Zack Fair, SOLDIER 1st Class, and in the employ of the Shinra Electric Power Company. Recent events had led to his promotion, and his teacher, one Angeal Hewley, had gone missing. Shinra was ready to pronounce him dead, but Zack knew better. Angeal wouldn't disappear without good reason. Sephiroth himself had told Zack to just relax, but the passionate SOLDIER wasn't one to sit idly by if his friends needed help. To hopefully calm his nerves, Zack headed to the church in the Sector 5 slums. He always found peace there, and Aeris was usually found there too.
Making his way out of the Shinra Corporate Headquarters, Zack drew a few looks, the huge Buster Sword on his back, but his uniform giving him away as a Shinra Operative. In fact, the only person that stopped him was Tseng. The disheveled look of the Turk told Zack that something was up. He'd never seen the Turk in anything except a prim and proper look and attitude. In fact, if he had to guess, Tseng almost seemed... drunk?
"Heading to the church again?" Tseng asked, his insight quite keen.
"Of course. I haven't seen Aeris in a few days and I think I should check on her." Zack replied. He had no reason to hide anything.
"She's actually doing very well. That flower wagon you built for her is really helping her pull in some money." Tseng informed him.
Zack had to admit that made him feel good. "Still keeping an eye on her then?" he asked, knowing the answer.
"It's my job. I told you that." Tseng said, now walking with him. The two men were given a wide berth, and it wasn't long before the church was in sight.
At one time the church had been magnificent, and even now that old spectacular architecture could be seen, though all around it was the ruins of the slums underneath the plate, the people with money living above those without.
"This is where we part company." Zack said, really not wanting Tseng to come with him inside. He valued his time with Aeris far too much.
"Be careful." was all Tseng said before he took his leave, the helicopter employed by the Turks setting down in a cloud of dust and then lifting off with Tseng aboard. Zack turned toward the church and pushed open the door, slipping inside. The sunlight streamed in through the hole in the ceiling, and Zack called out.
"Aeris?"<|im_end|>
The days beneath the Midgar plates within Sector 5 were different when she could anticipate something special. It wasn't that the stale fluorescent lights became brighter or the air less stagnant; the people remained as bitter as ever. But her heart was happy and excited. And the testament to that mood was actually palpable in the only place where life did exist beneath the slums - within the quiet, abandoned church.
Within the quiet, abandoned church, the skylight that marked his first visit continued to pour its gentle warmth over a fertile patch of yellow flowers. She had been seeing him for a year now, but always prepared for him and considered every time special. She wore the pink ribbon he had bought for her on their first meeting, and since then had also acquired pink slipper shoes as he had suggested more of its colors in her wardrobe.
While she waited in the church for Zack to arrive, the girl tended to those flowers, humming to herself and the plants as the watering can showered the new blooms. They filled the entire church with their fragrance.
When he arrived, the calm air shifted ever so slightly, a tremor that rippled softly through the open space like a petal upon the water. A familiar voice soon flowed through, and from her stooping, Aeris stood straight before whirling to see him at the tall doors, the end of her spiral braid flipping over her shoulder.
Zack! She said it as if she was surprised to see him. In part she was, not having known what time he would actually come. The watering can was set down quickly, just a bit of it sloshing over the edge to catch the edge of her pleated white skirt. She ran down the aisle to greet him, skillfully avoiding all the little holes and upturned planks of wood she had navigated for years.
Without any more warning than her bee-lining, she leaped at him to catch him around the neck in a full embrace. I missed you soooo much! Her ear pressed to his before her head turned to plant a kiss on his cheek. You missed me too, right? How long can you stay this time?<|im_end|>