driftfleet | Yadrolla System Mingle

[Oof... so in the end, the decision's his- though he suspected it would be that way. It's his body and kind of a big deal after all. He gives it a moment's consideration, then offers the folder back to the girl, pointing to the flowery design.]

This one first, if that's okay.

[Pain isn't something he's worried about- SOLDIERs are durable in plenty of ways, and a tolerance for that sort of thing is one. A bit of digging into the skin with a needle is surely nothing compared to blade and bullet wounds. Anyway, he can't see his own back as easily, and he'd rather focus on putting his best front forward. Flowers first; the rest can come later, when he's braver.

They're led inside to the work area, where a couple of artists are already at work with other customers, and he doesn't let go of Aerith's hand until they greet the guy he'd booked and he's told to get his shirt off. No one's surprised by the scars this time - he'd given them a full view when they'd marked out where to put the flowers in the design, after all - and before long he's stretched out in the chair, watching with nervous fascination as his skin is cleaned and smeared with alcohol in preparation for the tattoo. He holds a hand out for Aerith again, lips pursing.]

Oh man... I should've told you to bring a book or something.

[ It has to be his, she thinks; Zack has to be completely sure about what he wants and how he's going to get it, and Aerith can be here just to hold his hand.

She knows that the pain isn't going to be the problem - it's going to be the time taken, the ache afterwards, the feeling of needles and the smell of the cleaning fluid. She knows that her role here isn't really to critique the art - she's here to make sure her boyfriend is okay, that the man she loves is okay. ]

It's okay. I don't mind - I bet it'll be interesting.

[ Lifting his hand, she presses a kiss to his fingers. ]

I'll be right here.

[He gives her hand a squeeze, and he keeps his gaze on her to stay calm as the tattoo artist warns him and begins to slow, gently-stinging process of painting his skin. It's truly a testament of her calming effect on him that he doesn't instinctively jump right out of his chair and throw something when the needle presses into his flesh, and after his initial flinch, it actually starts to get easier. Aerith distracts him with gentle conversation, the artist interrupts only to check on him and give a progress update, and every time he glances over at his chest there's more colour and less immediately prominent scarring to be seen. It helps. It helps a lot, and as the hours pass he focuses less and less on the process and more on Aerith and the art itself as it comes together. The worker they'd selected for him is fast and skilled, efficient with each stroke, and eventually, as the sun begins to set outside the shop and the other employees prep for close, he gives Zack's arm a pat and comments that they're done for the day.

Only then does Zack look down for the first time in a long while, and- ah.]

Holy shit, Aerith.

[What the heck is this beautiful canvas on his torso?? ...Like okay it's also kind of messy and a bit bloody and red-raw as hell but still, he can see it...!]

[ Aerith watches the entire process with wide eyes, drinking in the movement of the artist and the shape the ink takes. It's beautiful, she thinks, truly beautiful, and she feels a little awestruck that she's been able to witness this happen, that Zack asked her to come with him. It's remarkable, to see the horror of his scars being covered up by something beautiful, something that she recognises as being close to something of her own, and her heart is thudding gently in her chest as she holds his hand.

She doesn't stop, either, stroking her fingers over his, giving him little moments to relax, to talk if and when he needs it, smiling fondly and gently the entire time.

It's not until the artist leans back a little that she really drinks in the design and her eyes widen, a gasp caught in her throat. ]

Oh... Zack...

[It's a good thing that Aerith's here, because Zack's only half-listening to the artist's instructions for after-care, setting up another appointment, all that fun stuff. He's sort of busy staring at the tattoo, still. He snaps out of it when the guy offers out his shirt and prods him upright to get it wrapped. He's still a bit dazed as they go through the whole process of paying and rescheduling for touch-ups and the next steps, he's handed some papers for care (mostly because he was obviously not listening) and then, just like that, they're standing outside of the shop again.

Zack glances back, glances at Aerith, and glances down.]

Oh man... I guess that's that, huh. One down...

[ Aerith is, at least, listening very carefully to everything that Zack needs to do, giving her boyfriend a fond, gentle look as she nods along. She's the one that reaches out and plucks the papers from Zack's hands (she'll probably be the one taking care of him anyway, especially since she wants to) before they step outside the shop and she turns to look up at him with a bright, fond expression on her face. ]

One to go.

[ Leaning up, she draws him in for a quick, soft kiss. ]

It's beautiful, Zack.

Nah, you're beautiful. But this is pretty good, too.

[He leans in for a kiss, this smooth bastard. ...But when he pulls back he's actually looking giddy instead of pleased with himself, practically bouncing on his heels.]

You recognized them, yeah? The flowers? Did I remember them right?

Zack. [ She laughs quietly, lifting her head and drawing him down to return the kiss, pushing herself up just a little to match his height. Both her boys are so tall...

Her fingers are gentle when they rest against his chest, not pushing or trying to hurt, but resting where she knows the flowers are. ]

You did. They're perfect.

[Her touch is light enough that it doesn't even sting; his body is already knitting itself together anyway.]

I'm glad. Though I guess it's a bit late at this point, huh.

[Lies, if they were wrong he'd pay for corrections. Only the best for his girl.]

I would've told you before you got it done, silly.

[ She did get to see the art before it was tattooed, so she would've mentioned something that important.

For now, though, her hand trails down and finds his, fingers squeezing his. ]

I'm proud of you.

Proud?

[He glances down, head tilted.]

Isn't this kinda running away from the problem?

[He'd struggled with it for a while- the idea that covering up the scars might just be hiding from what happened, or something like that. His whole reason for doing it is purely self-interest (and vain, besides).]

I don't think so.

[ Aerith turns, staring up at the sky as she thinks. ]

I think... Running away would be like... Never looking at it. Pretending it isn't there, or that it didn't happen. Ignoring it. Not showing anyone anything under your shirt. Acting like you're okay when you're not. You're not doing any of those things.

Mm... not anymore, I guess.

[He's done his fair share, especially at the start. The beach date, his unease during their first time- he's no stranger to shame about it at this point. But like this... yeah, he feels like it'll be different.]

I'd still be doing that if you weren't here, y'know.

Then I'm glad I'm here.

[ Lifting her hands, she cups his cheeks, fingers brushing over his skin gently. ]

You've become so strong.

I haven't changed that much... it makes more sense to say that about you.

[She's grown leaps and bounds beyond where she started, when he first met her. She changed when he couldn't even watch it, but he's glad to see the results.

If he's changed it all, it often feels like he's changed for the worse. More cynical, more angry, more hurt. More tired. It's his own fault, though, if she doesn't know it. Not like he's really showed much but his usual smiles.]

I think you've changed more than you think, Zack.

[ But she pauses, turning around to look at him, her dress fluttering around her heels. Slowly, her hands lift and they press against her stomach, gently hovering. ]

I think... We grew up.

[Ahhhh no, he doesn't like that. He doesn't like it at all. With a quick stride towards her he reaches out and takes her hands away from her stomach, lifting them to kiss both, then wraps his arms around her again, holding her close. He'll probably make a mess of his shirt from the ink but he doesn't care, he can't not hug her after that.

They all have their own scars to bear, and just because he's covering his up doesn't mean what caused them isn't painful. Same goes for her, and Cloud.]

Growing up is terrible, I don't like it, [he mumbles, his breath shaky against her hair.] But I guess part of it's... talking about your problems when you need to, right?

[Not when you want to, because god knows he never does. But.]

[ Aerith is quick to lift herself up and wrap her arms around Zack, tilting herself close with a soft smile. Being around Zack always makes her feel better, but even as she cuddles up to him she's careful to make sure that she doesn't press too painfully against his tattoos, not when he's just got them.

Lifting her hand, she presses it into the back of his neck, curling around him gently and humming quietly. ]

It was easier, before, I think. [ But she shakes her head. ] But I'm glad. Growing up... It means we got to survive, just for a little bit longer.

[A little bit longer... it's heartbreaking to hear it said, but it's the truth. They both died way too young for any of this to be fair.]

I think it's worth it. This, I mean. Having this.

[Having her with him, having Cloud with them both, too. It means the world to him.]

I think so as well.

[ They're gone at home, but here... Here they're okay. Whenever she wants to she can go and find Zack or Cloud and be with them, and that's amazing. ]

I'm really happy.

Yadrolla System Mingle

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