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Aerith finds him in her dream that night. Smiling like he always is, waiting for her, he extends her a hand but as she reaches for him… everything shatters into light.
She ran.
Legs pushing through physical boundaries, barely feeling the ground beneath her feet. She has never run so fast her entire life, lightly cursing at the pink dress she put on, it slows her legs down. Her calves burn, her chest aches with every breath she takes as her short gasps for air bite coldly into her lungs. Heart pumping blood ferociously trying to keep up with her will not to stop, she knows she’s pushing too hard but she has no time to stop, no time to catch her breath or hear the tearing cry of her legs.
She darts through the streets, past metal scraps, past people who stare at her intrigued, past buildings and moving cars, lonely naked trees, follows directions towards where he is, the place she never thought she’d run towards so urgently.
She is out of time, cruel and inexplicably ruthless, she begs for him to still be there. She could see the building standing tall and ghastly above all the others, like an unreachable metal fortress - its top lost in the hot silver swirls of darkened clouds in the sky above.
Tiny drops of diamond tears escape her eyes as the cold fingers of the wind whip at her face and sift through her hair. She remembers her dream and her chest stutters, she concentrates on running so she won’t fall.
Almost there, she is almost there.
Her vision blurs the city into a smudge of light and shadow and all she can focus is the haunting place of her childhood, its entrance sucking life in.
She turns the last corner and sees people filling up the stairs outside, grouping up to receive orders. In between their shapes she’s able to spot him, at last. There’s no mistaking it. Tall confident stand, black spiky hair, the buster sword at his back, that black uniform not many wore. She smiles, all the more reason for her to push harder and go faster. There is still time.
It is early dark but Midgar never sleeps. She calls, but the sound of her voice gets lost in a muffled cry, engulfed by the city’s brassy bustling.
“Zack!” Only a lane between them and still he doesn’t turn.
“ZACK!!!!!”
So close and with no intention of slowing down because every second will count, she extends an arm reaching for him desperately.
For a fraction of a second that seems to last an eternity, he turns around slightly startled and his SOLDIER reflexes make him open his arms barely in time, his chest welcoming her. She plunges her final steps, flies across the short long distance separating them and impulsed by momentum she crashes against his chest heavily with arms wrapping around his neck and eyes shut close.
He gushes out all the air in his lungs with the impact of her body on his, forced to take a step back to brace her still and tighten his arms around her. Her feet don’t touch the ground.
He buries his face in her hair breathing in her floral scent that envelopes all of his senses and his hand tangles in her chestnut locks of braided hair. All she can hear is the drumming of her heart in her ears. She takes uncontrollably short breaths against him with her chest burning painfully, her face feels hot as blood is finally reaching her cheeks. But he’s there, he feels real, she tightens her arms around him and a small desperate giggle leaves her mouth as she catches her breath.
“I’ve got you.” He whispers in her ear and his voice is warm… so warm it comforts her - for a moment she forgets about her dream and the pain in her chest. She can’t speak for the rush had left her dizzy and her limbs numb though she had never felt more alive.
“Cute!” They hear Kunsel’s mocking voice behind. Another soldier howls a teasing wolf cry.
“Shut up!” Zack huffs, still holding her tight in his arms. “What do I owe the pleasure?” He asks softly against her; the low, husky vibration of his voice runs down her body and she knows by his gentle tone he loves her.
“I needed to see you one last time before you go.” She finally speaks, voice muffled against his neck.
“Fair enough.” He says smoothly. “Could have told me, I would have gone to you.”
“You needed to rest.” She says and swallows back a sob.
He pulls back to find her face, places her down gently. “Are you crying?” He asks a little in awe.
“No.” She lifts her head up, tearful green eyes meet soft cerulean blue. “I don’t want to look like a clinging girlfriend.”
He chuckles lightly. Brushes her tears away with a thumb. “Good. That’s my role.”
“You’re the clinging girlfriend?” She asks, a smile breaking at her lips, like he always manages to achieve.
“You bet.” His smile widens to that cheeky smirk she loves, it reminds her of sunshine and sunflowers and the feeling takes her to those idle afternoons they spent on her flower bed bare feet on the fresh grass, holding each other between longing kisses. He brushes a lock of hair from her eyes with warm fingertips that leave gentle traces on her skin. He stares at her face, finding that once he starts he’s unable to stop. So beautiful he thanks whatever entity that had placed her in his life but she looks back at him so worriedly he can’t help but tense over the fact that he’s the cause of her wariness.
“Zack.” Kunsel calls. “I hate to do this but we really have to go.”
Aerith tightens her hold around him, forehead leaning against his chest - he feels warm and strong and forever safe. And she’s the same to him, she’s comfort and courage and pulsing life.
“I’m sorry.” He returns, his heart rate spikes up, it’s time to go.
“It’s fine.” She finally pulls back, places a palm on his cheek, brushes his cheekbone softly, eyes lock in each other, neither wanting to part.
“Tell you what, maybe I’ll be back sooner than you think.” He says, but his chest tightens. He tries to sound steady while inside he’s shaking and afraid. The day of departure is always hard, especially now she’s in his life.
She nods vaguely, her lips tremble despite her efforts to bite them still. Noticing her struggle and wanting nothing more than to help her with that, he leans down to press his lips soothingly against hers, tastes the warmth of her tongue one last time. She feels his smile on her lips and it spreads to hers.
“I’ll be waiting.” She murmurs invitingly against his mouth and it makes his knees weak.
His hands fall to hers, he smiles at the mischievous coy glint of her bright eyes. “I’ll definitely be back sooner than expected.”
They walk hands clasped together tightly until he’s ready to enter the car.
His throat closes in a knot he can’t swallow when they finally break apart.
And his eyes linger on her as the car drives away leaving her behind… messy hair framing her heart-shaped face in curly bangs of golden brown, bright round eyes of an infinite green he could stare at for hours, pink dress ruffled from running, pink ribbon lost in her locks, a soft blush blooming on her cheeks, chest heaving as she takes a few steps to follow the car, fighting back tears with a smile.
That’s the last time he sees her.
The last memory he has of her.
How he wants to remember her always.
The city is heavy, suffocating. His eyes never leave her until she’s just the color pink amongst dark monochromatic concrete.