ohmyarceus | May - June Test Drive Meme

"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?"

Yes, being with Cloud is cheering him up. That isn't a lie, how could he not be happy with such a friend at his side. He shifts their hands so their fingers are entwined as they head over to the poke center. His smile is returning just a bit slower than usual. He's still worried that Cloud got electrocuted right in front of him and might feel weird from him. When he gets the chance he wants to really make sure he's fine all over.

The pokecenter trip was quicker then he thought it would be. Just cause they are there he gets a checkup on Brodoof and Grim and once the two are returned to him he looks around, still unfamiliar with everything himself. He does have some gil, or whatever currency they use here on him so they can totally grab some food. "I guess we follow our stomachs and our noses for someplace tasty to eat?"

Cloud can't help ducking his head a bit in self-consciousness as they walk along, despite the pleased little smile on his face that he tries to hide in his scarf. He's never done anything like this before - all this hand-holding and open affection. He likes it, but it's new, and he's gonna have to adjust.

"Sounds good to me. I think I saw a seafood place on the way here, we could check that out if you want."

"Oh you like seafood? We can do that. I wonder what they actually serve though. If pokemon are kinda like pets and friends...do you eat fish still?" It was a question that Zack was going to wonder all the way to the seafood place.

Walking around hand in hand with Cloud was like a dream come true. He really should have explored a relationship with him maybe before everything went down. Maybe things could have been different, maybe Cloud wouldn't be entangled in his mess. He gave Cloud's hand a squeeze and tugged him in a little closer so he could walk with an arm around Cloud's waist instead. "Hey Cloud, if we are here long....would you like to stick together? I mean like, ya know. Stay together as partners. Maybe find a place togther..."

"Uh...good question. Maybe there's fish that aren't Pokemon?" They sure haven't seen any animals that didn't seem just as intelligent and fantastical as their own companions, but...there must be some. Right?

A flush rises to his cheeks when Zack pulls him close. This...this is nice. Makes him feel like he's wanted, like he belongs here at Zack's side. It's a little embarrassing, too, but that's a small price to pay.

He blinks up at Zack at the question. "Huh? O-of course!" Okay, calm down, Strife, that's a bit much. "I mean, um...sure. That...that sounds great."

His scarf is probably doing a piss-poor job of hiding the way his smile widens, at this point.

"I hope so. I'm gonna end up starving if all I can eat here is vegetables and no meat. I mean....not that I want to eat a pokemon though." He really hoped he wasn't going to have to eat a pokemon.

Cloud agreeing to stay with him was great and perfect, only problem was he didn't have a place to stay...yet. That was okay he could figure it out later. For now he was just happy he could have Cloud besides him and they could live out their dream of running away together and having a peaceful life. Pokemon were just an added bonus to that.

"I'm glad. I don't have a place yet but we can find one together, after a meal!" They finally reached the delicious smell and went inside to grab a table. They were able to get one outside. It was cute and even had a little candle on the table for ambience and Zack pulled the seat out for Cloud too, wanting this to be a perfect date. A first date. "Man it smells good here!"

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nimbuster - 2022-10-01 04:47 (UTC) - Expand

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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