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[His willingness to obey is both endearing and troubling, but only because she cares for him and knows that Shin-Ra is not a good company. It doesn't have the good of Gaia and her inhabitants in mind in the way that it acts. Its scientists are nearly all monsters wearing human faces, but Hojo is the worst. Everything about their behavior terrifies her in a way that she can't share with Zack.

But, she plasters it all over with a smile and she listens to him talk as she finishes up what she's doing and then goes through the bag of items he's brought her. She'll whip him up a meal that he can't find up on the Plates or anywhere else.]

I'd love to go to Costa Del Sol at some point. I bet the ocean is beautiful.

[She turns around to look at him and sees his foot shaking. He really couldn't just sit still. So, she'll give him a task.]

Alright, SOLDIER. I need you to go into deeper to try and clean up some of the debris. One day I'd like to have more use of this place, but I don't have an overabundance of muscles like some people to do it all myself.

[ Please be still his beaating heart, imagining Aerith in a bathing suit, dancing amongst the waves with that smile on her face as the sun kissed her upturned face. The image was compelling and it brought him to mind of simpler times-- perhaps he could take leave and take her out there to Costa Del Sol, perhaps a romantic evening down at the Golden Saucer too though that was a possibility.

But then there was so much in Zack's mind, the possibilities seemed endless and thoughts of death never crossed his mind. The world was opened up before him and it was such a bright shining thing to him.

He jumped up almost immediately, with a grin and a haphazard salute. ] Alright, ma'am-- it's my pleasure for such a pretty picture. Here let me go and.. [ And he was off, this was the perfect way to work off his restless boundless energy though thankfully it was all Zack and not the Mako.

A few minutes go back and he calls back. ]

I can take you, to Costa Del Sol.. I'll even let you bury me in sand!

[Aerith is no better, imagining what Zack would look like at the beach. Thankfully she gets to see the guns all the time because he seems to be allergic to sleeves. And, well, he also likes his clothes pretty skin tight, which is probably good for fights, but does a number on her libido.

However, she's trying to be a realist here with their relationship. She loves him, but he's married to his job. She knows it. He knows it. And she's not sure that he can leave it even if he wants to.

So, she keeps them from the front of her mind and pushes them back where they belong. She'll take them out later and examine them when alone, mainly so if she starts to cry, no one will see or hear.]

Oh!

[She should be used to his eagerness to please, but sometimes he still takes her by surprise. She's still not quite sure what picture she's painted for him, but she does appreciate the help and the ability to get a great deal of the meal made while he's hauling rotting beams and roof tiles out of the back space so that she can move around a bit more easily in her little church.]

You'll take me to Costa del Sol? I don't think I'd bury you in the sand, but I'd love to play in the ocean and to see the sunset against the waves.

[She starts to move things to the table she's set up and looks over at him, eyes bright with the thought for just a second.]

And you promise you won't tease me if I have trouble being outside the city for a while?

[ Being a cheerful himbo SOLDIER, he is often not terribly aware of the rather attractive pressence that him and his faction make all across Midgar, he is merely going about doing his job so he does not think of anything that perhaps Aerith could be watching him with something a little less innocent than admiration. He would be flattered though to know, might even cause him to flex a little bit more.

Offer to open more pickle jars; not because he doesn't think she can open a pickle jar by herself-- but just to let her see his forearm muscles clench as he does so. ]

I would never tease you, I think it would be cute to see you be eager to see outside of Midgar proper, to see all of those wonders and joys pop across your face, there is nothing that I think would be beautiful than that.

[ His blue eyes softening a little bit. ]

When we go together, I want you to tell me all your impressions-- every single one. No matter how small, they matter and they mean something.

[Honestly, if he could kiss her more, she'd be happy with that. Being in his arms is a bright and warm memory that she carries with her when he's away. Aerith can never have that many of them.]

I guess that's true. I'm more likely to tease you.

[She does it all the time]

Not even a super busty beach babe?

[And then her heart breaks a bit, the teasing gone out of her when he says that. The small spot of joy drained out at the reality of their situation.]

I'd like that. Maybe some day we can go.

[ Zack is hopeful that it will happen, that he will get to go outside with Aerith, to take her through Kalm, Junon-- all of those places on the way to Costa del Sol and the Golden Saucer; one day he would give Aerith a proper date, complete with flowers.

He'd dress up really nice and kiss her hand, take her to a nice restaurant somewhere in one of the locales they visited.

It was something to work toward, wasn't it? ]

What you are making smells absolutely delicious, if only all the SOLDIERS could be as lucky as I? But I'm not gonna let you go so they are shit out of luck, yeah!

[She's not as optimistic as Zack is, but she wants to be. She wants to have that time out with him like any other girl and her boyfriend, without fearing Shin-Ra will call him away and then come kidnap her again.

But there's a shadow over her heart that she has to shake off but just can't manage.

So, like all healthy people, she's going to ignore it and smile for Zack and help him have his fantasies.]

There's only one SOLDIER I would ever think of making food for. Well, maybe if your mentor showed up I might feed him too. The rest are out of luck, it's true. Now, sit down and I'll serve you.

[It's not extravagant, but macaroni and cheese with bacon, tomatoes and onions is delicious and healthy. He can eat as much as he wants. He paid for the food, after all.]

[ It was a shame that Zack did not think them mere fantasies, but perhaps it was a good thing all the same that Aerith was indulging in them, and not disabusing them. ] What, and have 'geal fall terribly in love with you too? I'm not sure I can compete with him.

[ Such a chuckle that came from Zack's lips then, he was only halfway joking, but also Angeal was another person that he admired above all else.

The food smells delicious, exactly what was ordered and it was rare for him to get a good homecooked meal, and so he sits down-- preparing to deal great justice to what Aerith had made for him. ] Gosh, Aer-- I this looks amazing, I feel utterly spoiled by this.

[Well, if they were going to be reality, it would take a lot from Zack to make them so. It's not that she wants to think so negatively, but a girl has to look out for herself in a world run by Shin-Ra.]

I don't think I'm that great. Why would your mentor fall in love with me?

[She gives him a sweet smile before turning away from the table. He hasn't actually told her that he loves her in so many words before this moment, but she's glad that he shares her feelings, even if she's not sure she could tell him so without a lot of prodding. Besides, seeing him gush over her cooking is embarrassing and she can't handle all this change at once.]

It's not that much. [She turns back around to place a kiss on his cheek while he eats.] Besides, you deserve a good meal, even if this is really the only thing I can do.

[ Oh no, well his words had inadvertently pinned him for being absolutely head-over-heals for Aerith, the sort of in love that had him thinking about her during his coldest nights. At the kiss to his cheek as well as the disarming statement, he could feel his cheeks colour in a way that was boyish despite his strong muscles or war-seasoned experience.

Because well, Shin-Ra had not prepared him for love.

He twirled the food around on his fork while he considered for a second. ] Well maybe because you are kind, talented and beautiful.

[Aerith puts her hand on Zack's arm, squeezing gently before retracting her hand. Even with all of his training and travelling, he's still so innocent. And it's that strange dichotomy that Aerith loves about him. Not the only thing, mind you, but one of the biggest.

His answer makes her laugh though.]

What if I only have eyes for cute puppies? I don't think your mentor fits that description, does he?

[ Cute puppy? For a moment he has to process what Aerith is saying, and then he laughs-- it is a laugh out loud with head thrown back as he absolutely chuckles; his eyes crinkling shut. ]

Well, no-- I wouldn't think of him as a puppy, more like a bear.

[ and he was pleased that Aerith thought of him as cute, though ideally perhaps handsome would also be accepted all told.. but he'd take puppyish because he knew that it came from a place from fondness. ]

And you are a flower, a beautiful flower that blooms in the deserts of Midgard.

[His laugh is so full of life and happiness. She soaks it up like it's the sun that she's missed by living in the slums. True the area around her mother's house is very bright and full of life, but she's pretty sure that it's the only place under the plates that gets enough sun that could support flowers, outside the one spot in the middle of her church.

And, well, with his description of Angeal he's just made, she can't help but laugh as well.]

I'm not a big fan of bears, so there we are.

[And the puppy comment is something that she's heard Tseng refer to him as, but that's besides, the point.]

And you're a big flatterer. Finish eating and then we can spend more time together.

[ Zack wouldn't have minded if she was to be honest, as long as she spared a thought for him well he'd be perfectly happy; he was not the possessive sort and that would go on long after death when he wanted Aerith to be happy even if it wasn't with him.

He gets up from the table very quickly walks over and engulfs her in a hug, she was sitting but it was like gravity that pulled her. He was so much taller than her, even more so that he was standing and yet he would lean down and drop a kiss against the top of her head. ] I will, I cannot say I'm not relieved that you like puppies better than bears.. more my luck, I suppose Angeal will have to get his own flower girl.

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