[Zack had just said had been scared. Cloud fully expected him to say that it was because of what he saw. Because of what Cloud had done in his wolfish form and his inability to control his rage and resentment even if it hadn't actually been Sephiroth. That he'd been so overcome by it all that he'd lashed out violently, just barely able to hold onto enough of his humanity to shift back.
He would understand if that was enough to get Zack to push him away. In fact, it would make sense if anyone decided to distance themselves from him for their own safety. Cloud would have even preferred that, not wanting to hurt others especially when he still couldn't explain what had happened. When he didn't know if it would happen again nor if he could control it—control himself again.
But then Zack's words throw him for a loop. His neck snaps up and he stares dumbfounded, an audible gasp the only thing that comes out of his mouth.
Friends. Even if Cloud was growing accustomed to it, the words still sounded foreign to his ears. That didn't make sense. Not after everything that had happened before he'd passed out. Why would anyone want to remain friends with him? Or even been close to him for that matter?
And yet, Zack was there when he woke up, looking like he hadn't slept in his own bed in days. Cloud regarded himself, looking back at his hands, not seeing remnants of the blood that caked them after the battle. He imagines that his body still had bruises healing over from the fight, but he seemed cleaned up as far as he could tell. Had all that been Zack's doing as well?
He fists the sheet covering him, his lips set in a straight line, nearly a pout.]
We're not monsters, Cloud. [ He answers simply, calmly. There's a glint in his eye as he leans a little closer, making sure that the blonde could see that he meant those words.
It took himself a lot of convincing to even get to a point where he believed those words, truly. But now they came out as easily as breathing. What Cloud did was unconventional, for sure, but bad? Not in the least. And Zack was going to make sure he believed that, too. ]
You saved me out there. I have you to thank, because if you hadn't done what you did... well, I dunno what could have happened.
[ He could remember his consciousness slipping. He was trying to hold on, trying to protect. But in the end... ]
[When Zack shifts to move closer, Cloud slowly looks up for the blanket, steeling himself to look back at Zack. When their eyes meet, he holds Zack's gaze, trying his damnedest not to look away once more.
Somehow, both Zack's reassuring words and the look that came along with it began to still Cloud's nerves, at least for the moment.
Letting out a breath, a small smirk grows on his face and a bit of his signature cockiness finds itself bubbling onto the surface.]
It's not like I was going to leave you out to dry. Not sure if you can handle Sephiroth on your own.
[ Zack will hold that gaze for as long as he can. He'll watch with the same amount of intensity until... that.
Cloud, you asshole. ]
Huh!? Oh, c'mon!
[ If he was well enough for that remark, he was well enough for this! Zack will lean forward the rest of the way and stretch his hand over Cloud's head, giving it and all those spiked hairs a good ruffle! ]
Cut me some slack! I'm getting all rusty with how much food Tifa keeps bringin' over.
[Well, he certainly didn't expect that. Having just woken up after a week in bed, he didn't have the strength to push Zack's hand away. Nor did he want to. It felt... strangely comforting. But that was something he would never really admit to Zack aloud.]
I don't think she'd appreciate hearing that her food's making you fat either.
[Was that a laugh? You're just imagining that.]
Is there any left? Or did you eat it all while I was sleeping?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
spikyheaded) wrote2023-03-05 09:18 pm
no subject
He would understand if that was enough to get Zack to push him away. In fact, it would make sense if anyone decided to distance themselves from him for their own safety. Cloud would have even preferred that, not wanting to hurt others especially when he still couldn't explain what had happened. When he didn't know if it would happen again nor if he could control it—control himself again.
But then Zack's words throw him for a loop. His neck snaps up and he stares dumbfounded, an audible gasp the only thing that comes out of his mouth.
Friends. Even if Cloud was growing accustomed to it, the words still sounded foreign to his ears. That didn't make sense. Not after everything that had happened before he'd passed out. Why would anyone want to remain friends with him? Or even been close to him for that matter?
And yet, Zack was there when he woke up, looking like he hadn't slept in his own bed in days. Cloud regarded himself, looking back at his hands, not seeing remnants of the blood that caked them after the battle. He imagines that his body still had bruises healing over from the fight, but he seemed cleaned up as far as he could tell. Had all that been Zack's doing as well?
He fists the sheet covering him, his lips set in a straight line, nearly a pout.]
Even after all that? Even after what I did?
no subject
It took himself a lot of convincing to even get to a point where he believed those words, truly. But now they came out as easily as breathing. What Cloud did was unconventional, for sure, but bad? Not in the least. And Zack was going to make sure he believed that, too. ]
You saved me out there. I have you to thank, because if you hadn't done what you did... well, I dunno what could have happened.
[ He could remember his consciousness slipping. He was trying to hold on, trying to protect. But in the end... ]
So thanks. Really.
no subject
Somehow, both Zack's reassuring words and the look that came along with it began to still Cloud's nerves, at least for the moment.
Letting out a breath, a small smirk grows on his face and a bit of his signature cockiness finds itself bubbling onto the surface.]
It's not like I was going to leave you out to dry. Not sure if you can handle Sephiroth on your own.
no subject
Cloud, you asshole. ]
Huh!? Oh, c'mon!
[ If he was well enough for that remark, he was well enough for this! Zack will lean forward the rest of the way and stretch his hand over Cloud's head, giving it and all those spiked hairs a good ruffle! ]
Cut me some slack! I'm getting all rusty with how much food Tifa keeps bringin' over.
no subject
I don't think she'd appreciate hearing that her food's making you fat either.
[Was that a laugh? You're just imagining that.]
Is there any left? Or did you eat it all while I was sleeping?