Aerith & Tifa

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith stopped and looked up when Cloud spoke, smiling again when she realised what he offered her.
"Thank you Cloud," she said, placing her cloth back in the bowl to take the bandages from the boy's hands.
Placing them in her lap, Aerith seemed hesitant, looking at Zack for a moment, before unbuckling his pauldron with gentle fingers to remove it from his shoulders. She blushed inwardly at the thought of what Zack would say if he were conscious, but there was no point putting bandages over his clothes now, was there?

[Tifa Lockhart]

Cloud retreated back again, sitting and watching like he had before as Aerith removed what remained of Zack's shirt in order to bandage his wounds properly.

If Zack had been awake, he no doubt would have found some sort of mischievous satisfaction out of the fact that a woman wanted to take his shirt off >.>

While he was ASLEEP no less.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith made a conscious effort not to look too much as she removed Zack's tattered SOLDIER vest. She wasn't going to grant him the satisfaction... even if he was out of it. >.>
With her delicate fingers, Aerith started gently wrapping the bandage around Zack's torso. She was careful not to tie it too tight, not wanting to put too much pressure on his tender ribs or bullet wounds, which would make him even more uncomfortable.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Cloud sat in silence as he watched Aerith finishing up her bandaging of Zack, time seemed to melt into obscurity as he sat there and Zack slept on, he didn't notice the light or the sounds or anything. It all didn't seem to matter. All his energy was focus on helping Zack wake up somehow, he was worried that maybe that fight had just pushed Zack a little too far over his limit.
He was just beginning to doze when he heard a groan come from Aerith and Zack's direction, he eyes darted up again and washed with relief as Zack's eyes opened up.

"Aerith? Cloud?" Zack said with alarm as he opened his eyes, worried that he'd passed out and Reno had taken Aerith anyway. He would have sat up if not for Aerith's arms and the intensified pain in his chest.
He relaxed when he caught sight of Aerith's sea-green eyes.
"Thank god..." he sighed, closing his eyes again for a moment before looking back at Aerith.
"Are you alright?"

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith breathed a sigh of relief as Zack woke, tightening her hold just a little as he tried to sit up. She didn't want him hurting himself.
"I'm fine," she assured quietly.
"Just really worried about you. You seem to have a knack for getting yourself hurt lately."
The look in her eyes suggested she felt extremely guilty.
"I'm really sorry Zack. I didn't think they'd actually come for me..."

[Tifa Lockhart]

"It's worth getting hurt... if you're protecting those you care about." Zack said with a weak smile giving a small cough which he covered with a hand
"Freedom's worth fighting for."

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith's eyes were still sad, despite Zack's words.
"I don't like seeing you like this though... it seems hardly fair."
She ran her fingers gently over his bandage.
"Is there anything you want? Food? Drink?..."

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack glanced to the side, his expression a little sad, and shook his head.
"No thanks." He politely declined her offer of food and drink.
It was then he noticed the top half of his uniform was missing and a crooked smile crossed his face. "Why Aerith i do believe my shirt is gone." He teased.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith blushed a little again.
"It had to come off for the bandages..." she said, trying to explain herself. She sounded strangely shy from her usual self.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack broke into a bright cheery laugh, his eyes glittering.
"Sure. But i bet you took your time bandaging huh?" He continued to chuckle and shook his head, "My dear Aerith i do believe you're red."

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith frantically worked on stopping her blush.
"Oh stop it," she said, giving his arm a pinch.
"Cloud can vouch for me, can't you Cloud?"

[Tifa Lockhart]

Cloud looked up and blushed a little when Aerith looked for his support. He didn't know whether to dob her in for the little bit of perving he DID see her do... or vouch that she was pretty casual about it all.
He settled for a middle way.
"Your ears were a little pink..." He murmured, toying with a loose splinter in the floorboard where he sat, "But i didn't really see you looking."

Zack simply laughed again. This felt like old times, just with the added company of his best friend.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith joined in with Zack's laughter now.
"My ears were not pink," she denied, but her voice was light-hearted.
"And you," she said, looking to Zack. "Be nice. I try to do something helpful and get paid out for it."

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack tried to stop himself laughing, but by now tears were in his eyes from it all.
"Ah Aerith. Be proud. You're the only girl who's ever taken my shirt off." He gave her a playful wink, his sky-blue eyes all a-glitter.

Cloud sat silently by the flower patch, not really getting what was so funny... nor finding the mood to laugh.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith bit the corner of her bottom lip to try and stop her own laughter.
"I'm sure you've been all-too-eager to oblige others in the past yourself," she teased back.