ohmyarceus | May - June Test Drive Meme

Cloud hasn't noticed yet that Zack looks a little older, a little more tired, a little more worn down. This place is too strange, there are too many things to focus on, and the sight of not just a familiar face but the only friend Cloud has is too reassuring for him to look any deeper quite yet. Eventually, though...he'll see it.

Cloud shakes his head at Zack's antics and ridiculous pun, and he's so busy being annoyed with the Swablu that by the time he notices Zack's taking a picture of him, it's too late. "Wait--oh, come on..." The Pokemon titters lightly as if it finds this funny, and Cloud facepalms with a quiet groan.

After a moment, though, he tilts his head quizzically. "Wait, where'd you get a second one?"

Zack decides that despite the initial shock and realization of this new world and seeing his best friend, he doesn't mind it. He gets a second chance of life and so does Cloud it seems. He knows Cloud deserves it, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Seeing him happy helps him smile more naturally instead of the fake one from earlier.

"Oh you mean Grim? Grim I guess was my starter. Little dude just appeared and likes to hide in my hair. Bidoof was just really cute and wanted to join me after I fed it some of my food." Both pokemon in his arms responded, the tiny brodoof wiggling and grim creepily crawling out of Zack's embrace to sit back on his shoulder. Grim kept staring at Cloud.

"I heard we can have more too. I'm a bit partial to the cute ones, I mean look at these two they are the cutest!" He titled his head to nizzle Grim who nuzzled back while still staring at Cloud. Brodoof he gave a kiss on his nose and the pokemon proceeded to sneeze right in his face. "...Cute...really dude?"

Zack put brodoof down and tried searching his pockets for anything he could use to wipe his face. Upon finding nothing he instead just lifted his shirt up to use that. Completely forgetting this Cloud hadn't seen him shirtless before, at least not yet. "Are you just passing through or....did you maybe wanna travel together Spike?"

"Uh...I don't think that one likes me." Cloud aims a skeptical look at Grim. "And I wouldn't call that thing cute--"

He cuts himself off with a laugh as Zack gets a faceful of Bidoof snot. He's just starting to search his own pockets as a kind of half-assed apology for laughing when Zack just...lifts up his shirt to clean his face off, like that's a totally normal thing to do. Cloud tries not to stare, he really does, but how can he not?

It takes him a second to register that Zack asked him a question. "Huh?" Wait--shit. He hurriedly averts his gaze, failing miserably to play it cool. Great. "U-um...oh!" His face lights up. "Yeah, I'd like that."

The bird nesting in his hair burbles a happy agreement. "Nobody asked you," Cloud grumbles at it. "Maybe I can find another one of these things that isn't such a pain in the ass."

"Aww Grim is a sweetheart he's just shy is all. Isn't that right?" He gives it a scratch and it smiles and then hides itself in Zack's mane of hair, almost disappearing.

With a chuckle he noticed cloud staring at him and he almost waved a hand in front of him, unsure what caused cloud to zone out for a moment. "Sweet! The backwater experts are back together again!" He couldn't help but ruffle clouds hair at that. He'd forgotten how soft it was too.

"Seriously though we gotta name your bird. How about Cloud junior? Or oh! What about CJ?" Zack was happy, the happiest he'd genuinely been since he got here. It was the first time he really felt like his old self again. He couldn't help it, being around Cloud affected him like this.

"Uh-huh," Cloud says dubiously, watching Grim tuck itself away. What a weirdo.

He grins, though, at Zack's declaration. "From what I saw on the way here, there's plenty of backwater places outside the city, too. Should be all set no matter where we go--" He grunts when that hand comes down to ruffle his hair, resigned to Zack's neverending campaign to embarrass him in public. It's okay, though, because he secretly likes it.

"Cloud Junior? It's not my kid..." He reaches up to take the bird down off his head and look at it thoughtfully, then sighs. "Fine, guess CJ's not that bad. What do you think?" That last part's addressed to the Swablu, who coos cheerfully in approval.

With that settled, CJ takes to the air again to follow them from above. "Where to now? I was looking for a place to eat. You hungry?"

"Well maybe we can call one of those backwater places our new home." The words came out before he realized what he was saying. He could have meant it innocently though so he hoped Cloud wouldn't pick up on. Besides he had made a similar promise to his Cloud when they were on the run.

Zack's gonna count that as a win for him. CJ is basically just an abbreviation of Cloud Junior anyway. Regardless he thought it was cute that Cloud's first pokemon was a bird, it was so fitting that really it was just comedic.

He wrapped an arm around Cloud's back and pulled him closer. "Well I'm new here too so I don't know many places but I'm sure we can find something. I'm starving." He was being too touchy, he knew that but he couldn't help it. Last time he saw his cloud was when they were on the run for months and he hardly even said a few words let alone smiled. He missed his smiling best friend and he couldn't help but tease him. "Oh is this gonna be our first date?"

Maybe fortunately for Zack, Cloud takes what he says completely at face value - if they're traveling together in this weird new place, it only makes sense for them to stay in the same town.

CJ's official naming is basically a win for Zack, but that's nothing new - Cloud always has a hard time saying no to him.

But then Zack's putting an arm around him and practically hugging him again, which is definitely not a bad thing, just...unexpected.

And speaking of unexpected--

Cloud's eyes widen as he stammers something that isn't words. If Zack had said this kind of thing before, Cloud would have just assumed he was joking, but...the way Zack's been acting since they got here makes him think maybe it's...not a joke?

"I-is it?" he blurts out.

Perhaps Zack had won on the name but his own tease was biting him in the ass right now. Cloud was so incredibly flustered by the option of the date that it was even effecting him. Yeah he meant it as a joke but now he might hurt Cloud's feelings depending on his answer.

He let go of him for a moment, his own blush spreading on his face which he quickly hid by turning away. He had to keep his cool and laid back persona with cloud, he couldn't ruin that. Thinking about it he wouldn't mind an actual date with cloud, it was just still a little weird that this wasn't exactly his Cloud.

"I..ugh.." not knowing what to say,he looked at his pokemon for help. Grim didn't do much but glare a bit more at cloud and brodoof ran to the blonde and tugged on his pants hoping to be picked up, clearly not minding the smaller male.

Zack sighed and patted his face to calm himself down before turning to face cloud. He still had a pale pink to his cheeks. "If you're okay with it, than yeah it can be a date. It'll be my treat."

If he was honest, he had wanted to ask this of his Cloud back in Gaia. The plan was to become mercenaries together, live in some town ShinRa would never find them and than when Cloud was okay and safe he'd ask him on a date, hopefully many dates. This was a second chance of that, a safer place where he could feasibly try. Zack just hoped this Cloud would be up for it.

Edited 2022-06-20 20:32 (UTC)

Wait, wait, is Zack Fair blushing? Zack?? Cloud stares at him, barely even noticing the beaver thing tugging on his pant leg. Sorry, Zack, if you were looking to maintain your cool in front of Cloud, it's a little late for that.

"...you mean it?" This is hardly the first time Cloud's considered the possibility that maybe he'd like to date Zack, but he always assumed the SOLDIER was way out of his league. Besides, didn't he have a girlfriend or something back home? "You're not just messing with me, right?"

"Cloud I'm serious. Let's make this a date." Zack was still off his game from his own slip up but he was going to see it through. He was going to enjoy his second chance. "It's been on my mind for awhile. I just never thought I'd get a chance."

Brodoof frowned at not being picked up so he instead sat on Cloud's foot to be an annoyance. He was just trying to help his trainer have an excuse to be near the blonde he clearly liked.

Zack took Cloud's hand in his own and gave it a squeeze. "If you don't believe me I could kiss you, but I prefer that after a date if it's going well." He gave a wink. Mimikyu pouted at the two and slunk its way into Zack's pack to go hide in its pokeball.

Zack never thought he'd get a chance? In what universe would Cloud have ever said no? Cloud opens his mouth to say so, but then Brodoof is plopping down on his foot in a huff and Zack's holding his hand, and his face heats up again at this talk of kissing. Maybe this is all one big dream. Maybe any minute now, Cloud's alarm is going to go off and he'll wake up by himself in the barracks and try not to feel too embarrassed about this. But in the meantime...like hell is he going to pass up this opportunity.

He grips Zack's hand in return. "I-I believe you," he says hurriedly, not wanting Zack to think he's fishing for anything too soon, or anything like that. Then he chuckles at Grim going off to sulk. "What's his problem? Told you he didn't like me."

Cloud's words weren't a no but they also weren't a yes. Zack was about to press him about it but Grim distracted him. He reluctantly let go of Cloud's hand and took his backpack off. "Weird....he's never done that before. I'm gonna have a talk with him later." Truly he had no idea why Grim was acting this way, he never went in his pokeball. Brodoof didn't seem to have a problem with Cloud, in fact it seemed Brodoof actually really liked Cloud so why didn't Grim?

After checking the poleball in his bag he zipped it up and put it back on, his attention fully on Cloud once more. "Sorry about that. Sooo...." He stalled for a moment. "...Was that a yes I'll go out on a date with you, Zack?"

Cloud shrugs, deadpan. "Guess he's jealous."

Wait, huh? Didn't Cloud just say--oh. "Oh - y-yeah! It was." He tries not to beam too much out of a desire not to look like a complete giddy dork, but he's only half successful. "Where d'you wanna go?--hey, what's that?"

He pauses to jog over to a bush and crouch down, reaching under it to pull out a pokeball. "Somebody must've dropped it--hey!"

He snatches his hand back as the pokeball zaps him with electricity. "What the hell?" And then it...rolls over and glares at Cloud with an angry face, just as CJ swoops down with a musical cry that distracts the grumpy pokeball long enough for Cloud to step back out of zapping range. Cloud gives Zack a disbelieving look, as if to say, are you seeing this crap??

Edited 2022-06-25 21:04 (UTC)

Cloud said yes. Cloud WANTED to go on a date with him. Oh Zack was ecstatic and totally planned to hold him tightly and in his arms for a good few minutes but Cloud got distracted before he could.

He followed him to the bush and crouched down besides Cloud, brodoof joining the pair to investigate. Leaned forward to see the pokeball, a hand on Clouds shoulder until the strange pokeball zapped Cloud. Quickly Zack grabbed his hand to make sure it was okay. "You okay Cloud? I don't have any materia to heal you." There was worry in his voice as it hit him that he'd have trouble protecting Cloud here.

Brodoof tried to growl at the voltorb but it just came out as a squeak instead. Zack took out his pokedex and scanned. "It's a voltorb apparently. It is said to camouflage itself as a Poké Ball. It will self-destruct with very little stimulus." Zack had to read that line a second time before he was on his feet and grabbing cloud away from the destructive pokemon. "Whoa these things can explode?!? How is that safe?"

"Yeah, I'm fine--" Oh. Now Zack is holding his hand, sort of. That's...kinda nice...

But then Zack's pulling him away from the bush, and Cloud turns with a slightly exasperated look. "It's not. Didn't you read about this place? Battling is basically all these things do." He tries to extract his arm from Zack's grasp. "And if this one can explode, then I want it battling for me. Hey, CJ, make yourself useful!"

CJ is aware of type advantages even if Cloud isn't yet, but that doesn't deter him. He circles around and swoops again, calling out with his Disarming Voice until the Voltorb starts to look a bit dizzy. Looks like his best chance - Cloud throws one of his empty Pokeballs at it, just like the manual described, and it looks for a moment like he'll catch it without issue, but then the Voltorb pops back out and looks even more pissed, if that's possible.

"Shit--" Before he can try again, it zaps CJ, who almost falls out of the air but just manages to stabilize. Cloud glares at the little orb and tries to catch it again...and this time, it stays put in the ball. He picks it up gingerly, but it seems inert. CJ coos triumphantly, but descends on shaky wings to perch back in Cloud's hair again; this time, he doesn't complain. "Uh...sorry. You okay?" The bird whistles an affirmative, but...

Cloud turns to Zack, looking a bit chagrined. "Um...you mind if we stop at the Pokecenter on the way to--to our date?" He can't help a bit of a smile returning as he says it. A date! With Zack! He still can hardly believe it.

Everything happened in a blur and Zack couldn't do anything but watch. He didn't like the helpless feeling he had as Cloud pulled away from him to battle the danger orb. Helpless. The last time he was helpless wasn't that long ago. It caused his body to freeze up. Brodoof quickly ran to it's owner and tugged on his gloves, trying to get his attention but Zack stayed where he was. It wasn't until the voltorb was caught that he finally came to his senses and stood up, hoping Cloud didn't see him freeze up in the commotion.

Was this ptsd? Probably but he couldn't think of that now, Cloud's pokemon was injured and they needed to heal it before they could do anything else. "Y-yeah let's go take care of it. I'm glad you have a strong pokemon with you Cloud." He smiled and picked up brodoof so they could travel faster than the short legs would ever be able to.

He walked over to Cloud and did a double check on him, wiping some soot off his cheek and ruffling his hair a little, worry in his blue eyes. "You okay? Do you need anything yourself before we go?"

Cloud didn’t see him freeze up, but he sure is seeing this behavior now, and he frowns in equal parts concern, confusion, and annoyance. “Zack, I’m fine. What’s gotten into you? Tell me what’s going on, you’re not usually this jumpy.”

Or this handsy, either, but Cloud’s not complaining about that one.

"I..." He frowned, adjusting his hold on Brodoof and looking away. "You haven't noticed it yet...have you?" With a sigh, Zack leaned in until his nose was almost pressed against Cloud's.

"My eyes....they don't glow here. I have no materia, no super strength or anything special about me." He pulled back, trying to hide how helpless he felt. "I can't do anything if you get hurt Cloud. I can't protect you here and it's a lot to take in. "

For half a second, Cloud thinks Zack is about to do something else, but even just this much is enough to color his cheeks a little pink. Still, this close there’s no missing it; by the time Zack explains himself, Cloud’s noticed himself, too. Zack’s eyes are always so bright, like he has a miniature sun shining inside him. It’s a bit strange to see them this way and it does raise some serious questions about why this has happened, but what really catches Cloud’s attention is what Zack says.

“So…you’re worried because you’re normal.” Yeah, it’s sarcasm, but wry. He smirks slightly. “I get it, but the rest of us get along just fine without enhancements, y’know. And I’m not fragile. I may not be SOLDIER, but I am combat trained, and so are you. It’s not like we’re helpless, here.”

CJ gives a little coo and nibbles on Cloud’s hair. “Right - plus, we’ve got these guys to fight with us.”

Zack picks up on the sarcasm in Cloud's words but it doesn't make him feel any better. There was the unspoken fear here that Zack can't accomplish his dream here. Sure he maybe almost died a hero in their world, though maybe a martyr was the better word. Here he was nothing and Zack Fair didn't know how to handle being nothing.

"I guess you're right. It's just so weird to feel helpless. You got electrocuted Cloud. If it had been worse I don't have any phoenix downs or curaga to help you. I...don't know what I could do to help you." He paused, moving away from his blonde companion. "I know basic medical training, we both due but..."

He looked towards Cj and how injured the pokemon is. He doesn't want his own pokemon to get hurt protecting him either. "Let's go help Cj. We can come back to this discussion later. He needs our help."

"Yeah, well, welcome to my world," Cloud grumbles. In his opinion, he himself has been nothing all his life. "I got zapped a little, it barely hurt. At least this way, maybe I can protect you for a change."

Maybe this way, he won't be nothing but a liability to Zack anymore.

He sighs. "Yeah, okay - wait a second. Uh--I mean, we can keep walking, but..." He squints at Zack's face as he starts heading for the Pokecenter again. "You're not just acting different. You look different, too. You look..." Like someone switched off that light you shine into the darkness for everyone. "Older."

The thought of Cloud protecting him was cute. He had once seen what Cloud could do and it was impressive given he didn't have any enhancements at the time. Maybe in this world he was actually at an advantage since his body didn't feel weaker or heavier like Zack's own did. "Well if you want you can protect me but I still got your back."

He smiled a little as they started to walk but paused when Cloud starting looking at him closer.

Fuck.

What could he possibly say for looking older without having to explain what happened to him, to both of them. He wished he was as quick to think on his feet like some of the Turks he once called his friends.

Trying to think of what to say he shrugged, as if oblivious to it. Hoping his acting was good enough. "Maybe it's this world? I don't have my enhancements so maybe it affected how I look more than I thought. Do I really look old to you?" He pouted, rubbing at his cheek. "I hope I don't look too old for you."

Cloud smiles back. "Deal."

This isn't the first time Cloud's asked Zack a question and gotten vague dissembling in response. Sometimes he gets the feeling that it's just because Zack's thoughts aren't organized enough for him to actually formulate coherent sentences, but sometimes...

Cloud rolls his eyes a little. "Didn't say you look old, just older. Or...I dunno. Sadder?" His brow furrows. "Doesn't seem like it's just losing your SOLDIER stuff. You okay?"

He hates that he is the cause for that look on Cloud's face. Had it been 'his' Cloud he would have simply kissed those furrowed brows and then maybe kissed Cloud himself. This wasn't his Cloud though, he was different and they didn't have that relationship yet even if he firmly believed that it could happen again. If Cloud loved him once he would love him again and Zack would wait for him, always.

"I'm fine. It's just a lot ya know? I don't even have Angeal's sword here. " He frowned at that knowing this place wasn't the reason for the loss of the Buster sword. "But seeing you is cheering me up." He dropped the frown and grabbed Cloud's hand, leading him to the pokecenter again.

Ah. Cloud can understand that, at least. He knows how important Angeal and that sword were to Zack, and what they represented. Still doesn't explain why he looks kinda ragged, but Cloud can tell he's hit that wall where Zack's not going to explain anything and he just wants to Go Do Something instead of talking about it anymore.

Besides, what Zack says next distracts him neatly from that whole thing. His eyes light up a little. "It is?" He accepts that hand gladly and picks up the pace, wanting to hurry up and get this finished so they can go have their date - and maybe that will cheer Zack up even more. Zack without a smile on his face looks wrong, somehow. "Well...I'm glad."

It doesn't take much longer to reach the Pokecenter, and the nurse takes care of CJ quickly, too. ...wait, is that the same nurse who was working in the last town? Nah, that would be too weird. Must just look like her.

CJ settles back into Cloud's hair, chirpier in more ways than one, and he sighs and allows it. For now. "So...where to?"

May - June Test Drive Meme

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sorry for the delay!

No worries I'm delayed too! Also I upgraded so expect some lovely clack icons <3

yessss

Re: I've been craving some zakkura so I'm happy for this <3

:3

<3 <3

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Oh boy time for pain

😭

Re: 😭

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