arrays | our hearts will bring us together again

Most people are more careful with flowers, [ Aerith tells him, expression fading into a small frown, ] especially around here. It took us a lot of work to get them to grow again, you know.

[ Her head tilts, curious, as she squints at him. ]

You don’t look familiar… Are you new here?

Guess I'm not most people. [He laughs, squatting down and tries to salvage a few of the squashed flowers.] You're right, I'm not from around here. Or at least not anymore.

[Angeal had always made it clear that they should never speak about their being more then one world, let alone mention he'd come from another one and been to multiple. Given the circumstances of Radiant Garden, however, Zack had a good feeling that rule didn't apply.]

I used live here, before, y'know... That pest infestation. [Standing back up he plants his hands on his hips, frowning himself.] Which actually still seems to be a problem.

[ Her mouth forms a small O. ]

The Heartless.

[ Aerith pauses, watching as he tries to help the flowers. He… must be a good guy to do that, if a little careless. There’s no one in her memories like that, though, no one she remembers from before the fall or even later, in Traverse Town. Everyone she knew that survived had stuck together - all but Cloud and Tifa. ]

They’re still around, though it’s better now than it used to be. They don’t come into the city as much anymore, [ Aerith assures him, head tilted. He’s piqued her curiosity, that much is certain. ] Is this your first time back since… before?

That's what they're called? [He frowns, head cocking to one side like a puppy.] I thought they'd called it something different.

[They, being the three keyblade wielders that had passed through the Coliseum all those years ago. He may have encountered a few Heartless in his travels, but he'd never actually known what to call them.]

Yeah, I've been traveling around since. [He steps back on one foot, crossing his arms over his chest.] Probably should've come back sooner, though.

Actually, it’s best that you didn’t, [ Aerith tells him honestly, a hint of sadness in her eyes. She hates to say that about their home, but she wouldn’t have wished for anyone to come back here before it was safe. Even now, they’re not at 100%, but Sora has done so much for them since Maleficent turned it into Hollow Bastion… ]

It wasn’t safe here until recently, [ she explains. ] We couldn’t come back for a long time - not until Sora helped us. There are still some places that are too dangerous to go, but we’re working on it. Cloud and Leon and the others are doing what they can to keep the Heartless out of the city.

[ Bemused, she looks at their visitor. He doesn’t look familiar to her, but there were many more people around in the old Radiant Garden. It’s possible they never met. ] Who called them something different?

That's more the reason why I should've come back sooner, to help. [But what's done is done and he can't change that. All he can do now is help keep the city safe.

He's about to ask her how to even go about doing that when her words register. His eyes widen, and you'll have to forgive him for not answering your question Aerith.]

Did you say Cloud?

[That can't be, there's no way. He couldn't get his hopes up.]

[ Her expression turns to surprise, mingling with curiosity. Were they friends before, Aerith wonders? Or had they met while they were both wandering through the worlds on their own? ]

Yes. He was gone for a while, but he came back to help protect the town. You know him?

Yeah! I mean, uh, if he's the same Cloud I'm thinking of. Probably is, since it's not exactly a common name.

[And he still sounds a little in disbelief, even with the confirmation.]

We met back when I was training at the Coliseum but... [He trails off, quiet for a moment, the cheery expression turning momentary sad.] Stuff happened. I haven't thing him in years.

He's alright?

So you didn’t know him from before? [ she asks slowly, watching him. The way his expression changes makes her curious, but it doesn’t look like he wants to talk about it, so she doesn’t ask. Better to focus on the positive.

Instead, she offers him a smile. ]

He’s doing great. Still not very talkative, [ Aerith comments, frowning in mock disapproval, ] but he helps us a lot, when he’s around. He and Leon have been fighting off the Heartless in the Great Maw now and then, to make sure they don’t reach the town.

[ Tapping her chin thoughtfully, she asks, ] Are you going to stay for long? I could tell him you’re here the next time I see him, if you want.

our hearts will bring us together again

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