[The contrast is certainly apparent. Zack, as ever, is just as confused, just as worried, and just as ...hurt as him, but outwardly, he's just... better at internalising it. He's speaking to this person calmly, even nicely, and Cloud...
He can't help but respond badly.
He wishes he could blame the Turnskin thing for it. It sure as hell doesn't help- Turnskins are pack animals. And Aerith... she's important. She always had been, even before this, but now...
He really, really has to hold his tongue when the worker starts rattling off about summoning 'not being an exact science' and when some (admittedly, well-meaning) words encouraging them to think of her not disappearing, instead just 'your friend's connection to their world strengthening' happen, he turns away in disgust.
His fists are clenched, as he walks away. And it's a good few moments later before he speaks.]
[ This likely isn't the first time that this person has been yelled at because a loved one has gone home, and so Zack can't bring himself to be too upset with them. It's not their fault, not really, and while it would be nice to have a place to vent all of his anger and frustration, this isn't it.
So when Cloud stalks off, wound up and boiling over, Zack merely offers the worker a quick apology and a word of thanks before he moves off to follow him.
Processing Aerith's loss is going to take a while, he knows, and yet right now he's focused more on Cloud than on himself. Damage control is what's at the forefront of his mind. In truth, he's never seen Cloud angry quite like this, but he also realizes that Cloud's grown a lot since the last time they really interacted. There's a lot for him to learn, still; a lot of lost time to make up for. ]
Hey.
[ He closes the distance between them, one hand reaching out to settle against Cloud's back between his shoulder blades. ]
Let's get outside. Get some fresh air.
[ It doesn't take long for them to head back out, though the heat that's clung to the city isn't exactly refreshing. Zack realizes he needs to say something, even if he knows his words will ring as hollow as the person's they just talked to. ]
She might come back, like I did. She may not remember being here, that's what happened with me, but...
[ He trails off, his gaze slipping down to the cobbled ground. Just having her back is all he really cares about. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He can't help but respond badly.
He wishes he could blame the Turnskin thing for it. It sure as hell doesn't help- Turnskins are pack animals. And Aerith... she's important. She always had been, even before this, but now...
He really, really has to hold his tongue when the worker starts rattling off about summoning 'not being an exact science' and when some (admittedly, well-meaning) words encouraging them to think of her not disappearing, instead just 'your friend's connection to their world strengthening' happen, he turns away in disgust.
His fists are clenched, as he walks away. And it's a good few moments later before he speaks.]
No point waiting around here.
[He's furious, still.]
no subject
So when Cloud stalks off, wound up and boiling over, Zack merely offers the worker a quick apology and a word of thanks before he moves off to follow him.
Processing Aerith's loss is going to take a while, he knows, and yet right now he's focused more on Cloud than on himself. Damage control is what's at the forefront of his mind. In truth, he's never seen Cloud angry quite like this, but he also realizes that Cloud's grown a lot since the last time they really interacted. There's a lot for him to learn, still; a lot of lost time to make up for. ]
Hey.
[ He closes the distance between them, one hand reaching out to settle against Cloud's back between his shoulder blades. ]
Let's get outside. Get some fresh air.
[ It doesn't take long for them to head back out, though the heat that's clung to the city isn't exactly refreshing. Zack realizes he needs to say something, even if he knows his words will ring as hollow as the person's they just talked to. ]
She might come back, like I did. She may not remember being here, that's what happened with me, but...
[ He trails off, his gaze slipping down to the cobbled ground. Just having her back is all he really cares about. ]