Yuna, Aerith & Tifa

[The Painted Lady]

"Zack..." Aerith said softly, not looking away from Tseng.
"Is there somewhere we can sit down?"

[Yuna Braska]

Cloud lowered his head when he interpreted Zack's silent words. His fists curling up before relaxing to release a breath. He glanced over to the corner and walked over quickly to grab a couple of crates in which they can both sit down. Placing them down closer to them, he went stood near the computers.

Yuna walked into the dock of the Celsius and smiled happily at the site of the old airship. So many memories we on this ship, Yuna loved it. Buddy was on the deck of the airship when he spotted Tidus, Yuna and Paine coming into the busy air dock. There were dozens of people attending to the ship, checking it over and supplying it with equipment for the journey.
"Good to see you guys again, come aboard.. Rikku and Gippal are already in the bridge" Buddy yelled out from the ship signalling them with his hand. Yuna looked around the very busy dock and was very curious to how they got this dock station up and going so quickly. There was Al bed's that were checking over the surface of the side, there were some at the computers in the rooms that had clear windows out onto the platform high in the dock walls and there were many moving lifts up into the back end of the side, placing in supplies. everything seemed so advanced that she felt like she had gone forward in time. Spira had really changed.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Paine was doing her own survey of the launch area, admiring the technology Spira now possessed. She was also beginning to wonder whether or not this new world would be much like Spira. Would it be different? Hostile? Would there be jungles or deserts? It was obvious they spoke the same language as Spira, at least to some degree. Did they have natives like the Al Bhed were to Spira?
Deep down Paine was jittery with excitement, but it didn't show on her crystal calm surface.

Tifa stood and inconspicuously made her way over to Cloud, seeking his comfort and to comfort him.

Zack meanwhile gestured to Aerith.
"They're not seats but... this room wasn't really made for sitting."

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith took Tseng's hands in her own, which he gripped with a surprising tightness, leading him gently over to the crates. It broke her heart to see how obediently he followed, with slumped shoulders and a downcast face, sitting down the moment she urged him to. She kissed his cheek as she took a place beside him, feeling his body lean into hers the moment she had secured her arms around him again. She didn't say anything though; she knew Tseng wouldn't want to speak. As 'open' as he was being... or at least, as open as Tseng got, there was no way he would talk about what had happened and how he was feeling in front of everyone. Aerith looked up to Zack, pleading for assistance with her glassy green eyes.

"Of course those two are already there," Tidus grinned.
"Come on!" he said scooping Yuna up into a cradle-hold.
"Let's catch up."

[Yuna Braska]

Yuna laughed in delight when was scooped up by Tidus, wrapping her arms tightly around him as he sped towards the airship. She waved to Paine who was behind her before looking to Tidus. "Should we call and say goodbye to Lulu and Wakka first, they will kill us if we dont" Yuna said as she was carried in Tidus's arms.

Cloud did really want to stay in the room any longer, it was full of tension and perhaps Tseng wanted to speak with Aerith alone. He was looking distraught. Cloud looked to Tifa when began to creep closer with her teary eyes. Cloud paused for a moment before giving her a hug with an arm. He didn't like seeing Tifa like this, but Cloud felt bad that all he could do for her was give her a hug. He wanted to do more. "Do you need some space?" Cloud asked Aerith, wondering if it might be easier to get Tseng to talk if there were less people in the small crowded room.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack wasn't sure if anyone leaving was a good idea, the communications needed to be monitored, but Aerith and Tseng would tell someone if they heard anything while the others were gone.
He straightened from the wall and headed to the door, moving behind Aerith and Tseng so he could tightly squeeze the Turk's shoulder. It often hurt Zack a little that despite how long they'd worked together and been close friends Tseng still didn't feel he could talk to him.
He also felt mildly jealous of how close Aerith and Tseng were, but as long as Tseng had had Elena Zack hadn't felt threatened, he wasn't sure now.
But he left anyway, gesturing subtly for Tifa and Cloud to follow him. He wasn't sure if leaving is what Aerith had meant, but he didn't trust himself to say any reassuring words, he was sure they'd come out wrong and sound demotivating. So it was better, he felt, to leave and let Aerith comfort the broken Turk.

Tifa sobbed slightly and grabbed Cloud's hand, trying to drag him out gently after Zack.

[The Painted Lady]

The moment the door slid shut, Tseng's shoulders started heaving. Aerith started crying too as she wiped the tears that began flowing from his eyes.

"It's all my fault..." the Turk whispered.

"Of course not," Aerith soothed immediately.
"This is just some horrible... horrible thing that's happened and you did nothing to deserve or cause it."

Without warning, Tseng's arms wrapped around Aerith's waist in a death grip, desperate and tight. She felt him crying into her hair. It was incredibly disarming. In all her years of knowing Tseng, she had never seen him shed a tear. Yet here he was, breaking down in front of her. He had clearly loved Elena, more than anyone could have really known. There was no way she could ever tell him what she had heard at the Crater...

"We're going to stop this Tseng," she promised, holding him gently.
"We'll make sure this doesn't happen again."


Tidus huffed playfully.
"If we must... can't we do that from the ship though?" he whined.

[Yuna Braska]

Cloud followed Tifa and Zack out of the room and looked back at Aerith before the door closed on them. He looked to Zack with his hand still being held by Tifa. "Do we know anything else?" Cloud asked, trying to change the subject from the recently turned one. He didn't want to think of Elena or Tseng at the moment, even though it was making him down inside.

Yuna smiled and nodded. "Of course, we can't waste anytime." Yuna said before they eventually boarded the ship. They were just up in the engine room when they come aboard, and Yuna tried to get herself down to the ground. "I am able to walk" She said playfully.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack shook his head slightly, even Aerith hadn't told him everything.
"We don't really know much other than there is someTHING in the lifestream that's devouring all life on Gaia. We also know its sending out creatures to kill for it, they seem to be able to take any form, animal or human." He looked stressed, "it could be anyone."

Tifa just continued to sob quietly beside Cloud, clinging to his arm.

[The Painted Lady]

"She's really gone... That's it... Forever..." Tseng whispered.
"I never got the chance..."
His hold began to slacken.
"I never really told her just how much I loved her... I always put our job ahead of our relationship... Now I'll never be able to hold her again. I'll never be able to marry her... Who knows, maybe we could have had a family too... I'll never know now..."

Aerith pulled away a little, to wipe Tseng's tears away gently.
"Maybe not in this life," she said softly.
"But it's not forever... the Planet will re-unite you again."
Tseng opened his mouth to counter, but Aerith stopped him, holding a hand to his lips.
"Just trust me Tseng, please."

Tidus grinned, setting Yuna down gently.
"If you say so."

[Yuna Braska]

Rikku unsuccessful was trying to push Gippal out from the computer when Yuna and Tidus walked in. "Ohhh, move you tub of lard!" Rikku insulted. Gippal was refusing to budge as he contacted Nooj about the latest arrangements. Rikku gave him a punch to the arm and looked to Yuna. "Yunie! He wont move from my spot!" Yuna giggled lightly as she made her way to greet Buddy at the pit "you can wait five minutes Rikku can you?"[b/]
"Yer, but,. umm he! urggg!" Rikku complained before stomping off to sit in one of this other seats.
"You guys ready to take off soon?" Buddy asked turning from his drivers seat. "we are leaving as soon as Cid get's here."

Cloud frowned slightly and rubbed his hair in thought. " Help in on their way, perhaps it might be a little easier with more men on our side" Cloud said quietly knowing from what he has been told from squads was that these creatures were strong, and smart. He looked to Tifa and then back to Zack. " So what happens now?"

[Tifa Lockhart]

"Now we wait till that help gets here." Zack said, deciding impatiently that Aerith and Tseng had been long enough, he appreciated the fact that Tseng was grieving, but he still felt awkward about them being together, especially seeing as the turk had once had a thing for Aerith.
Zack didn't like feeling jealous, but he did. So he walked back through the door into the communications room and he found Aerith and Tseng holding each other in a way that made him double-take. He winced, trying not to rudely clear his throat at them, he hurried over to one of the consoles to busy himself with checking over the message they'd received, making sure it was logged for future access.

Paine took her station as they were onboard, silently and patiently waiting for them to get underway, she was secretly looking forward to their next big adventure together.

[The Painted Lady]

Tseng instantly pulled away from Aerith when Zack re-entered, quickly wiping his eyes on his suit sleeve. The Cetra sighed softly, taking Tseng's hand and stroking his cheek tenderly. The Turk wasn't quite as reserved as usual - there was a small element of emotional trust he had in Zack - but he had definitely closed up a little at his entrance.

"Zack..." Aerith said softly.
"Come here..." She watched Tseng tense up a little, knowing he might feel his masculine pride was being compromised by confiding in Zack.
"Please," she finished.

Tidus grinned.
"He shouldn't be long behind us," he replied to Buddy.
"We have to make a phone call first though..."

[Yuna Braska]

Cloud nodded and watched as Zack went back into the communications room. He stared at the door for a few moments, listening before he turned down to Tifa.
"Are you alright?" He asked as she was attached to his arm.

Yuna nodded in confirmation before quickly stealing Rikku's chair off Gippal the moment he was finished. She could hear her cousin whine in the background.
"Oh stop being such a child." Gippal complained to Rikku as he leaned lazily against the wall.
"I'm not a child!" Rikku yelled stomping over to him, before she spotted Paine in the corner of her eye. He screeched a high pitch squeal before running to her old Gullwing buddy. She hugged her friend tightly and began to bounce like a spring. "See now us three can pick on the guys!" Rikku said looking towards Gippal who was trying to get his hearing back.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Tifa sniffed and nodded slowly.
"I'm alright... just a little shocked that's all."

Zack paused by the computer for a moment, trying to fight away the desire to voice his anxieties about their attachment. He turned around and walked over to them, hands in his pockets.