[ The confirmation that Cloud had gone on to live the future that Zack had suggested to him while riding in the back of that truck causes another pound of heaviness to be lifted off his chest. That brief touch at his hand removes another. It's shockingly healing to know that the people he'd fought so hard for, people like Cloud, had been able to move on without him. Healing, and maybe a little sad. Not that Zack would ever dwell on it.
He's relieved to hear that Tifa had made it out of Nibelheim in one piece, too. Zack only vaguely remembers what happened to her in the reactor, how injured she'd been, but he'd been pretty convinced there was no way she could have made it out. That, or maybe Shinra had picked her up too, and she'd just been held somewhere else.
Apparently not. She'd been strong enough to get out and make it all the way to Midgar. ]
Of course I remember her. [ Zack smiles to himself at a distant memory. ] I kept trying to convince you to talk to her when we were in Nibelheim. Glad you guys finally reconnected.
[ As for Aerith, the explanation that Zack receives is so similar to his own experience that it's uncanny. It almost causes him to stop in his tracks, but instead his pace is halting for a few seconds as he lets it all sink in. It's not enough to throw them completely off-track. ]
... Huh. The way I met her was pretty similar. [ And while that detail about the Turks is meant as a revelation, Zack sighs and shakes his head. ] I already knew. Caught Tseng outside her place once. Those Turks aren't nearly as subtle as they want to think they are, huh?
[ At least it doesn't sound like any of them are here, which means that hopefully Aerith can rest easy. Except they're small fry when compared to Sephiroth (who is here) and what he'd done to her. Zack's still in the midst of processing all that, and hasn't had it in him to track down his old friend.
Apparently he's still sane, still his old self, but still...
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He's relieved to hear that Tifa had made it out of Nibelheim in one piece, too. Zack only vaguely remembers what happened to her in the reactor, how injured she'd been, but he'd been pretty convinced there was no way she could have made it out. That, or maybe Shinra had picked her up too, and she'd just been held somewhere else.
Apparently not. She'd been strong enough to get out and make it all the way to Midgar. ]
Of course I remember her. [ Zack smiles to himself at a distant memory. ] I kept trying to convince you to talk to her when we were in Nibelheim. Glad you guys finally reconnected.
[ As for Aerith, the explanation that Zack receives is so similar to his own experience that it's uncanny. It almost causes him to stop in his tracks, but instead his pace is halting for a few seconds as he lets it all sink in. It's not enough to throw them completely off-track. ]
... Huh. The way I met her was pretty similar. [ And while that detail about the Turks is meant as a revelation, Zack sighs and shakes his head. ] I already knew. Caught Tseng outside her place once. Those Turks aren't nearly as subtle as they want to think they are, huh?
[ At least it doesn't sound like any of them are here, which means that hopefully Aerith can rest easy. Except they're small fry when compared to Sephiroth (who is here) and what he'd done to her. Zack's still in the midst of processing all that, and hasn't had it in him to track down his old friend.
Apparently he's still sane, still his old self, but still...
Not yet. ]