Aerith & Tifa

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith gave Zack an encouraging smile.
"I have a feeling... but we'll see."
She squeezed his hand back gently.
"Hungry?" she asked, tilting her head to the side a little.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack shook his head slowly.
"Not really." He said, giving her a feeble smile, he was still feeling horribly under the weather.

((If you wanna control Tseng you can bring him in whenever you want... but zack's gotta have a chance for a big protective reaction XD))

[The Painted Lady]

((Aren't Aerith and Tseng familiar with each other though? Aerith won't feel so threatened by him... As compared with someone else anyways... Although, it would be a bit more interesting... Okay, now I'm getting off track with the OOC >.>))

"Okay," Aerith said softly, not going to push the point.
She removed her hand gently from his to finish tying her hair, holding her ribbon out to him once she was finished.
"Help me tie it in?" she asked, smiling.

[Tifa Lockhart]

((Then have some shinra infantry lead by Reno, like in FF7... there has to a Turk there, and Zack knows them all))

Zack smiled as he took the ribbon from Aerith, regarding it with fond memory. He'd bought it to commemorate their first meeting... he'd chased a kid around the slums all morning just to get his wallet back...
"Hold still." He said gently reaching up the secure the ribbon in place as he had so many years ago.
"Is this how you want it?" He asked once he was done, chuckling as he said exactly what he'd said the first time.

[The Painted Lady]

((Sure thing... maybe they should interrupt a little tender moment somewhere along the line... I guess this would be it... >.> I'll do it next post or something xD ))

Aerith smiled, remembering too when Zack first tied the ribbon in her hair.
"Yup, this is great," she said, hand moving to touch the ribbon as she turned back around to face him again.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack tilted his head slightly as Aerith turned to face him, his eyes glittering with some of their old mischievous spark.
"Did i mention that you look nice in pink?" A wry smile broke out across his face, he was still surprised to find he'd won that little 'thing' between them, even if he hadn't known it for four years.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith blushed a little at Zack's words. She remembered calling his idea - what was it - 'silly', huh?
"I wanted to surprise you when you came back," she said quietly, not quite meeting his eyes.
Was it possible she was a little... embarrassed? >.>

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack laughed like he always used to, shaking his head as he did.
"All my idea are 'silly' till you try 'em huh?" He teased, fighting off the urge to tweak her nose playfully, "I'd have definitely been surprised."
His expression calmed a little, but he fought away the dropping sensation, "But really, it looks nice on you."

[The Painted Lady]

Though still a little embarrassed, Aerith smiled and looked back up to Zack. She was silent for a moment, admiring his sky-blue eyes that she had missed so much. It seemed she was just about to say something when she was interrupted by the sound of the church doors flying open. Out of reflex, Aerith moved a little closer to Zack as a lanky red-head strolled in, leading a small group and tapping his metal rod on the back of his shoulders.

[Tifa Lockhart]

In an instant Zack was on his feet and the Buster sword was pulled from its spot in the floor, he tugged Aerith behind him where she would be safer and raised the buster sword up, point aimed at the Turk's chin.
"Don't come any closer." He snarled, his voice more aggressive than Aerith would have ever heard before, "My threat to Cissnei stands with you too Reno."

There was a rustle amongst the bed of flowers as Cloud stood, not moving from his spot amongst the flowers as he surveyed the situation with his strange eyes, which were now filled with a rather childlike panic.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith's eyes darted over to Cloud, worried about how vulnerable he seemed over there by himself. She gestured for him to quickly move to her, trying not to panic herself.

Reno was a little wide-eyed, caught off-guard as he came faced with a weapon. This wasn't right - wasn't he supposed to just be taking some Ancient back to headquarters? That sounded a lot less deadly than what he faced now. His eyes travelled up the blade, even more surprised to see who wielded it.
"Woah man, you're actually alive," he said, raising his hands a little.
The soldiers behind him looked a little nervous at this new development.
"I'm not here for you. We searched those damn plains for you to get you outta there. Tseng was chucking a bit of a fit."
He nodded to Aerith.
"My orders are to bring her back."

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack was panting, trying to conceal the effort it was taking him to stand up and keep his sword raised. He took one hand off the hilt to hold it out in front of Aerith, shaking his head. The buster sword quivered in his weakened grasp.
"Over my dead body..." He panted, eyes darting to Aerith's expression and his mind wandering to Cloud somewhere behind them, "I won't give her over to be another guinea pig for Hojo." He spat the name, his mind reeling back over the events he and Cloud had endured.
His vision pitched all of a sudden and his stance faltered briefly before he quickly regained his composure.
"And how do i know you wont spill about me 'n' Cloud anyway?"

Cloud was frozen in the spot, the uniforms of the men with the red-head frightened him, like some kind of deja vu inspired nightmare.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith bit her lip as she looked to Zack. His condition was painfully obvious to her. She would rather be taken, than let him be hurt. Again. Gently, she grabbed hold of the material of his vest loosely in her fingers.
"Zack..." she whispered, scared.

Reno shrugged at Zack's question.
"Tseng wouldn't do anything about it. And Cissnei probably would kill me. If she was still around, that is."
But Reno frowned, obviously annoyed at this glitch in his mission. He lowered his hands. The SOLDIER wasn't looking on top of his game. He could probably take him on... And if not, well, he could always bail too. >.>
"I have my orders," he said, flicking his wrist to extend the rod.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack's head span again as Reno mentioned Cissnei not being around. What had happened to her? Last time he'd seen her she'd tried convincing his parents that hey were getting married :\
All his dulled senses went on alert as the red-headed Turk readied his baton and instantly his other hand was back on the Buster sword, helping to lift the hefty blade.
He shifted his stance so he was ready to fight, the broad blade prepared to parry any blows. He didn't want to hurt a former comrade, but his freedom and the protection of the ones he loved was more important.
"Someone will die here Reno." he said, snarling through his teeth, "Are you gonna risk it?"
He then glanced over at Aerith, his expression apologetic, "Go back to Cloud." He whispered.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith hesitated for a brief moment before reluctantly letting go of Zack. She figured it best to do what he said, and ran back over to Cloud. She had never seen Zack fight - the closest she'd came was when an Angeal clone invaded her church - and she didn't like the idea of having to see it now.

Reno didn't plan to die, just test the waters. Self-preservation was very high on his list. The soldiers that accompanied him though obediently and quickly readied themselves as the Turk lunged, rod over his shoulder ready to strike.