3rd POV:
Nox remembered when he read an article or somesuch where it was stated that an environment can affect the state of mind, back in his previous life.
If one constantly stays locked in in his room, that person is more likely to be depressed or develop other mental issues. But activities like cleaning oneself, leaving the house sometimes, maybe even trying to have a talk with a stranger, can generally help.
Not always. But it can often.
It is no surprise. Humans are social creatures. They didn't get where they are as a society, just by individual strength, but collectively. It was the scientist who studied upon radiation, it was the cook who made the scientist the food, the farmer who planted and grew and harvested the fruits and veggies, the truck driver who transported the plants to the supermarkets or restaurants, the builder and engineer who utilized what the scientist discovered.
No man was an island by themselves. Everyone was doing their own little part and contributing to humanity.
Nox always hated that, people who didn't adhere to this social contract. Break that social contract and society collapsed, humanity will survive of course, but many will still die.
In this empty dark space and lonely world, where the only life could be found on this green rock (so far and even then), why would they waste time on anything else, besides lifting each other up to greater and greater highs?
It was one of the reason why he was so ...not opposed, willing, eager...(actually scratch that last one, since it wasn't always the case) to work with others, even if it did mean letting people close and risking to grow close to them.
All that is to say, that now, with his friends and Aerith in his life, life was...more colorful. Brighter. It sounded cliche, really. But it was the truth. He felt more energized too, the past few days.
'You actually did it,' the voice in his head suddenly said.
''Well, look who hasn't shown himself in a while,'' Nox replied in his head.
'You've let someone closer then you ever have, at least in a long time. Do you have any idea what you have done?,' the voice asked him.
''No, But I'm sure you will tell me anyway,'' Nox scoffed lightly.
'As a matter of fact, I won't,' the voice replied back,'There is no need to lecture you, since we are one and the same person. You know what you risk.'
Nox hummed.
''So? No words of praise or condemnation?,'' he asked the voice.
'What would be the point? No, I realize that I can no longer protect you by repeating the same points to you,' the voice told him.
''Oh?,'' Nox asked intrigued.
'Do you really think that you have enough redeeming qualities to keep our friends as friends and Aerith as your girlfriend, once they find out how much of a monster we are? Don't fool yourself. Since I failed in keeping people away from you, I will just have to swing the other direction. Tell you how to keep them close to you without ever letting them go,' the voice said.
''No,'' Nox replied simply.
'No?,' the voice asked confused. Nox always at least listened him out, even if he did not always follow his suggestion.
''Begone. I no longer need you. And I can watch out for myself. Besides, if I want genuine relationships I can't manipulate them ...TOO much. Otherwise I'm just an abuser who is living a false life. Begone,'' Nox told the voice.
Sometimes manipulating someone could be good, after all.
The voice chuckled.
'Fool! I'm you! You will never get rid of me, but I recognize when I'm not welcomed. Do expect to hear my advice when you need it anyway,' the voice mocked him and then went quiet.
Nox rolled his eyes and huffed.
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Aerith was in the kitchen and cooking, courtesy of her mother telling her to go and do something. Elmyra and Nox were sitting at the table.
''So you two have gotten together,'' she said simply, lowly, so her daughter wouldn't hear them.
''I'm surprised she didn't tell you immediately after we got back,'' Nox commented. That was just a few days ago. To be fair, he has been pretty busy, even if Aerith wasn't. She probably wanted to tell her together, maybe even during this dinner, but Elmyra jumped the gun.
Elmyra had much the same thoughts. Unlike Zack who was SOLDIER and part of Shinra, and whose displeasure for him she always made known, Elmyra didn't really have anything against Nox. He could do being a little more polite, instead of so rude, but aside from that nothing. In fact, he fulfilled some qualities that she wished Aeriths partner to have, whoever that may be.
''You will treat her right,'' Elmyra told him crossing her arms.
''I planned on doing that anyway. And if I don't Aerith will let me know,'' Nox replied. Was he really being subjected to the whole 'talk' spiel?
''You know I can hear you two, even if you talk lowly?,'' Aerith asked from the kitchen. It was not like the table was far from it.
''Go back to making the dish, Aerith. This is a talk I need to have with him,'' Elmyra shot back, her cheeks reddening a bit, at having her plan fail so quickly.
''Ok,'' Aerith replied back, but kept an eye out subtly.
Elmyra sighed.
''Well...she ruined my whole schtick. Do you know that Aerith is...?,'' Elmyra let the sentence hang.
''A Cetra? I know,'' Nox replied.
''She suffered greatly because of that. So please treat her well and please protect her. Aside from that, you two are responsible adults, so...try to act like ones and be good too each other,'' Elmyra told him, her cheeks slightly reddening again. She didn't want to become a grandma too soon, but also didn't want to open up the subject properly.
It was her way of giving him her approval.
Like he needed her approval. The only approval he needed was Aerith's.
''I will,'' Nox replied, not saying his true thoughts out loud.
''I'm glad that this is resolved. Now, who wants Mac and Cheese?,'' Aerith came over and handed them two plates with food. Both thanking her, while she went away, only to come back with a third plate for herself.
''Was it that obvious?,'' Aerith asked her mother while they were eating.
''Trust me, if you ever have your own children and see your child and love, you will know the next time they are in love again. I doubt it was 'obvious' in any other way,'' Elmyra told her.
Aerith hummed, feeling a little awkward at the prospect of having children. Did she really have to open the subject up while Nox was here? She loves him, yes, but they were still early on in their relationship for such talks and subjects. Then again, if she couldn't say that, then how would Elmyra be able to reply and answer her question.
Still.
She ate her food with some uncharacteristic quietness this time around.
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''You made that much progress already?,'' Zero asked Shalua. By now she already graduated and put herself to work on the Fusion Reactor designs.
Zero was right in his suspicion that even if it wasn't a crime not to go work for Shinra as a scientist, they wanted her since she was that smart. He had to work over time to wipe her trails and make her disappear in the slums. Well, not that this overtime activity was difficult since Shelke kept watch and told him where to go. So not difficult, just tedious.
''It helped that that someone already laid the 'foundation' for the Fusion Reactor. If you know what I mean. Even so, I still had to make lot's of adjustments. They are small however. And until I solve the biggest issue, they will all remain theoretical. Without solving the biggest issues, I can't run my numbers around it and adjust the 'foundation', just in case. Who worked on this anyway, before you gave me the papers? You?,'' Shalua asked him.
Reeve. Zero wasn't an idiot, he was smart in his own way. If he hadn't dropped out of High School, he could have absolutely pursued a higher education in biology. He just didn't get a scholarship. And even then, it was probably for the better how everything turned out.
But it was Reeve who mostly worked on the theories. He just made the corrections to the papers, without Reeve being any wiser to the work he had done on them.
''The 'Spark' or the 'trigger','' Zero said, avoiding her question.
''Yes. Something to kick start the exothermic reaction. I just... don't know how to do that. And even if I do find a solution, it is a fact that the trigger will need to be immense. Meaning lots and lost of energy being released at once. We also need to contain it in a way, or else huge areas of land will be burned,'' Shalua told him and crossed her arms with a huff.
''What if we use Materia for both issues as a solution?,'' Zero asked her.
''I mean... I could run the numbers. See if it works. But I doubt it. How would we even do it anyway, we'd need someone that could push a Fire Materia to the limit and beyond. And even then, that person will probably be trapped in the encasing meant to contain the sun. Assuming the don't die immediately, they will feel their death. I want to find a better solution,'' Shalua replied.
Again. She doubted it would work. But doubt had no place in science. Things needed to be certain.
''What if we use a nuclear powerplant or a Nuke as a trigger,'' Zero was pretty sure that sounded insane. But maybe the encasing could withstand the force of the explosion. After all it was meant to contain the power of the sun and it's radiation. A nuke was nothing when compared to the sun.
''A what?,'' Shalua asked him confused.
Shit. That was right. The people here knew of radiation, but they didn't develop nuclear powerplants or nukes. Perhaps that was better in a way.
Should he...
No, he was not about to be this world Oppenheimer. Though considering he didn't know how to make a nuke, it was more accurate to say he would be Pandora who opened the 'box of ideas'.
Zero hoped there was no enriched uranium somewhere here on Gaia. The world really didn't need that.
''Nothing. Just a silly idea I had. Well, you are the expert, but if you are stuck, maybe stepping back for a bit could help. Go out, look at the world and maybe you will find inspiration somewhere in the most unexpected place?,'' Zero shrugged.
Shalua frowned. It was not 'nothing' if he suggested it at all. But she didn't know where to begin to understand the word 'nuclear' or 'nuke'.
''Maybe. Don't worry, boss. I understand the importance of this, so I will give my best to find a solution to this dilemma,'' Shalua assured him.
Zero put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a comforting and encouraging squeeze.
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Gods, having Shelke was so useful. Sure he still had the bugs in the offices, but she had a MUCH wider reach in regards to intel then he ever could.
Would you look at that? He was absolutely right.
Shinra did blame the explosion on Wutai. They responded by saying that person was a rogue and acting without their jurisdiction and orders.
Both used double speak.
Shinra knew it wasn't Wutai and already geared to take out the true perpetrators. They found out the AVALANCHE HQ in the Norther Region. If AVALANCHE and leadership survived remained to be seen. And if they did, they would be split and leadership would be all over the place.
And Wutai never really settled or accepted Shinra leadership. They are still gearing to shake off their control, they just realized that they needed to do it smartly. This was not smart, bombing Shinra's office. But they didn't disapprove either. If it was really a rogue, they would quietly drink in that rogues name, even if he failed. If he wasn't then just as well. Either way, by denouncing his actions and calling him rogue they distanced themselves from it.
Both knew the other were lying, both knew the other meant something else entirely.
But only one had the power here currently.
Shinra. That is why they insisted the Rogue was a Wutaian agent. To force them at the negotiation table and get even more favorable terms for themselves.
Isn't politics fun?
It was all a matter of public perception, meanwhile the real shady shit happened in the dark or behind curtains.
Oh, well. Nox wished them luck, just because. He didn't approve of their methods, since he tried them and knew better, but he was not about to side with Shinra. And at least they tried SOMETHING, which was better then sitting on their asses and being complicit.
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Aerith decided to go to that shop she once went with Tifa to, to buy that red dress she once tried out.
Nox did tell her that he wanted to take her on a special date and he finally asked her out.
She really didn't NEED that. She meant it when she said that every moment with him was special to her, but... she supposed he did convince her that it was good to do these things every now and then anyways.
She had the money anyway.
And today Nox went and visited Stella again, as he usually does every Saturday.
---
''So? How do I look?,'' Aerith asked her mother, twirling once around for Elmyra to inspect her.
''Good. I like what you did with your hair. I'm sure it will impress him,'' Elmyra told her.
''He better! I spent an hour on it,'' Aerith huffed,'' Welp, I'm off then.''
''He won't come pick you up?,'' Elmyra asked disapproving.
''He wanted to, but I want to surprise him,'' she stored her heels in the Store Materia and put on her boots. Until they are out of the slums, she will have to walk with them. It wasn't like she feared getting dirty. The ground was quite dry. It was more like she feared the sharp point of the heel would sink in the ground and then break off. She would put on the heels once they are top side.
''Ah, well that makes more sense,'' Elmyra shook her head fondly.
''Go have fun you two,'' Elmyra waved her daughter off.
''Will do! Bye,'' Aerith waved her hands and then left, the door to her homes closing after her.
---
''So? What have you planned for us?,'' Aerith asked Nox him immediately the next day.
Nox stared at her.
''Nox?,'' Aerith asked him.
''Sorry, you are beautiful. You look good, I mean. Red suits you,'' he said.
Oh, she couldn't possible miss out on teasing him for that.
''That is an odd thing to say, considering your eye color,'' she said.
''Not really?,'' he sounded unsure. That was not what he meant in any case, but he did like the sound of that, a strange sense of possessiveness washing over him at what she implied. Nox shook that feeling off knowing where it came from.
No, he would not 'make sure no one would ever leave him'. He wanted healthy relationships.
''I'm talking about color theory. Red and green are complementary to each other, which means that they accentuate each other. Your green eyes, stand out more then usual,'' he explained.
Aerith blinked and then sighed.
''That was cute. Really. Seeing a guy like you be this awkward. Stop taking yourself this seriously, Nox,'' Aerith told him with a shake of her head,'' I see that you are not dressed yet.''
''Well, no. You are quite early. And men just dress quicker,'' Nox pointed out. He would know, considering he often put on a disguise and spent time applying make up to his face, more so then as a 'woman' than a 'man'. Whenever he wasn't doing that, he dressed up very easy and quickly.
''Give me 15 minutes,'' Nox told her and let her in. He could just dress himself in his bathroom. In that regard he picked up his suit from the back of the chair.
Aerith scoffed.
''No, way you will be ready in 15 minutes,'' she replied incredulously.
...
Aerith couldn't decide if she wanted to let her eye lid twitch madly or if she wanted to fawn over Nox' appearance. She knew she looked pretty, she knew that he knew that he was handsome, but under these circumstances, the fact that they dressed for a special occasion, made them look so much better. And she certainly appreciated the eye candy.
''Huh, would you look at that? I even have one minute to spare,'' Nox muttered to himself looking at the clock as he adjusted his sleeve.
''You didn't have to come all the way over here, I would have made my way to you,'' Nox told her.
''I wanted to surprise you,'' Aerith told him.
''Then consider me pleasantly surprised,'' he replied.
''So what will we do? Where will we go?,'' she asked him. The two left his condo and after he locked the door she moved to lock her arm in with his, while they were walking side by side.
''Like I said. A dance, a dinner, music, moonlight, not necessarily in that order. I found a place top side that can provide us all that,'' he told her. He considered for a while to prepared everything for themselves somewhere so that they can be completely alone. But he didn't find such a place and the only one he could think off was Kalm. She seemed to have loved Kalm a lot, but they didn't have a distraction for them to use and sneak away from the Turks.
Pity. But this could do just as well.
''Sounds fancy. Nox, I told you-,'' Aerith was interrupted.
''It is fancy. And I know you said every moment with me is special to you, but that doesn't meant we can't enjoy more... special moments, extra special moments I mean, every now and then,'' Nox tried explaining.
Aerith smiled and snuggled up to him, saying nothing. Nox considered that a win, having said something pleasant to her, or she interpreted it in a way that made her happy.
---
''I don't know what to pick,'' Aerith complained. Nox helped her by pushing her chair when she sat at the table. It was hard sitting down and then moving the chair, the dress would be pulled and stretched, especially since it was hard doing that with her heels.
Nox picked a fancy place, high end, but not a wasteful one. The food was actual food, served in portions that would sate the customer. Not the kind of fancy restaurant where rich snobs went to splurge money and display power.
Whenever Nox had to disguise himself in his previous life and infiltrate such places, he always had to focus extra hard at not laughing in their face. Did they not realize how pathetic they looked? Like pitiful creatures with no substance trying to puff themselves up and disguise their vanity and lack of personality.
''I'm interested in trying the Bouillabaisse. The one with the shrimps,'' he clarified, there were variations to it on the menu,''You can pick something and we can try both.''
Aerith hummed and looked contemplative at the menu.
''How about...Sushi? That is a Wutaian Dish, no?,'' Aerith asked him.
''Are you asking ME?,'' Nox teased her.
''I'm overwhelmed. I want to try out everything at least once,'' Aerith dropped her head in defeat.
Nox hummed and brought out his PHS taking a picture of the menu, making Aerith raise an eyebrow.
''Sure, I will get the Bouillabaisse, you can get the Sushi and we can take some bites from each others food. And anything that we can't eat today? We can make at home and try out,'' Nox compromised making her beam.
''You're right. Of course, we have gotten much better at cooking anyway, so it shouldn't be too hard either,'' Aerith added. They could get the recipe from the internet.
''Excuse me? We would like to order,'' Nox raised his hand and waved a waiter over.
...
''I feel so full,'' Aerith rested her head against his shoulder while the two danced to some music.
The restaurant also provided an area for people to dance, away from the tables, of course. A dance floor. Quite a few couples were making use of it, so they had to mind their space while dancing. But just a little bit.
''You did eat a lot of Sushi and some Bouillabaisse,'' Nox chuckled.
''Sorry,'' Aerith apologized. She does often joke that she is greedy, but not in the sense that she wanted to take from someone else or ruin their own fun. Nox did take on roll of Sushi, but the rest she ate alone and she took quite a few bite from his own dish too.
In her ... well, maybe not defense, but as an explanation. It was DELICIOUS. She just didn't want Nox to go hungry.
''It's fine,'' Nox reassured her. He was a little disappointed. They could only dance gently, instead of the more active dances some of the others around them performed.
Aerith raised her head to look in his eyes, searching for something. Eventually she smiled coyly and put her arms around his neck, pressing her body a little to his own.
''Next time, I won't eat as much and then we can dance to our hearts content,'' she promised him.
Nox smiled and hang his head a little in fondness.
''Figured you would catch that. I like the sound of that,'' Nox told her.
Aerith gave him a smile and put her rested her head back on his shoulder, ending the hug and pulling her arms from around his neck. The two continued to dance slowly to the music, swinging back and forth.
---
''You know. I always wondered. But why does the moon appear sometime closer and sometimes father away,'' Aerith said out loud. The two finding themselves in a small park and looking up at the moon, basking in the moonlight.
''The moon does not rotate around earth in a perfect circle. It follows an elliptical path, which means that it circles the earth in an oval shaped manner. Oval like an egg. Sometimes we catch it close, called the Perigee, sometimes far away, called the Apogee, depending on her position,'' Nox answered her.
Nox hummed and raised an eyebrow, when he noticed Aerith staring at him fondly.
''What?,'' he asked her.
''You just know that off the top of your head?,'' Aerith teased him.
''I picked up a few things here and there,'' he shrugged.
''Nerd,'' she called him.
''Hey! There is nothing wrong with knowing your stuff and some other trivia. You don't see me calling you a nerd whenever you talk about flowers and how to properly take care of them,'' Nox crossed his arms and huffed.
Aerith shook her head fondly.
''Psst,'' she called and put her hand to her mouth to whisper,'' I meant that as a compliment. You really need to stop taking yourself so seriously.''
''Oh.''
Aerith giggled and moved even closer to him to rest her head on his shoulder again and one of her arm she put around his own, trying to hug it, while with the other she interlocked her finger with his own of that same arm.
''I had a great time today. Thank you, Nox,'' Aerith told him and raised her head giving him a kiss on the cheek, before resting her head again on his shoulder.
Now who was being too serious?
''You're welcome,'' Nox replied instead, not wanting to ruin this moment.
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''Oh! A chest,'' Aerith moved quickly over to the object on the ground.
''Whoa, wait! You never played a video game?,'' Nox asked her.
''No. Did you visit the Gold Saucer?,'' she asked him a little envious. She heard some things about it.
''Once,'' Nox replied. To be fair, he never played video games either. Always too poor, what with living paycheck to paycheck. But he did watch 'Let's Plays', so he knew a thing or two.
''Look around us. Is this really an environment where one would expect a chest?,'' Nox asked and gestured to the sewers around them,''It is clearly a mimic.''
''A mimic?,'' Aerith asked him and turned back to the chest to use her Sense Materia.
''The Sense Materia reveals nothing,'' she told him.
''Maybe they can trick it. Either way, we should be cautious when opening it,'' Nox told her.
''I think you are being too paranoid, but sure. Let me just...,'' she picked her staff and began poking the thing, trying to get it open with it.
Teeth snapped at the staff suddenly, making Aerith jump in surprise and jerk her staff back violently without thought, one end of it straight into Nox' face, specifically his nose.
They quickly made short work of it, once it began revealing it's true form and stood up on it's lanky two pale legs, the chest as his head and teeth snapping at them.
''Nox, I'm so sorry. Are you fine? Are you in pain?,'' Aerith began fretting over him, the mimic dissolving into Mako particles.
''I've had worse and survived. It's fine,'' Nox rubbed his nose a little and checked his hand. No blood. In that case, it was definitely just some pain and a minor injury. Only because the nose was not a bone but a cartilage. If she had hit him on the cheek, he doubted he would have felt even that minor pain he was experiencing right now.
''It's not,'' Aerith frowned and began casting a Cure on him,''Just because I didn't meant to harm you, doesn't mean I shouldn't feel guilty for the harm I caused you. And even if you had 'worse' as you say, it is not an excuse to get used to your pain or for me to disregard your well being in any way. So, if you would, please. Are you fine? Are you in pain?''
Nox let the Cure wash over him, staring at her in, almost, a trance. It was not quite the same, but it was similar enough to trigger the memory anyway.
Flashback:
At least she was no longer scratching at her scar.
''I'm sorry. I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at something else and I should NOT have snapped at you like that,'' she explained avoiding his eyes.
''It's fine. You want to talk about it?,'' Nox offered her.
''It's not. And no,'' she murmured mournfully. She looked at her small bleeding scar, feelings ... and memories coming back up again. Before she would start another episode she put her trembling hands, clenched as fists, on her knees and forcefully rested them there.
Flashback End:
''Heh,'' he gave a sad smile, resting his face behind his palm and feeling his chest tighten.
''Nox?,'' Aerith asked him concerned.
''I'm in some pain, but aside from that I really am fine,'' Nox replied to her and let his hand drop.
''Do you want to talk about it?,'' she offered.
''It's nothing. You just... reminded me of someone from a long time ago. I don't really want to talk about it,'' Nox told her.
Aerith frowned a little, conflicted. She DID say he could have his secrets until he trusted her enough to share it with her. Just because they were together didn't meant that he had to forfeit his right fro privacy. Neither did she for that matter and she was also keeping a thing or two from him.
But it was one thing to let him have his secrets and another to let something chew at him and make him suffer in silence. If something troubled him, then they had to talk about it to get to the bottom of it and find a solution.
''Ok,'' Aerith relented. She would keep an eye out for any more episodes like this, just in case. But for now, she didn't want to push him too much.
Nox gave her and appreciative smile.
Aerith stepped forward and gave him a small gentle kiss on the nose.
''Are you seriously trying to 'kiss it all better'?,'' Nox chuckled.
''Does it work?,'' Aerith teased him. It did work on her when she once scrapped her knee and her mom 'kissed it all better'.
Nox hummed and crossed his arms, looking contemplative.
''One kiss is not enough to make a proper conclusion. I think I need another,'' Nox nodded, as if it were a very serious matter.
Aerith gasped and leaned forward with wide eyes.
''You're still in pain. We can't have that!,'' she exclaimed.
''Indeed. But I think there is a much better way to administer the dose of painkiller,'' Nox nodded.
''Really?,'' Aerith played the fool.
''Like this,'' Nox pulled her by the waist with on arm and hugged her close, while putting the other on her cheek and stroking it. He lowered his head, while she tilted hers up a little, their lips meeting.
''Better?''
''Better. Much better.''
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Hey, would you look at that. Nox was completely right in his assumption.
...
''I'm going all in,'' Aerith declared, pushing her chips forward confidently. Biggs and Wedge looked at her expression, trying to decide if it was a bluff or the real deal. They were playing poker, the three of them having taught it to her. Jessie and Tifa talking at the counter, with the latter cleaning the glasses in preparation for opening the bar in around an hour or so.
''Man, I don't know...Uh, Uh. I'm folding!,'' Wedge declared loudly and threw his cards.
''...Ugh, screw this. I'm folding too,'' Biggs threw his own cards.
''I'm calling it. Wedge, show the cards,'' Nox matched her wager and pushed his own chips forward. Now Aerith looked a bit worried, but was still confident in her cards. If she understood it correctly then she should have a 'Two Pairs'. Not the best hand one could have, but the way they explained it to her, there was more involved to Poker then just cards.
Wedge nodded and put down the final card, an Ace making Aerith relax a little. The other two were just some cards. A three and a four. But the other two were a 7 and 2. The Ace did not particularly worry her.
''Alright, ladies and gentleman, if you would be so kind to reveal your cards, please,'' Wedge spoke with a little theatrical flourish.
''Damn it I folded to a Hammer,'' Biggs huffed. It wasn't a bad call on Aerith's part, considering she had a pair, but it was still risky to raise the staked that high.
''So you have a pair. Very good, very good. Now it is your turn,'' Wedge told Nox.
He flipped his cards over showing two Aces.
''Very Nice. Impressive,'' Aerith muttered bitterly, seeing the cards. That would... make it Three of a Kind. Yes? And with Aces too, so his cards were more powerful then hers.
''Three of a Kind. I think we have a clear winner,'' Biggs remarked with a smile, watching Nox take all the chips.
''But I did do good. No?,'' Aerith asked them. This was the first time playing Poker, after all. Rather fun, if she had to be honest, even if she didn't really have an idea what was going on most of the time and understood the most basic things. For example, she already forgot what came after a Straight.
''You did. Just maybe don't try to raise the stakes THAT high with a Hammer. It is considered the worst card combination, the 7 and 2,'' Nox reassured her.
''Don't get it wrong though. There are other bad card combinations, it's just that this one is just considered to be the worst,'' Wedge shrugged.
Aerith sighed and stood up.
''Well have fun without me then. I will join the girls,'' Aerith told them.
''You don't want to sit and watch to learn the game better,'' Nox asked her.
''No. It's boring to just watch. Have fun,'' she kissed his cheek and made her way over to the counter.
Nox looked a little disappointed, but said nothing more while Biggs began shuffling the cards as it was his turn to be the Dealer this time.
Barret burst trough the doors grabbing all their attention.
''You guys heard about what happened? What Shinra has done?,'' he asked a little out of breath.
''Shinra does a lot of things. Do you mean them extorting, I'm sorry, I meant negotiating with Wutai for more favorable deals?,'' Biggs asked him, with some cheek.
''The hell am I paying you people for? Do you not keep up with events at all, damn it. Turn on the damn TV,'' Barret ordered Tifa.
''You're not paying us at all,'' Wedge muttered while Tifa did as ordered. They had to do side jobs to gather money for their operation and most things, unless AVALANCHE HQ bothered to send them something.
''...We are happy to announce to have hit the eco-terrorists knows as AVALANCHE in their HQ. While we haven't gotten them all unfortunately, we are glad to report that we have delivered them a decapitation strike. That means that we essentially cur of the head of the snake, their leadership. Rounding up the stragglers and putting them to justice, will be done with ease-,'' Heidegger put on a whole performance, puffin himself up with pride as he was the Head of Public Security and such accomplishments would be attributed to him, even if it was the Turks who most likely did the heavy lifting of finding them.
''A damn they did. Sure we are scattered, with our HQ hit, but I know that the leader survived, he is just in a coma,'' Barret replied and slammed the fist down on their table, making the poker chips almost fly every where.
''What does that mean for us? Will we give up, without their support and supplies we can't function as effectively. And without their orders-,'' Tifa fretted only for Barret to slam his fist down again and stop her.
''I say what we do. We take matters into our own hands. What the hell else did we prepare all these years for, if not to show Shinra where it's at. We just have to do it without leadership from AVALANCHE HQ. I know that can be scary, but if we won't do it, then who will? Who else, if not us, will stop Shinra from sucking the lifeblood of our planet. So long as we stick together nothing can stop us, so are you with me or will you cover under the table just because things got a little dicey?,'' Barret spoke from the soul, with conviction, moving the others, minus Aerith and Nox, and motivating them.
''You're right. Let's do this. This is what we trained for,'' Biggs nodded and pumped his fist. Wedge nodded enthusiastically.
''Add me to the list as well. I know I'm not as experienced as you all, but I'm the demolition expert. I will carry my own weight for you,'' Jessie replied.
The four of them looked at Tifa, who looked unsure.
''Tifa?,'' Barret asked her making her drop her head.
''You know what Shinra did to my hometown,'' she began making Nox raise his eyebrow. There is a story there that he hadn't heard before, he wondered if she would share it now, or if ever with him or Aerith.
''No one here hates Shinra more then I, but...I just...Blowing things up...We risk hurting innocent bystanders,'' Tifa tried explaining herself.
''Now, wait a damn minute. There is some risk involved, but our target are the Mako Reactors, not the civilians. Sure, we may hurt some here or there, but that is the cost of saving the planet-''
''Every change is accompanied by pain,'' Nox put it for him more succinctly. Again. Far be it for him to take a higher moral ground then Barret. He himself bombed the office of the board of directors at BlackRock when he first started his 'rebellion'.
He very quickly understood that bombing does shit nothing and causes more harm. Who would have thought that bombing a problem doesn't actually make it go away and just causes more problems. Very perplexing conclusion, but emotions had a way to skewer perception and the obvious. Nox recognized that Barret was much the same as he was in the beginning. Until he learns a few lessons, while his heart may be in the right place, he won't see or hear of any alternative to his own 'solution'.
''Exactly. Like he said. Besides, you are our heavy hitter. Our best fighter. We need you, Tifa,'' Barret tried appealing to her team player sensibilities.
She frowned unsure. After a while she hung her head.
''I'm sorry. I just... I really don't want to hurt people,'' Tifa told them with a heavy heart, looking apologetic.
''...So what now?,'' Biggs asked. He understood where she was coming from. He did. And he did not blame her. He had also some misgivings about harming bystanders, but he decided to push forward in spite of it.
Barret looked for a while at Nox. He knew that he was powerful, having heard from Astrid and Naomi that he often brought monster parts to the Pharmacy for potion making.
''No,'' Nox shot him down making him sight with frustration. He slammed his fist down and looked at his mechanical arm. It was finally time to replace it with the machine gun, that he prepared a while ago.
''I won't let that deter me. Jessie, start making the bomb. I will go blow something up, starting with Mako Reactor 1. The rest of you can follow me ...or don't,'' Barret turned around and began walking out. Or tried to.
''Not alone, you won't,'' Biggs stepped forward and turned Barret around by the shoulder.
''Not without me either,'' Wedge added and saluted a little playfully.
''Or me. You do need someone who knows what they are doing with the explosive while carrying it. Can't have it blow up in your hands before arriving at the destination, after all,'' Jessie told them.
Barret stared at them, almost tearfully, but quickly got a grip over himself. He gave them a confident smile, hand resting on Biggs shoulder with approval, and nodded.
''Then let's go save the planet!,'' Barret raised his hand, the others following suit.
Nox was almost about to shed a tear. Those four were almost like children and he knew he would sooner or later watch them grow up, mature and 'lose their innocence', once they comprehended bombing did nothing.
Almost.
Welp, good luck to them.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nox picked up the PHS.
'' 'Sup Shelke,'' he answered. He was sitting lazily on the bench in the church in Sector 5, while Aerith was tending to the flowers. She stopped to look at him, curious and patient to have him share the intel with her. After all, if Shelke called, it was probably very important, since she usually just wrote a text.
''Shinra just ordered a whole battalion to engage two Rogue escaped Subjects outside of Midgar. He doesn't know that the Turks are also mobilizing, trying to do something under his nose. I think they have some personal stakes in the matter and know the two subjects and are trying to save them. The thing is, that neither know where exactly the two escaped subjects are. I'm keeping an eye in case either of them report something. But are you fast enough to get there in time, in that case?,'' Shelke's voice come over the speaker,'' Or will you look all around the desert area surrounding Midgar?''
He was fast. One may even argue that he was TOO fast, since he could move before the enemy would make his own move. What with his time travel abilities, even if they were a one trick pony.
''I'm fast enough. Keep me posted,'' Nox replied and dropped a checkpoint, just in case. Two escaped Subjects? Subject Z and C? Could he finally receive an answer to the mysterious figures, after all this time?
''Gotcha. Call you back,'' Shelke replied and hung up.
Nox relayed the intel to Aerith.
''I want to come with you,'' Aerith said.
''Absolutely not. Not this time. Unless you come with me in your disguise, but then we risk someone noticing how you are awfully and conveniently absent while ... you know makes her appearance,'' Nox shot her down. They always picked their time for adventure with caution, since the Turks could always decide on a whim to check up on her.
They knew she often went down with him to the sewers, and once deep enough they would stop following her. They were, essentially, assassins. They could fight, but it was not their expertise.
And it always took some time to take a different route out of the sewers, do their business, and then return to the sewers using the alternative method and then leave as their normal selves through the entrance they originally entered to being with. There was just now way, they could do all that, if time was of the essence. And it would raise questions, if he moved too early, before they needed to take action.
Aertih looked him sternly for a few moments and then eventually sighed and dropped her shoulders.
''I know. I just...worry for you and want to fight by your side,'' Aerith told him.
''I promise to be careful, since I won't have someone watching my back,'' Nox tried calming her down.
Aerith sighed dejected.
''This sucks,'' she commented and kicked the floor board petulantly.
''You're adorable,'' Nox let it slip out.
''Nox, this is not the time,'' she huffed, not feeling amused or happy that he complimented her.
''Sorry, not sorry. Look, I will take extra care. It sucks that you can't come with me, but you have to deal with it,'' Nox told her.
Aerith crossed her arms and frowned. After a while she sighed and let her arms drop.
''I know.''
---
Nox landed on the rocky terrain, some distance away. Fortunately, what with Shelke knowing his identity as Zero already and the same with Aerith as Azura, there wasn't really any reason to hid his capabilities.
The Infantry was the first who stumbled upon them and engaged them. Or he supposed one, since the other wasn't mentioned...yet. They would all die. IF they refused his offer to lay down their weapons, which they totally will. But it did make hims feel sightly better. Alas, those who live by the sword should be willing to die by the sword and their choice will have consequences. Just because they don't know the consequences or think it won't apply to them, won't change the outcome. There was no point in letting them know his face as Nox.
Be it as Zero or Nox, it made no difference. And if these two escaped 'subjects' needed a whole battalion, then maybe they could be recruited for their cause. He doubted they have any love for Shinra. He was scouting them out first as Nox, and he could always offer them to join later as Zero.
The Turks where somewhere completely different. They won't make it in time.
And anything that saw him flying here was taken care of by Shelke. Anyone would be dismissed as a lunatic for seeing a flying man. And besides, now that he was here, he had no more reason to use his Mako Strands. He would kill the Battalion without it.
Nox moved a few more meters, the sounds of battle getting stronger and stronger-
Until.
Nox was launched back as the dark shadowy ghost finally made another appearance after all this time.
Nox flicked his sword spear into existence ready for battle, as he stared at the enormous tower surrounding the battle beyond them. Perhaps it was thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, but the were numerous and floating in the air barring him access to the battle.
Only they didn't attack?
Nox' eyes moved up and down, left and right, inspecting them. Considering. Contemplating.
He pointed the tip of his spear at them. That is right, he had nothing to fear. He was no longer the weak boy he was all these years ago, when he visited the Nibelheim Reactor and Jenova was all the way in Midgar.
He had the upper hand here.
''You...whoever you are, whyever you are interfering, you want a certain outcome out of their battle. You are trying to manipulate events for one end goal or another,'' Nox gave a small chuckle.
''Cute,'' Nox said.
Was it the Big Bad, behind this? He still didn't know if the Calamity from the sky and Jenova where the same entity. He will have to take care of the latter anyway, for what she tried to do all these years ago in Nibelheim. But if it was one and the same, then that changed things. Or maybe it was someone else entirely at work here.
Time travel? Time shenanigans? Was this why he was sent here, by ROB? One time manipulator to face another time manipulator? Unfortunately there was just not enough evidence to make that conclusion for now, so he will just have to operate under the assumption that they were just the usual chess master moving things from the shadows in stereotypical fashion.
In this case, they wanted to have the two 'Subjects' die.
He couldn't have that, so why not save them and throw a wench in their plans? He already wanted to save them, but now he had even more of a reason.
Nox lunged at them.
...
So much for not using his Mako Strands. Unfortunately there was just no way he could face that many enemy from every direction with just his sword spear. He would have to either defend and never attack, or attack and risk injury. Sure they could be killed, but they did pack a punch as he could feel it in his bones every time he parried or deflected an attack.
...
Nox huffed wit frustration and slayed another one of these ghosts. For every one he slayed, two seemed to take their place. Even with hims starting to use his Mako Strands a little more offensively and starting to spin them around him like a bayblade, killing more and more of these ghosts, there was no end to them.
''I have given you courtesy enough,'' Nox suddenly exclaimed, electricity starting to course through his arm. He could hear the battle growing a little quieter past the wall. Sure, he could just end the 'round', but he was starting to want to do that less and less. And the fact that he was forced at all in this position made him a little petulant, sue him. So he decided to resort to magic.
Screw being inconspicuous.
----
Zack parried another rocker from the helicopter, stating to get tired. He panted and then grunted as he received some bullets to his shoulder, for not being fast enough to recover after parrying the rocket.
These weren't the first wounds he received. Alas, he was all out of Mana, so unlike all the other wounds, he couldn't heal them and keep going.
Sure, he was optimistic. He loved being optimistic. He HAD to be optimistic or else he would lose his fucking shit after all he suffered.
But...
He was starting to realize where the wind was shifting.
''Seems to be the end of the line for me buddy. At least I can ensure one of us makes it out alive,'' he sighed,'' Guess I won't be seeing Aerith again after all.''
He forced himself to ignore the pain and resumed his position as more Shinra Infantry appeared. At least the Mecha-Scorpion or Spider were not deployed. Small mercies, Zack considered, even if he did mourn the lives lost because of that.
But it was either him or them.
The Infantry, seeing their target get weaker and weaker, were like bloodhounds who were smelling blood, getting more emboldened and eager to deliver.
They all stopped as the sky suddenly darkened. The sky was already getting darker and darker, a heavy rain pour sure to hit the are and Midgar. But what was particular was how quickly it suddenly darkened.
And the thunder.
That was no normal thunder.
And the lightning.
That was definitely not normal lightning. The dark clouds were sparking with thousands of electrical currents to the point where the sky being blotted out by the dark clouds and the consequences of it was almost reversed, seeing as the area was getting brighter and brigther.
(Don't fail him now, Shelke. Hopefully she had the foresight to deny Shinra this sight with their cameras. Most of it at least, Nox was sure it would still be somewhat visible to the naked eye.)
The soldiers readied themselves for battle and even Zack did so, not knowing if this was the action of a friend or foe.
Suddenly, for a brief moment, all sound was drenched out and the word was silent.
The clouds parted slightly revealing an almost serpentine dragon, but instead of just standing there in the air, it immediately crashed down.
Not on them? All the people here were confused. Instead it crashed some distance away into the ground, before beginning to circle them.
Zack widened his eyes as a figure could be seen in the distance, quickly running towards them, swinging at the air ... for some reason.
That white hair.
Could it be? But he was dead.
The figure jumped, again swinging at something and after a while... seemed to pierce something and crashed into the ground, sword spear slamming and pinning something invisible into the earth, in between the two parties, dust kicking up.
''Zack?,'' Nox exclaimed in surprise, taking one look at him. He looked almost the same, just a little older, with a different hair style, and some weariness in his face.
''Nox?,'' Zack replied back with disbelief. He could never forget his first friend. That white hair and those red eyes. Without Mako in them? Then how...?
Nox shook his head and turned to the other party.
''I'm giving you only one chance. Surrender, lay down your weapons and leave,'' Nox called out to them.
The infantry was silent for a moment, before the slowly started chuckling descending into full blown laughter. After a while, somebody shot at Nox, who simply parried the bullet. Mostly out of sheer principle, since it wouldn't actually harm him.
''I admit, a small part will enjoy what comes next. Remember, you chose this path, walk it with pride all the way to the end,'' Nox murmured, Zack only being able to hear him, because SOLDIER had sharper senses.
He jumped up again, Zack being protected by a wall suddenly rising up in front of him. But he could still see Nox up in the air.
He threw his sword spear, breaking the sound barrier and Zack couldn't help himself and decided to peek around the wall.
What the-??
What the hell was going on?!!!
Nox attacks the air, seemingly fighting invisible enemies, unless he was schizophrenic suddenly for some reason. He throws around spells almost as if he was Genesis, all that without Mako enhancements, seemingly. And now his sword spear, that was emitting electrical arcs, seemed to be stopped by some sort of invisible barrier.
When did the world stop making sense?! Could he get a damn break for once!?!?
''Oh no, you don't,'' Nox spat and moved his hand behind his body, still hanging in the air. Flames began spewing from his hands and he was catapulted forward, when he was close enough he was almost about to be intercepted by ghosts again, but the electrical dragon still circling them made a short appearance and cleared the path. Finally he kicked the sword spear, applying enough force that it destroyed everything in it's path.
Ghosts, barrier, the soldiers, and quite a lot of terrain, that was molten around the attack and where the sword spear traveled. The massive dust cloud would alert anyone to their position, assuming everything else already didn't. They would have to leave quickly. On that matter, the electrical serpentine dragon was dismissed.
He landed on the ground and pouted ever so slightly. Yeah, that Sword definitely did not survive that lever of abuse. It was a good thing that, he stopped carrying the Black Materia inside of it, ever since he got the Store Materia.
Still, he would probably have to do without a weapon for a bit, unless he decided to create a sword out of Mako Strands. Hm? A photo of a man and, what Nox presumed to be, his wife and daughter landed at his feet.
What? Was this supposed to pull at his heartstrings? The man made his choice. Nox kicked the photo away, it flew a bit and landed in the molten lava, bursting aflame.
''Zack, let's go. Before someone else comes and we get caught,'' Nox instructed him. Seeing his state he made his way over to him and cast a Full Cure on him, the bullets falling out of his shoulder making him wince a little.
He was about to turn to walk away, while Zack wanted to ask questions, but then Nox stopped and suddenly cast fire in one direction making Zack whip around. Somehow, a few guns were not melted for some reason and they were...floating in the air? In any case, they were melted now.
''Enough already. Recognize that you lost this battle and try your luck another day,'' Nox spoke to the empty air. Zack readied his Buster Sword, just in case. Clearly Nox was not schizophrenic.
Seeing Nox relax after a while, Zack relaxed to and sheathed his sword.
''Let's go,'' Nox instructed again and began walking, vigilant, just in case.
''Wait, I have questions,'' Zack tried to desperately make sense of things.
''Ask them as we walk, the Turks are sure to drop by shortly, considering all the ruckus I caused,'' Nox stopped to tell him quickly, before resuming his walk.
''Not without Cloud!,'' Zack told him urgently. If they had to move quickly, then at least he had to make it clear to Nox that he wasn't alone.
''Cloud? Cloud Strife?,'' Nox asked him to clarify. Aerith told him that Tifa was interested in him. She wanted to play matchmaker between the two and so she asked him to keep an eye out for him.
''Blond hair, like a chocobo? Blue Eyes?,'' Nox asked quickly to narrow things down, starting to follow after Zack quickly, as they made their way to a somewhere. Nox assumed where Zack hid him, which probably meant Cloud was in a worse condition since he didn't participate.
Huh. Subject Z and C. Zack and Cloud. Guess he finally has an answer to this riddle, finally.
''You know Cloud? I thought he didn't have friends- Uh, I mean, he didn't have many friends. When did you two meet, he never mentioned you,'' Zack asked quickly.
''We don't know each other. But I know someone who does and told me to watch out for him for someone else,'' Nox replied.
''Yeah? Who?,'' Zack asked curious.
''Who what? Who is looking for him? That would be Tifa. Who told me to keep an eye out for him? Aertih,'' Nox replied. There was a difference between the two.
Tifa was too shy to ask for help for herself. Probably because she thought that was selfish in some way. Aerith did not know such boundaries and decided to watch out for her best friend and help her. Kind of hard to say no to Aerith when she decided to shove her help down someones throat.
''You know Aerith? Aerith Gainsborough? And Tifa too. Man, I'm glad she made it out alive,'' Zack asked with surprise. Surprise which turned into eager excitement. It was not the same as meeting her, but it was till something after all this time.
''Yes? Why?,'' Nox asked him, curious. Did he serve as her bodyguard for a while?
''She is my girlfriend, Aerith- Or well, she was my girlfriend. I got her last letter a few months ago and she broke things off, but maybe... I don't know. For me it has been a year. But apparently for every it has been 5 years and well... I'm a little confused and want to seek her out and talk to her, to understand where we stand. So how is she doing? Is she still selling flowers? Is she doing alright?,'' Zack asked him, like a machine gun.
Zack walked a bit more for a while and then slowly stopped.
''Huh?,'' he asked, finally stopping and turning back to look at Nox. Who was just standing there.
''Nox?,'' Zack asked him with concern and approached him.
---
Girlfriend? Nox felt like he was hyperventilating.
What did he mean 'girlfriend'?
'Kill him,' the voice instructed.
WHAT? No.
Nox felt like a cold shower washed over him.
He was not gonna kill Zack.
'KILL HIM! No challenger can be permitted,' the voice declared fiercely.
Challenger? She broke things off with him. And why was the voice acting as if they weren't aware that she was in a previous relationship, before him, with someone else. It was his own fault that he didn't ask more. Or didn't want to know more about her previous lover.
'Yes, but we assumed he was dead. Kill him,' the voice insisted.
That sounded like an excuse. It was a failing on his part that he assumed and didn't clarify if she moved on because he was dead or because she stopped loving him.
'So what. Kill him,' the voice said again.
No.
'KILL HIM!'
NO.
'KILL HIM!''
---
Zack watched in concern as Nox put his face in his hand. Seemingly...out of it? Was he tired? Did throwing all that magic around affect him after all?
Oh man, of course he was ready, especially since he was thankful for saving their life- and he still needed to thank him for that- but he was not looking forward to carrying both him and Cloud all the way to Midgar. He would do it, readily of course, but he wanted a break after all this time, gods damn it.
Still, Nox was right, in what he said previously. They needed to move quickly, as any moment now, the Turks would appear. He... didn't necessarily mind meeting them, as he still considered them somewhat friend-ish, mostly because of Cissnei, but he didn't want to risk Cloud or Nox on this gamble.
He was willing to wait just a bit and try to see if Nox would regain his bearings shortly, but if he wasn't he would sling him over his shoulder and carry them both to Midgar somewhere safe. To Aerith. Or to TIfa, but her he needed to find first, so it was probably better to go to Aerith.
He was both looking forward and dreading the meeting.
''I'm ...fine. Just a little tired. Maybe I used more Mana then I thought and am just now experiencing the consequences of that,'' the words were hollow, hand still obscuring his expression, but Zack interpreted them as him being tired. He released a sight of relief.
Seemed Nox was tougher then he looked and he didn't have to carry him around after all.
Luckily, they didn't have to walk much from there till they finally stumbled upon Cloud, who was right where Zack left him. Zack slung him over his shoulder, since Nox was probably too tired to carry him. He was also tired, but Nox looked particularly out of it suddenly. Almost walking like a zombie.
''Where will you two go?,'' Nox asked him, sounding far away.
''I know a place. I was thinking about hiding at Aerith's church,'' Zack replied.
Nox closed his eyes, the two walking in silences as he took soft breaths.
''The Turks are watching her. I know a better place. Besides, Tifa will be glad to be reunited with Cloud,'' Nox replied softly. He... needed to get his head straight. It was a meeting he couldn't really avoid or stop, not unless he took drastic measures. Which he didn't want.
But he NEEDED for Zack to give him just a little more time or he would snap and really kill him.
He had...issues.
But Aerith made him want to be better. As cliche as that sounded. He didn't want to do...some things.
Before Zack could say anything. Either to argue or agree, Cloud groaned. Perhaps in a certain way, one could consider that they both saved each other.
''Zack... Tifa, she is...Tifa...alive?,'' Cloud groaned almost incomprehensibly.
''Cloud? Cloud? Buddy, that...That is amazing. I knew you would recover, I told you so,'' Zack almost released a hysterical laugh, but stopped himself just shy of it. Maybe, the universe was giving him a break, after all the shit he suffered. Life was certainly starting to turn around for the two of them.
Cloud was recovering, which probably meant he would also receive the benefits from all the Mako injections Hojo forced into him. Small silver linings, he knew. They would be teacher and disciple, just like him and Angeal. They would start a delivery company and fight monsters. He reunited with Nox, and could tell his parents that he finally fulfilled his promise to them. To find out what happened to their son and if necessary bring him back.
Well, maybe not everything was perfect. Aerith and him... they seemed to have broken up, but he wanted...needed to hear it from her mouth.
Oh, yeah. It was good to be Zack Fair... mostly.
''He has been comatose for long?,'' Nox asked him.
''Yup. A year, ever since we escaped. I fee him and carried him around every since then while we were hiding from Shinra, because I knew Cloud is a warrior. And besides, what kind of hero would I be if I would abandon one in need?,'' Zack scratched his cheek a little.
Nox blinked and slowly came to a halt, Zack too.
''You carried him around for an ENTIRE YEAR?,'' Nox asked him with surprise. Most would not bother, considering to abandon Cloud like dead weight.
''Is that approval I hear in your voice?,'' Zack teased a little to hide his bashfulness. Certain people complimenting him, always made him embarrassed. His parents, Angeal and Nox still, it seemed.
Nox closed his eyes and smiled a genuine smile, clarity slowly returning to him.
''You're fiercely loyal. Yes, Zack, that was approval you heard,'' Nox told him, starting to walk again.
Zack stared at him with mouth agape for a moment.
''...You changed,'' Zack remarked. He immediately wanted to kick himself. What? Did he expect Nox to have remained the same since they were kids? Of course he changed. So has Zack for that matter.
''Maybe,'' Nox smiled fondly. Yes, he did, didn't he?
''...Hey, Nox? Thank you for saving us. I mean it. Without you... Thanks,'' Zack told him. He still couldn't make sense of everything that he had seen, but... that could come later. Right now, he just wanted to focus on settling himself and Cloud and thanking Nox, as well as resolve some other stuff.
''Don't men- Heh,'' Nox stopped himself and huffed fondly,'' You're welcome. Zack...It's good to have met you again. Really. I'm glad you are safe. You and Cloud.''
Nox patted Zacks shoulder a few times and finally rested his hand on it, giving him a gentle squeeze.
Nox calmed himself down more and more. That is right. He could handle his own shit. Sure, emotional healing takes time and Nox knew it wasn't as easy as just ordering the voice away, but... it was a start.
Really. What an extreme 'solution'. Zack would understand, he won't like it, but he will understand. He won't...do anything, once he understands.
''Same, Nox. Same.''
(A.N.: 10778 words. Hope you enjoyed reading that. Cheers and stay safe out there.)