TALK ABOUT something you would never want to hear coming from the mouth of one of the very few people you actually care about in your life. And in the Turk’s case the list was very little, and with always a possibility for it to get smaller & smaller each and every single day. Emotions made one weak, she was supposed to know this and she did. She had known this for years. But was it even possible to just stop caring, all of a sudden? How could someone do that? People were not machines, one could not just simply decide not to… feel anymore.She was used to see SOLDIERs as some invincible, powerful beings that could do everything and never get hurt. To hear those words from Zack himself, Zack the Puppy, the cheerful and always positive Zack Fair, made the impact even stronger.
“Then don’t.” How silly. As if that was something he had control over. “I don’t care what you need to do, just… come back alive.” The glint of concern in her brown eyes would be the only emotion she would allow herself to display right now. At least while in front of him. “You still owe me a drink after that last assignment we did together. And I swear I’ll never forgive you if you die before then!” No need to point out that was probably the last thing on her mind right now.
“There’s one thing I’ve realized from the entire experience:” he said softly, his hands reaching to warm his arms despite the Gongagan heat. “I must be invincible.” The tone was hopeful, almost if he was teasing a child. They both knew it would be a miracle if he made it out of all of this free and alive.
By now the Turks had investigated the manor, found the copies of the examination records--the tests done on the two escaped subjects. He was sure she had known all about the S-Cell research, the examinations performed on them, and the absolute torture both of the ‘escaped subjects’ had endured.
But he didn’t like it when she looked at him with that soft concern she rarely showed. He didn’t like it when she finally did look at him and think, ‘well maybe he won’t be here next week’. The truth of it was that he may not be. Eventually these guys would catch up. Eventually he’d be too tired to keep fighting. Eventually...he’d wear out. Zack was starting to wear out now. Why else would he make the mindless decision to return home--see his family, breathe the air of his own hometown, see the faces of the people he’d known since his birth? Zack had been desperate for any swatch of comfort. And Cissnei had really done him a favor by stopping him from revealing his location to his own mother. It would have all been over if he had.
He’d wanted to touch her and his hand hesitated between them. Cissnei had been the only person who really had taken the time to know his life. She’d known more of his secrets than Aerith had--and she’d saved his life more times than he could count. Even now, when she was supposed to capture on sight, she was showing him the most incredible loyalty by letting him go free.
Zack had fallen in love with her at one point in his life, knowing full and well that the reckless crush would never go anywhere. He’d never pursued it. Turks didn’t get into that mess for obvious reasons.
Zack reached to pat her shoulder and turned to walk back to where he’d parked the Hardy Daytona.
“Sure--” He laughed, reaching to adjust the body that was in the sidecar of the bike. The blond tossed his head to one side and Zack caught it and eased it forward so he wouldn’t get hurt in transport. He considered his timeline and ultimately decided on a vague point that they’d eventually forget. “Three years from today let’s meet back up--when this has smoothed over--and I’ll drink you under the table.” Zack snorted at his own joke, his eyes going bright. “Then I’ll die.” He shrugged. “Of liquor poisoning.”
He didn’t know why, but he had planned on actually keeping the promise.
For the first time in four years, he felt hopeful.
