right in your face [zack]

[Cloud Strife]

Cocoon was a place he had never seen before. Technology way above the Golden Saucer, and people running about like there isn't a care in the world. Even suspended way above ground, they were still living in peace and prosperity despite what happened to their city recently. This place doesn't seem affected by the distortion of multiple cities merging into one, huge world that seems currently nameless. Crystal City; where the so-called 'leader' is located, would watch the people live on a new life with a satisfied smile across his lips. There was no such thing as a person trying to switch to an entirely new atmosphere if their lungs were already made for the original. He kept the blank, emotionless expression on his face as he adjusted his black goggles with his gloved hands, the six swords safely on his back by using a harness. Amongst the crowd, you would say that he was the one that seemed to be the tallest, considering that he grew quite a lot since he was 5'7 years ago. Here, no one noticed you because they wanted to get done with things as quickly as possible. They did not care about anyone else; as long as their children were fed and as long as they were alive. Nothing else mattered. He could quite relate to them, seeing that he was considered an outcast by the children of Nibelheim.
Shaking his head of that thought, the blond haired male pushed through the crowd, muttering words of apology to the people that fell down, and helped some get up.

Sooner or later, he was standing in front of a huge water fountain. It wasn't as much crowded as back to where he was earlier, but it had it's share of people. His mako infused eyes looked through the water, moving back and forth along the waves that danced with a mind of it's own. If he was water, then he wouldn't of been in this mess. Water moves gracefully on it's own without being blocked nor bothered by anything. He was bothered by many things. He didn't know a lot of stuff about himself, and was constantly trying to figure out the questions and putting together the puzzle pieces so he could be complete. Ever since the death of Zack and Aerith, he couldn't quite find if he was himself or not. Sometimes, he even mistook himself as Zack, the man that gave him the Buster Sword. He didn't have that with him at the moment; it was at the cliff in Midgar, overlooking and welcoming the souls that go into the afterlife. Ah, if only he had it; he would feel quite connected with himself, and wouldn't be worried about it. Sticking one of his hands into his pockets, he slowly tilted his head to the right, bringing it back up as he saw a person's reflection in the water. It strangely seemed familiar; it looked so much like Zack. Too much like Zack.

[Zack Fair]

Zack had nearly traveled across three continents in the span of a few weeks. He didn't really remember a time that he had spent more than one night in the same town. He was obviously looking for something; the Crystal City. As far as he had been, he was pissed that he hadn't found it yet. This 'crystal city' was home to the men that had tried to kidnap him for some reason or another, and he wasn't going to stop looking until he found out what in the hell they were thinking. From what information he had gathered since coming back to life about a month ago was that something crazy happened to the Lifestream, and it threw a bunch of worlds together. Zack didn't yet know the complete damage, but after looking across Iquoto and Mahara, he knew that lands from several worlds all smacked into one. He'd stumbled across Midgar and that hurt, because it was...all ruined.

And here he was, almost to the border of Mahara, though a floating land high above had caught his attention. After some poking around, he managed to worm his way onto he ship from the land up to the world. The people inside were colorful, and one thing in general; unaffected. Other cities were ruined, full of people constantly looking over their shoulder. These people still let their kids play in the street. People spoke loudly and happily about the every-day... men and women held hands and went on dates. No one was scared...it was almost as if no one had even noticed that anything had happened.

Which blew Zack's mind. Who could they not noticed they weren't in the same place anymore?! Zack listened around and caught the name of this place; Cocoon. It was some sort of paradise in the sky. It seemed to him, however, that it was more of a prison. These people were ignorant in their riches while thousands, maybe millions, of people suffered below them. Zack bristled angrily. He glared at a passerby like it was all his fault. After the man ran off in the opposite direction of where he was going, Zack sighed. No, it wasn't the civilians fault, it never was. It was the organization in charge. Zack had half a mind to sort it all out, but what was one person's word against a government, or whatever ruled over these people?

It was useless.

He sagged against a fountain, which was the closest thing of a seat near him, and put his head in his hands. What was he to do, then? From what he gathered getting off the planet was a lot harder than getting on, and if that was the case, then what was Zack going to do in the meantime? He had since run out of gil, (it still urked him that he had come back to life with full pockets), and didn't know how these people functioned. Did one need an ID card to get a job? Was it illegal to plead for some money on the street? Would he be detained for not wearing the right clothes? He only had his SOLDIER first class uniform to wear, so he did stick out like a sore thumb. He was obviously some sort of military personnel, but he could tell from everyone's wary glances that they had nothing like it on Cocoon. He turned away from the street then, his thigh lay on the fountain side, with that same foot rested on his knee. He looked into the water for a long time, trying to get his thoughts in order. His blue gaze kept glaring up at him and he soon gave up. He looked up and around him for a while, taking in the faces of those standing about the fountain. A little girl flipped in a shiny gil and he watched it arch, but as it started to fall, he caught sight of a face he had never considered seeing here. The gil was long forgotten as he stared at Cloud Strife. There was no doubt in Zack's mind that it was him, even if he seemed taller, older, and was dressed in different clothes. All of those things were sure to change over the course of however many years had passed since Zack's death, so seeing him look different wasn't surprising. The hair was the same, and his....presence was the same, if not a bit more reserved here. Zack didn't know what to do first. He wanted to run across the fountain and hug his long lost best friend, but that would bring them unwanted attention, but walking around the fountain seemed like it would take too long.

"Cloud!" He called with one hand cupped around his mouth so the sound would carry across the fountain and roar of the street goers.

[Cloud Strife]

He saw the face of Zack Fair in the water ripple into pieces as a little girl threw gil into the water, and heck; he was a little bummed out. He slowly sat down, making sure that the swords on his back won't touch the water, or else they will get rusted. He didn't want to do that; he went through a lot of trouble as it is -- trying to obtain this weapon was harder than defeating Kadaj. He dug into his pockets and took out his cellphone, and right when he was about to dial Tifa's cellphone number, his ears picked up a voice. It was directed towards him. Something that was so familiar. The image of Zack Fair's face in the water told him something: someone, or something that sounded like Zack, was here, and he somewhat knew his name. They probably heard of him? That's very unlikely. He stood up and turned around, looking directly at where the voice was coming from. At this moment, it was as if all hell broke loose. He dropped the lovely cellphone onto the ground and heard it being trampled on, but he was still focused on staring at the Zack Fair. He couldn't believe it! He saw Zack bleeding to death from numerous bullet wounds where the Buster Sword was now standing, but there he was, with his hands cupped over his mouth, and a sudden wave of memories swept over him. He did not want to remember what happened in the past -- how he first met Zack in the snowy mountains, and the moment when he took off his grunt helmet and introduced himself. It was like a whole other world. ".... Zack!?" He called, blinking slowly as he walked over to where his best friend was. "You're supposed to be... dead." He replied, going back to his reserved state rather than the surprised one a while ago.

There were no words that can describe the joy that swept through Cloud Strife at the moment he saw that Zack was alive, and today, he felt like smiling, so he did. Anyone would've done so if they met one of their idols that came back from the dead. In Cloud's First Class modified uniform along with the six swords on his back, he didn't change at all. Cloud had a lot of things he had to talk to Zack about. The death of Aerith. He didn't know what happened when he died, and he still thought that Aerith was alive today. If he told him something like that, then he'll probably be depressed. He didn't want to see his friend depressed like that. But if the situation comes by for, then he'll have to tell him the horrible truth, if he likes it or not.

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[Zack Fair]

Zack let out a little happy woop as Cloud looked back at him. Surprise was obvious on his face, though he pushed that back down quickly. Ah, the kidder was still reserved as Zack remembered. His clothes were strange, now that he got to looking. They nearly resembled his own, but modified....like Genesis had done to his own uniform, and Sephiroth. Fear sank in Zack's heart. Was Cloud still with SHINRA? Was he a SOLDIER? Would he try to...to kill Zack? The black haired man didn't know if he could take something like that. As the blond walked around the fountain to him, Zack caught sight of some odd looking weapons on his back. He wasn't shocked to see the Buster Sword was gone, because he had seen Angeal with it not to long ago; Angeal was the rightful owner of the sword anyhow. But there was still fear in his heart, even after the man came to a stop in front of him. He was older, he could tell up close. As in, a handful of years older. How long had Zack been dead...? Six...seven years? He hoped not, that would be terribly. Aerith might actually be mad at him.

That totaled to at least thirteen years that he had been away from her. With a sinking feeling he realized that she would have moved on a long time ago. He remembered the letters Tseng had shown him and that her last letter had said she hoped he was happy. He felt like crying then...but he didn't. Cloud was here and he needed to focus on that. "Yeah...for a little while, I suppose. But not since the worlds all smacked together."[/b] Zack said with no reservation. Cloud was a smart kid and Zack had no doubt that he knew a bit about it as well. Cloud couldn't really have come to Cocoon without realizing something was different.

The man looked sad in front of him. Something bad must have happened. Zack rubbed the back of his head. He wanted to know exactly what all he had missed, but something told him that Cloud didn't want to talk about it. He clapped the man on the upper arm with a smile. "It's great to see you. What's it been....ten years?"[/b] He asked questioningly, for Cloud to confirm with a number, because he had no idea and wanted to know. "How is..uh...everything?"[/b]

Zack didn't like that he was so unacquainted with his best friend. He didn't know if he was married or had kids, or if he still worked for Shinra, or anything at all. He had no idea what he was like nowadays, or what brought him to Cocoon. Cloud, no doubt, had a lot of questions for him as well, but standing out in the open wasn't really the best place for such a conversation. He glanced around and located a bar sign hanging over a door not too far away, he inclined his head. "How about we head over there?[/b] He asked after he had tipped his head.

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