[ Though the walk to the terrace was not far, every step towards it felt like Zack was running a mile. He could feel the heaviness in his legs as he struggled to follow along, and the choking heat of the air surrounding them made hard to breathe.
She had every right to be angry. Every right to hate him and to never speak to him again.
To him, Tifa had only been an innocent bystander suddenly caught up and ultimately hurt by Sephiroth- by Shinra's actions. Her town and livelihood was compromised by a secret they chose to keep.
And, through proxy, one could say he was just as much at fault. He had followed Shinra, most times blindly, into situations deemed "classified". He was a SOLDIER. A project created by Shinra and a badge he had longed to wear ever since leaving home at such a young age.
But seeing Tifa's back to him, that same back that uttered those words to him years ago, made him only realize what an idiot he was. How he wasn't strong enough to protect her. How he wished he could have seen this coming.
...
He was pacing behind her when the curtains were closed as the rush of anxiety made it difficult for him to stand still. Hands pressed firmly to his hips, a frown large and full of regrets. ]
I... guess you could say that. [ The end of that night came as a daze to him. He remembered getting injured heavily. He remembered Cloud facing off against Sephiroth and defeating him. He could even remember how proud he felt that it was finally over... but there was something else, too. Whispers of scientists and his body too heavy to move. "Test subject" and laughter.
His world being in complete darkness.
Zack shakes his head violently to clear the thought. Instead he'll continue to pace, eyes averting to the ground and then to her back again. The process repeating time and time again. ]
Tifa, listen. [ He began, his voice low and honest. ] About that night... I'm sorry. I really am.
[ His fists clench tightly against his waist as he keeps that fiery distance between them. ] You don't have to forgive me, but I'm glad you're alright.
no subject
She had every right to be angry. Every right to hate him and to never speak to him again.
To him, Tifa had only been an innocent bystander suddenly caught up and ultimately hurt by Sephiroth- by Shinra's actions. Her town and livelihood was compromised by a secret they chose to keep.
And, through proxy, one could say he was just as much at fault. He had followed Shinra, most times blindly, into situations deemed "classified". He was a SOLDIER. A project created by Shinra and a badge he had longed to wear ever since leaving home at such a young age.
But seeing Tifa's back to him, that same back that uttered those words to him years ago, made him only realize what an idiot he was. How he wasn't strong enough to protect her. How he wished he could have seen this coming.
...
He was pacing behind her when the curtains were closed as the rush of anxiety made it difficult for him to stand still. Hands pressed firmly to his hips, a frown large and full of regrets. ]
I... guess you could say that. [ The end of that night came as a daze to him. He remembered getting injured heavily. He remembered Cloud facing off against Sephiroth and defeating him. He could even remember how proud he felt that it was finally over... but there was something else, too. Whispers of scientists and his body too heavy to move. "Test subject" and laughter.
His world being in complete darkness.
Zack shakes his head violently to clear the thought. Instead he'll continue to pace, eyes averting to the ground and then to her back again. The process repeating time and time again. ]
Tifa, listen. [ He began, his voice low and honest. ] About that night... I'm sorry. I really am.
[ His fists clench tightly against his waist as he keeps that fiery distance between them. ] You don't have to forgive me, but I'm glad you're alright.