[The tension in the air was palpable. Still, Cloud wasn't sure what to think about everything that was happening. His arrival back in the dream world had been sudden and his memories of Songerien clashed with his own memories of home. While it wasn't enough to trigger one of his headaches, a looming sense of overwhelm continued to hover over him, making him second guess his next move.]
How long was I gone?
[Straight to the point, hoping that it would give him some sense of ease. And, perhaps, a better understanding on the situation. If it had been at least a few months, or even weeks, he might not even have to address how the two had left things. But if it were for a shorter amount of time? Cloud would deal with it then.
He doesn't close the distance between them any further, but he at least keeps his eyes trained on Zack's.]
[ Zack wants to walk forward, he really does, but his legs are currently losing battle with the war going on inside of his head. So instead he'll cross his arms over his chest, leaning his weight against the door in order to hold himself up. Because it makes it look super casual, right? That he wasn't completely freaking the fuck out the entire time Cloud was gone.
He's being cool. So cool. ]
A week. [ He answers flatly, a little more rushed from his throat than he intended it to be. So he'll quickly clear it as if to recover, but there's little mistaking the absolute drip of desperation that hides behind the one word sentence. ]
[That's a lot shorter than he originally expected. As if he took a short trip and not disappeared completely from the world. Mirroring Zack, he crosses his arms over his chest, shifting his weight from one foot to another, just to do something. Anything.]
Didn't even think I would be back.
[Cloud mulls his thoughts over in his head. This time, he can't even look at Zack, knowing what he knows now from his time back in Gaia. And of the tragedy of his friend's fate.]
Couldn't even remember this place while I was gone.
[ His face visibly scrunches up at that, but there's a guttural chuckle in the depths of his throat. Couldn't even remember this place? He knew Cloud's memories were always a little hazy, but he'd never expect a complete wipe from being gone. Maybe it was because of this world? Maybe because of what this place even was.
It just got weirder and weirder.
Fira's whine surfaces from the tension as she begins to roll over Cloud's foot, seeking more attention. It does give Zack the distraction he needed to finally pull himself away from the door, steading his feet. ]
I know this place ain't really real, but people still missed ya.
[It wasn't like he meant to forget it. One moment, he had gone back home, leaving Midgar to follow Sephiroth's trail with no recollection of the months prior in Songerein. The next, he somehow found himself here, in the dream world once more remembering the time he spent here and all his experiences over the last few weeks.
But before a single word of protest could leave his mouth, Zack's next comment catches him off-guard.]
I—
[The mention of people missing him was enough of a surprise, but as Zack went on, naming Tifa then finally himself, Cloud could feel the blush creep on his cheeks, slowly spreading across his face. He tears his gaze away from Zack unable to meet his eyes, not knowing what to do with himself.
Especially after they had left things the night of Zack's confession. Especially knowing what he know now from their world.
He tries to cover his cheeks with one hand, eyes flitting over to Zack for the briefest of moments before looking away again.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[The tension in the air was palpable. Still, Cloud wasn't sure what to think about everything that was happening. His arrival back in the dream world had been sudden and his memories of Songerien clashed with his own memories of home. While it wasn't enough to trigger one of his headaches, a looming sense of overwhelm continued to hover over him, making him second guess his next move.]
How long was I gone?
[Straight to the point, hoping that it would give him some sense of ease. And, perhaps, a better understanding on the situation. If it had been at least a few months, or even weeks, he might not even have to address how the two had left things. But if it were for a shorter amount of time? Cloud would deal with it then.
He doesn't close the distance between them any further, but he at least keeps his eyes trained on Zack's.]
no subject
He's being cool. So cool. ]
A week. [ He answers flatly, a little more rushed from his throat than he intended it to be. So he'll quickly clear it as if to recover, but there's little mistaking the absolute drip of desperation that hides behind the one word sentence. ]
Thought you'd gone and poofed forever.
no subject
Didn't even think I would be back.
[Cloud mulls his thoughts over in his head. This time, he can't even look at Zack, knowing what he knows now from his time back in Gaia. And of the tragedy of his friend's fate.]
Couldn't even remember this place while I was gone.
no subject
[ His face visibly scrunches up at that, but there's a guttural chuckle in the depths of his throat. Couldn't even remember this place? He knew Cloud's memories were always a little hazy, but he'd never expect a complete wipe from being gone. Maybe it was because of this world? Maybe because of what this place even was.
It just got weirder and weirder.
Fira's whine surfaces from the tension as she begins to roll over Cloud's foot, seeking more attention. It does give Zack the distraction he needed to finally pull himself away from the door, steading his feet. ]
I know this place ain't really real, but people still missed ya.
[ He'll admit, casting a glance to Cloud. ]
Tifa missed ya.
[ Annnnd then he'll drop it again. ]
... I missed ya.
no subject
But before a single word of protest could leave his mouth, Zack's next comment catches him off-guard.]
I—
[The mention of people missing him was enough of a surprise, but as Zack went on, naming Tifa then finally himself, Cloud could feel the blush creep on his cheeks, slowly spreading across his face. He tears his gaze away from Zack unable to meet his eyes, not knowing what to do with himself.
Especially after they had left things the night of Zack's confession. Especially knowing what he know now from their world.
He tries to cover his cheeks with one hand, eyes flitting over to Zack for the briefest of moments before looking away again.]
After just a week?