah…"she whispered, leaning closer to him.
Yet before their lips could meet, Yuffie ruined it with a groan.
"Alright! Alright, lovebirds! We get it! You're in love and don't get enough 'alone time'," Yuffie announced crankily from right behind them, angrily stating some words with finger quotes, "But please, for the love of Leviathan, just stop it! I'm nauseous enough already without you guys always finding every damn excuse to suck face."
"Excuse me?" Aerith reprimanded with a rare glare.
"Yuffie! Leave them alone! They're cute!" Tifa chided, lightly smacking the teen on the shoulder.
"Heh. Yeah, yeah, Boobies, I bet pretty soon you and the Chocobo over there are probably gonna be following SOLDIER and Pinky soon enough and then I'll forcefully be subjected to more PDA no one asked to see!"
Tifa's face turned an alarming shade of red and Cloud actually stumbled over a blade of grass.
"Fuckin' hell, girlie! That's enough out of you! If you're mouth is working that good, you're not walking fast enough!" Barrett pushed the teen forward while rolling his eyes at her non-stop antics that were getting rather exhausting, "The faster we move our asses, the faster we'll be there! Now, hurry up!"
"Dat's right, lassie! According to my calculations, we should be arriving fairly soon!" Cait Sith piped up from his perch on Nanaki's back, the cat doing his best to stay away from Yuffie's grasp and from losing anymore Materia to the sticky-fingered teen.
Zack bit his lip to stop from grinning like a madman at how, when things quieted down again, Cloud and Tifa glanced at one another before looking away with their lips curved in shy smiles. Nanaki brushed by his leg and flashed him a conspiratory grin. Zack peered back at Aerith to apologize for their ruined moment and hoping to get it back, yet all of a sudden, he froze when Cait Sith's words finally settled low in his gut.
The damn robot cat was right.
The widening of the brush and a more well-worn walking paths were becoming clearer the further they continued. More and more of the areas they passed and the sight of them mixed with all the years he spent growing up, the same locations and sites were ones he saw frequently. The cliff-side his dad would take him on short camping trips over the weekend. The creek him and his childhood friends would go and catch fish during the long summer. The fields his mom would take him to pick mushrooms and other vegetables for dinner. That familiar patch of giant mushrooms him and Mochi would jump off of to go explore the topside mountains.
…Fuck.
They were getting close.
Within a few minutes, they'd turned another corner past two tall grassy cliffs and a beautiful clear waterfall pouring loudly into a shallow river when Zack's heart nearly trembled at seeing the green tops of trees give way in the distance to painfully familiar domed roofs…
Gongaga was right there.
The anxiety he'd held down for nearly the whole journey was now boiling like Ifrit's fire deep in his stomach, twisting his gut uncomfortably as the wooden gates of Gongaga slowly came into view in the distance.
Yet before he could commiserate on this any further, Zack's SOLDIER senses rushed into high gear.
With one swift move, he'd gently placed the confused Aerith back on the ground and silently maneuvering her to stay behind him. With a flex of his bicep, the Buster Sword was off his back with a satisfying shing sound and he'd instantly taken a protective stance in front of the most important person in his entire life. The others nearby noticed his alarm and immediately jumped into action.
Within seconds, the entire group was aiming their various weapons at the figures that suddenly appeared out of the thick brush that surrounded them.
Zack cursed himself for not noticing them sooner but regardless, he was ready for anything they could throw at him.
Yet any fight or flight response honed from years of being in SOLDIER and that hellish year on the run fighting for his and Cloud's survival faded completely away when he saw the familiar face of the leader, someone he never thought he would again in this lifetime.
"...Cissnei?"
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wowa-bublord · 24 days
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preposterousgreen · 2 months
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AU in which the homoerotically-charged mortal enemies who stab each other a lot are Tifa and Aerith.
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ticklishcicada · 2 years
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Zack makes a pride post happen before june ends
context is in my zack lives au tag
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aerisleis-fics · 2 years
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Chapter Preview: Beginning Where We Ended
In honor of probably being clowned on tomorrow by Square during the FFVII 25th anniversary event, have a snippet from Chapter 3 of Beginning Where We Ended. Note: this is a snippet of a chapter in progress and there could still be changes before the final version is posted.
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The first two chapters of the fic can be found here! Transcript Below the Cut!
“Cloud followed me, though he probably shouldn’t have. I wasn’t… strong enough to win. And when I could no longer stand, I begged Cloud to stop him. Well… somehow, Cloud did. I don’t know how. I wasn’t in the core where it happened. But Cloud came out, and Sephiroth didn’t.”
Another long silence. This time Zack didn’t eat any more, he just stared into the space beyond Aerith, as if seeing or remembering something in another place and time entirely.
“But… Shinra did what Shinra does. And instead of being hailed as heroes for stopping what could have been an even bigger massacre, the company decided that all traces of wrongdoing had to be eliminated. We were taken into the Mansion and experimented on. When I got out, it had been four years, though I didn’t know that until I’d gotten that last letter you sent me.”
He swallowed half convulsively and tilted his head back, ignoring the slight burn in his eyes. This was harder to talk about than he’d expected, really. 
Aerith’s hand had settled over his. The touch was grounding. He sat a little straighter. 
“I spent the next nine months running from Shinra. With Cloud. I couldn’t leave him behind. He was… he was really sick. In a coma from the mako exposure. One of the turks, Cissnei, she was kind enough to turn a blind eye from time to time. But the infantry wasn’t so kind.” Nor were the monsters, or Genesis. These were not things she needed to worry about.
Gaia above, he hoped that was over. 
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just-absolutely-super · 2 months
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shiiiiiiiit this is a bigger death flag for Aerith than Cait's fake fortune from OG Temple of the Ancients
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Hi!! Redoing my request because I forgot to specify character. Could you please do a small sweet gale (soulmates au? Any kind works! If you want something specific tho: soulmate hears a specific song around the other) and sunflower for Cloud Strife.
Here you go, dear anon! Thank you for your request. <3 Hope you enjoy!
Prompts: Fluff, soulmate AU, “You have a beautiful smile.” (1k followers event: Vani's flower shop)
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Every now and then the stars align – Cloud Strife x gn!reader
It’s when you enter the slums of Sector 7 when you hear that melody again. Albeit quiet and faint, you recognize it immediately; it’s the same melody you’ve heard the last couple of times you’ve been to the slums. And you remember you have also heard it up on the plate one or two times.
If you lived in another world you probably would have wondered if you were losing your mind. But in this world, hearing melodies out of the blue isn’t something unusual. In fact, it’s quite normal – it’s how soulmates are supposed to find each other. Each pair has a specific melody assigned to them, a melody only they can hear when their soulmate is near. And the soft tune that keeps playing in your head as you make your way through the slums can only mean one thing – your soulmate must be here somewhere.
You’re not sure how you feel about that, though. Of course, the thought that someone’s out there who’s meant for you and only for you is quite nice but at the same time, it’s equally terrifying. Because in the end, your soulmate will be a stranger – and how are you supposed to fall in love with a stranger?
“Damnit, (Y/N), stop overthinking,” you scold yourself in a low tone, a lousy attempt to distract yourself from the familiar song playing in your head, “you’ll cross that bridge when you get to it. No need to puzzle your head about this now.”
The young woman passing you by gives you a strange look, probably because you’re talking to yourself. Most people see it as a sign of insanity, after all. (If someone asked you, music playing in your head randomly isn’t much better but since it’s linked to the whole soulmate thing, people usually don’t question it.)
“Um, excuse me,” you finally manage to say, and the woman stops in her tracks, raising her eyebrows as you approach her, “could you help me, please? I’m not from around here but I’m looking for someone. His name is, um,” you pause to look at the wadded piece of paper your friend Aerith has given you earlier, “Cloud. Any chance you know who that is?”
Without any hesitation, the woman shakes her head. “Never heard of him,” she replies, and you can’t tell if she actually doesn’t know him or if she’s just saying that to get rid of you. But it probably doesn’t matter anyways – either way, she can’t help you.
“You could ask Tifa, from 7th Heaven,” the woman adds after a few moments of uncomfortable silence (well, except for the melody that’s still playing in the back of your mind), “she knows almost everyone around here.”
“Oh. Thank you.” You hesitate for a second. “And where can I find her?”
* * * *
You soon find out that 7th Heaven is a bar located in the heart of the slums of Sector 7. The building itself has seen better days, just like every other building in the area, but that doesn’t make the bar any less charming. In fact, you’re pretty sure the run-down, industrial look is what makes it charming in the first place.
A jukebox in the corner of the entrance area plays quiet music that mixes in with the melody repeating in your head. At the other end of the dimly lit room is a bar with several stools, and behind it, you can spot a young woman, dwelling on her own thoughts as she polishes a glass.
Approaching the bar, you clear your throat. “Um, sorry for intruding,” you begin, giving the woman a brief smile when she looks up. If she’s surprised to see someone here at this time of the day, she’s good at hiding it. “It’s no problem,” she says and returns your smile, “you’re here for a drink?”
You hesitate for a moment. A part of you is tempted to order something, simply because the ongoing music in your head is proof that your soulmate is somewhere around the area and you need to calm your nerves, but for the same reason, you need to stay at least somewhat level-headed.
“No,” you reply eventually. “I’m looking for someone and a lady on the streets told me to ask someone named Tifa for help. Um, do you know where I can find her?”
The woman behind the bar laughs. “Yes, indeed. I’m Tifa.” She pauses, a patient smile playing around the corners of her mouth. She’s clearly waiting for you to introduce yourself, so you tell her your name. Her smile widens. “Nice to meet you. Now, how can I help you?”
Perhaps it’s Tifa, you think to yourself while you explain the situation but then, you remember that the music in your head would have stopped by now if she were your soulmate. So, no, probably not Tifa.
“Why are you looking for him?” she asks, not quite able to hide the curiosity in her voice. “Need a mercenary?”
“Hm? No.” So, that’s what he is. “To be honest, I have no idea why I’m looking for him. My friend Aerith told me I should go to the slums of Sector 7 and talk to him. I know this sounds so weird but she insisted.”
Tifa’s face lights up. “Oh, I know Aerith! We met a while ago. Long story.”
“I think I’ve heard parts of it.”
It’s hard to focus on a conversation when your mind keeps repeating the same melody over and over again, and you begin to wonder if that’s why Aerith sent you here – because she knows that your soulmate is somewhere around here. She has an ungodly sixth sense for this kind of things, after all.
“Cloud should be back soon. You can wait for him here if you want,” Tifa suggests, snapping you out of your thoughts. In that moment, the door to the bar opens, and the music in your head grows louder and louder, almost to a point where it becomes unbearable, and when you turn around, you see a blonde man approaching you. Then, stunning blue eyes meet yours, and the music stops.
Oh.
Oh.
You try very hard not to lose your composure but you’re pretty sure you’re staring at him like he’s some kind of supernatural creature. But he looks at you the same way, so it’s probably not all that bad. (At least that’s what you try to tell yourself because the way Tifa giggles quietly and excuses herself convinces you that the whole situation is more than awkward.)
“Hi,” you say, and much to your surprise, you even manage to smile.
Cloud blinks before, all of a sudden, he blurts out, “You have a beautiful smile.”
It’s obvious that you’re not the only one taken aback by his sudden compliment because he has barely ended his sentence when he starts to blush vigorously, the rosy pink color dusting his cheeks a lovely contrast to his eyes.
Oh no, you think, he’s adorable.
Silence settles in but soon enough, you gather the courage to ask him to join you for a walk to get to know each other better. The slums might not be the most romantic place on this planet but still you feel your heart flutter when Cloud agrees.
You really need to thank Aerith later.
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Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed it please consider reblogging, liking and/or leaving a comment. I'd really appreciate the support. <3
Taglist: @sixdaysofsilverashes @thevoidwriting @theimaginaryheir @asilverraven
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gilly-moon · 4 months
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Sephiroth/Cloud and what makes you happy about them? (I love these two, too!)
~harley
a fellow man of taste I see 👀
when I started shipping it if I did:
I remember watching Advent Children in...fifth or sixth grade? And yeah it was basically over for me after that.
my thoughts:
Squeenix is really on the Sefikura agenda in the FF7 remake, huh? But man oh man it has ALWAYS been that way. I'm not sure I have EVER seen a villain so sensually coax a hero into a battle where he then pins him to the wall with his sword. Lots of stabbing with these two. 10/10.
What makes me happy about them:
Listen just watch the scene in FF7 where they enter their own little mindscape and Sephiroth leans down half a mile to whisper in Cloud's ear. Need I say more.
What makes me sad about them:
Nothing?? Basically any iteration of these two within canon or even within AUs is a pure shot of seratonin to my brain. Doesn't matter if it's a happy ending or if someone's getting eviscerated with a sword. I'll consume it all.
things done in fanfic that annoys me:
I'm not a huge fan of overly-enthusiastic Cloud. He can be eager or even confident and bold, but there's a line some fics cross where it no longer feels in his character.
things I look for in fanfic:
Pre-Zack death (or AUs) I'm enjoy some sweet/shy Cloud and dominant Sephiroth. Post-Zack death, I'm all in for hatefucking or mind control shenanigans (bottom Cloud supremacy tho). Also a huge fan of Sephiroth 'redemptions' where he breaks free of Jenova's control and Cloud is there to catch him in the fallout.
Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other: 
I've enjoyed almost any ship combo with Sephiroth, Cloud, and Zack. Sometimes with Angeal and Genesis thrown in for fun. Barret/Cloud is also good. Cloud/Tifa platonically is nice. I really can't ship post-Crisis Core Sephiroth with anyone else though. Squeenix seems to agree:
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My happily ever after for them:
The fic Hold Me Gentle is my ideal happy ending for them. Jenova's influence is washed away by Aerith's rain, and Sephiroth has a chance to be himself again. That being said, I'm also a-ok with the canon reality where Sephiroth refuses to die and remains a Cloud-botherer for the rest of their lives.
who is the big spoon/little spoon:
Obsessive Sephiroth is big spoon.
what is their favorite non-sexual activity:
idk, stabbing each other??? Dueling??? (or does that count as sexual for them idk)
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setoangel01 · 16 days
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Zack's interactions with Marlene in Rebirth merely reaffirmed my headcanon that Zack would have been an absolutely wonderful father if he'd only gotten the chance. Him and Aerith would have made such a beautiful family together... 🥹
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strayheartless · 4 months
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I have an AU in my head where Gaia gets sick of the Sephiroth’s shit and ends up tuning him back into a baby and shipping him off to Cloud to raise differently.
Like she full of grandma Pascal’s him like “He said mommy I want to destroy every living creature on the planet, but I said m’hijo, don’t do that do something else!”
And Cloud has only a little concept of what’s happening when he helps Tseng excavate an old project S lab. He had a dream about a Moses basket in the middle of a burning Nibelhiem and the sound of crying. He just thought It was new parent anxiety over taking on Denzel, but it all suddenly makes sense when he looks into an incubation chamber and sees a tiny silver haired baby squirming to be held.
He’s annoyed about it obviously. Gaia seems to be under the impression she says jump and Cloud asks how high, but he’s also smart enough to know that this is a chance to save the General and the planet from an endless war. So he scoops up babyroth and takes him back to edge to raise him.
It’s tough going at first. Sephiroth’s is not an easy baby. He’s fussy; his cries can and will shatter glass; he’s stronger than he should be for what Cloud would wager is only about four months old. He starts teething early; he has opinions about carrots and bananas (much to the walls dismay) once he gets onto solid foods; he’s demanding in that way that only baby’s can be, but it seems a little bit more than that.
It takes everyone a while to figure out that what he actually is, is traumatised. He’s clingy in a way that shatters Clouds soul because if they put him down he panics. If he can’t see Cloud, even for a second, Sephiroth seems to think he’s been abandoned.
Eventually though, Seph settles a little, and it doesn’t feel so much like Cloud is running on two hours sleep accumulatively and sheer will power alone. Seph seems to smile a little more and there’s a little look of wonder in his little mako blue eyes that makes everybody melt.
Tifa finds it the hardest to reconcile this tiny child with the man who murdered her father, and it does put significant strain on her relationship with Cloud for a while (that’s not a judgment on Tifa btw, girls aloud to feel conflicted.)
Barrat on the other hand is of the opinion that the Goddess knows what she’s doing and a baby is a baby even if it did commit atrocities in a past life. It’s not current Sephs fault that his human parents experimented on him and a Alien symbiotic parasite god sent him mad. Current Seph just wants grapes and Barrats enough of a sucker for Rosie cheeks to give them to him.
Vincent is very careful with Seph (who they’ve all collectively decided never to full name unless he’s in trouble.). When he’s home from travelling he speaks to him quietly about everything and nothing. He doesn’t really touch him to start with, which frustrates little Seph who seems to think the cloak will add extra comfy cuddles. Over time though, Cloud,Barret and surprisingly Cid (who appears to randomly know a thing or two about babies.) help him get over his fear of hurting the little boy. Seph really enjoys cuddle time with Vincent, and learns to demand to be “upped” whenever he comes home.
Cloud, for his part is just dad, which he finds endlessly strange. He’d never really taken on that role for Denzel, he was the boys guardian sure, but they’d never really discussed the whole “if you want to call me Cloud that’s cool, but if you want me to be your dad I can be that too” thing. Marlene wasn’t his; Barrat was her dad and Cloud was Cloud. A parent of sorts, but not her Father. He was more like a devoted uncle really.
With Seph though it’s different. Cloud is this baby’s entire universe, and once language starts coming into play, various versions of “dada” become increasingly common. He’s not sure how he feels about it at first; this is the man who slaughtered his mother and decimated his villiage, the man who killed Aerith… but he was also just a baby.
This version of Sephiroth didn’t know what he’d done. Gaia had given him a chance at redemption and Cloud will be damned if he holds the acts of a mad man against a kid; no matter the circumstance.
So he’s dad. He feeds Seph, plays with him, baths him, puts him to bed, reads to him and teaches him everything he can. He doesn’t lie to him, and he always explains when Seph doesn’t understand.
And if Tifa slowly adjusts to being Mama then that’s nobodies business but their own.
Life’s nice being a family. Maybe they’ll add to it one day…
Or maybe Cloud will trip over a double Moses basket one day on the way out of the door to work, and when he looks down he sees two little crowns of hair one dark one red, and similar sets of shiny Mako eyes.
Maybe the little red headed one will cough weakly, and the dark haired one will fuss.
And maybe Cloud will curse himself for being a sucker for babies that used to be evil maniacs.
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Replenish
Homecoming - Chapter 4 (Previous Chapters)
Replenish
Rated: T
Chapter Summary: During a late night dinner, Zack reveals more of what him and Cloud have been through these past five years, Aerith mediates on how to help Zack heal and Elmyra begins to understand.
......
Aerith tried to be a mediator as best she could.
These were the two people she loved most in this entire world and while she understood her mother's worries about Zack and his ex-Shrinra status and the fact they were now on the run from the most powerful company in the world and staying at their house - Zack was back.
Nothing else mattered to her than that…
Not able to take her eyes away from him for long, Aerith gazed over at the dark haired ex-SOLDIER, who had barely touched the food he'd been given even if she could tell he hadn't eaten a decent meal in a very long time. And recalling the voracious appetite he had during the two years they dated, it was strange seeing him not eating all of it immediately and asking for seconds. The man in question was too preoccupied by gently coercing his blonde friend (who was actually sitting up quite well by himself) in the chair next to him to eat instead.
Heart pattering happily, Aerith listened to Zack's gentle voice as he encouraged Cloud to take another bite and she swore if she could only listen to Zack speaking for the rest of eternity, she would be happy. His voice was like a soothing balm on her weary soul…one of the many things she missed so desperately about him these past five years.
The flower girl spared a glance to her mother and the obvious sympathy on her face surprised her; she knew her mother's walls were cracking fast. Zack just had that charm and energy about him making it nearly impossible not to like him and the fact he was taking such good care of his sick friend only made it more apparent.
"C'mon, Cloud! Alright you leave me no choice than to do the thing you hate the most… " Zack's face grew uncharacteristically serious before he continued in a higher-pitched voice, "Open up the tunnel, here comes the train! Choo-choo!" Zack sing-songed, gently pressing the blob of creamy mashed potatoes against Cloud's lips but the blonde refused to open. His vacant eyes were staring at Zack and for some reason, it looked as if they were communicating in a way Aerith couldn't even begin to understand.
She desperately ignored the sudden pang of jealousy that invaded her heart at their obvious bond.
"Buddy, I promise I will eat too, I just want you to eat first so I can lay you down to sleep right after so you have time to digest and don't get a tummy ache from having actual food in your stomach for once - is that okay?" Zack waved the spoon and Aerith couldn't help but bite her lip to hold back the huge smile when she swore the blonde outright pouted at Zack before obediently (albeit it reluctantly) opening his mouth.
"Yes! Thanks, Cloudy Skies! You're the best!" Zack exclaimed, gently pressing the smooth potatoes into his mouth before brushing a quick hand through blonde chocobo-like spikes. Cloud let out of an unintelligable soft mutter of protest as Zack gathered another spoonful to continue feeding his friend.
"...You've been doing that for awhile, haven't you?" Elmyra asked suddenly and Aerith's shoulders tensed.
Zack didn't seem effected at all by the sudden questioning.
The SOLDIER merely glanced at her and gave a quick seldom nod and sad smile, "I have… lemme see, uh, the last, I dunno, 10 months to a year since we've escaped Nibelheim, he's been like this. He's actually a hel-h-heckuva lot better than he was before. He wasn't much more than a limp doll for a long time…" Zack bit his lip while spooning some more potatoes with tiny bits of chopped up meatloaf to his friend's mouth before continuing to feed him.
Zack continued, "...it was… hard to say the least. I - I had to do everything for him and I was so certain it was a losing battle those first few months with the Mako withdrawal being so bad. I really thought he wouldn't make it -" Zack's eyes suddenly teared up and Aerith wanted nothing more than to reach over and touch him but he was sitting too far away.
Zack swallowed thickly, "…but he's better now. We survived and we're gonna continue to do so. After what we've already lived though, feeding him is no problem at all! At least he can somewhat chew and swallow on his own now." Zack laughed softly trying to lighten the bleak situation like always. Casually wiping his face free of a few tears that slipped down his face before feeding Cloud his next spoonful with nothing but a sweet smile gracing his lips.
Elmyra looked chastised even if Zack did nothing to condemn her questioning.
"Zack?" Aerith asked and her heart skipped a beat when he glanced from Cloud's face and those incredible eyes locked onto hers.
He flashed her a soft shy smile, "Yeah?"
"Will he let me feed him? Your food is going to get cold."
"I-It's okay, Aerith. He's almost done, I got it. And heck, what I wouldn't have given for cold meatloaf and mashed potatoes when we were on the run - it's gonna be incredible regardless. Thanks for offering though." he added with a blinding white smile and wow, if her heart wasn't already lost to him before…
Ten minutes later, Cloud was finished eating and staring blankly at the single yellow lily Aerith gave him that she'd placed into a small vase on the table.
Even obviously starving, Zack ate slowly. Chewing his food thoroughly before swallowing as if savoring the sensation of having actual food in his mouth. He even was making small talk and making sure Cloud felt included in any discussion that came up. After only a single (heaping) plate full, Zack gently pushed the plate away when it was cleaned of the rest of the gravy with a roll of bread.
"Oh! There's more food in the kitchen! You want another serving? There's plenty…" Aerith halfway stood to her feet but Zack just shook his head and smiled.
"Nah. I'm full. It's probably best I take it easy for now. Don't wanna overdue it and make myself sick," Zack chuckled softly before turning to address her mother, "Ms. Gainsborough, it was absolutely delicious. Thank you…" Zack bit his lip, his eyes tracing the surface of the table for a moment before meeting her eyes and then her mother's with the most heart-wrenching look clouding them, "I - I really can't thank you enough - for everything. I - I promise I'll pay you back for all of this once Cloud recovers enough so I can get a job. Just make a list, I'll be sure to pay you back for all the food, lodging, clothes - "
"Nonsense!" to Aerith's shock, it was her mother who interrupted, "You don't owe us anything, Zackary. While I'm still concerned over what Shinra is going to do as well as you are, but you have my word that you and your friend are welcome here as long as you need to stay." Elmyra flashed the SOLDIER a coy smirk and continued, "And I think Aerith would have a few words to say if you even think of leaving anytime soon."
Aerith felt her own eyes welling when she watched Zack's lower lip tremble before his face fell, a tear slipped down his cheek as he uttered a heartfelt, "Thank you so much…"
"You're welcome, young man. Now, go get you and your friend situated upstairs and get some sleep. No offense, but you look dead on your feet."
Aerith shuddered at the phrasing but said nothing and bit her lip when she noticed Cloud suddenly flinch at that statement.
Zack merely chuckled, "I pretty much am; it's been a really long time since I slept through the night."
While that was alarming and Aerith wanted to say something, she remained silent as Zack rose to his feet. His eyes locked on her mother, Zack bowed to her slightly when he stood before gently pulling the barely lucid Cloud to his feet.
"I-I could go put Cloud to bed and come back and help with dishes? Please? I'd love to help any way I can," he offered.
Elmyra was already shaking her head before he finished speaking, "Don't be silly, Zackary. Go get some sleep."
"...You sure?"
"Positive," Elmyra smiled gently at him.
"Okay…Um, thanks again. You both have a good night," Zack said over his shoulder as he gently guided Cloud up the stairs and all remained quiet until the door to the guest room closed with a soft click.
Elmyra's shoulder's dropped and she opened her mouth as if to speak but closed it a second later. Instead, her stepmom let out a soft sigh before standing to gather the empty plates on the table and heading to the kitchen to clean up.
Aerith followed to help even as her eyes strayed to the staircase where she watched Zack disappear.
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Snippets from a Zack Lives AU - Fighting Sephiroth + Zakkura + The Fairs
From the @strayheartless archives <3
---
Aerith and Tifa are especially concerned about both of them. They’re so different from Before and so codependent. Zack can’t walk away from Cloud for more than a few minutes because he’s afraid he’ll fall into a coma again, and Cloud can’t leave Zack for fear that he’ll run off and die.
Zack’s lost a lot of his bouncy puppy energy and replaced it with being on edge and very sharp. Cloud’s lost the sparkle in his eyes and his natural inner spite has turned into a simmering, fear-fueled rage that is ready to burst into a volcano at any moment. Their heroic dreams have changed from “wanting to be a hero” to “refusing to let anyone else they love die”.
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Mrs. Fair pinching Cloud's cheek while they do the dishes together, telling him to call her Ma.
He freezes.
Zack is aware in an instant, ready to intervene, but doesn’t make it over before Cloud reaches out to Ma Fair, arms asking for a hug. She coos and grabs him, rocking him and holding him so, so tight. He's inconsolable, he misses his Ma so much.
Mrs. Fair is Cloud’s height, so he gets to feel like a little tween again. She rubs behind his ear, the back of his neck, and up and down his back soothingly. His hands dig into her back like claws; she'll have bruises later, but she doesn't care. She knows he doesn't mean it.
Mr. Fair adopts him too, which is hella weird for Cloud, since he's never had a dad. But they get along well enough--Mr. Fair is related to Zack after all.
Mr. Fair is delighted once he realizes that Cloud has the interest and focus for machine work; Zack had interest off and on, but it never lasted, and he never had the focus. Cue many hours of Mr. Fair chattering away while Cloud hums along, or they both work in silence, or sing, while Mrs. Fair and Zack zip around doing other things together very loudly.
The Fairs playing with their new son:
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They get to Puppet Time with Seph and Zack figures out he can connect to Cloud through his own S-cells, and fights back mentally on Cloud's behalf until he can regain his footing.
Barret doesn’t know what the FUCK is happening, but takes one look at Aerith's pleading face, shakes his head to get rid of the thought of how stupid his next action is going to be, and dives in the deep end to fight SEPHIROTH physically, while Aerith guards the boys, one of whom is screaming in pain and the other of whom is roaring like a lion, both on their knees.
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Zack and Cloud both get sick and need help from Aerti in the lifestream.
Aerith: Oh hell no, I'm not going to lose you again, Zack Fair!
The girls find them wrapped around each other, melting together into one person in an effort to protect each other, and have to pull them apart in a super painful but necessary way.
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wowa-bublord · 29 days
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my ask for the evening is to draw the most toe curling heart clenching vomit inducing angst or hurt/comfort you can muster. If it doesn't make these poor readers cry then you've FAILED. /j just draw the darkest dankest art you wanna!! make me feel pain please :D
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part 1 :)
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altocat · 10 months
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in a au where zack lives and takes cloud to midgar, i feel like zack and cloud would be kinda hard to get apart from each other. kinda having grown reliant on each other due to all the time they were together while escaping shinra n stuff.
poor tifa and aerith. its like the "me and you and your friend steve" meme.
I think the beauty of these characters is that each of their relationships with each other are so strong and yet VERY distinct and unique. I don't think it's a matter of one hogging someone over the other. Zack and Cloud each have strong dynamics with each other, Tifa, and Aerith that I don't feel would ever give way to jealousy. At least, not intensely.
FF7's characters stand out to me because, no matter if they're in romantic or platonic relationships, they all love and care about each other deeply. There's the need to sacrifice for each other, the need to protect and comfort and fight to the end. No matter their status or unique relationships with each other, they're all family.
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