For some time now, Zack had been staring out at the water and sky, watching the light grow dimmer and dimmer as the sun set. He liked behind outside, be it forests or oceans or fields, and that water stretching out before him was the only thing in this world that rang familiar. The buildings were tall like in Midgar, but this clearly wasn't Midgar, at least not in its construction -- no iconic upper plate, though in some respect, that was probably a point in its favor. Aerith had grown up without ever seeing the sky, and the thought had always felt a bit suffocating.
New York City might ring similar to Midgar in its busyness and polluted air, but at least everyone could see the sky.
When he heard footsteps coming up behind him, Zack twisted slightly to look behind, arm resting casually on his lifted knee. Sure enough, it was Cloud -- that shy but undeniably resilient kid he'd grown to care for so much, grown to protect as if he was an extension of himself. Maybe even better than an extension of himself. For months, nothing in the world had been more important than keeping Cloud safe and the hope that he might someday make it back to Midgar to see Aerith again. He might never make it back to Midgar now -- a thought that gave his heart a little twinge -- but Cloud was safe, and not only safe, but recovered. Cloud had made it through their journey and lived three more years of his life since Zack had last seen him, propped up against a rock for protection. Had grown and carried on with life, despite what had happened to them in that Nibelheim laboratory.
A smile spread across Zack's face. Cloud might be considered about battle wounds, but there was no battle wound that wasn't worth it.
"Hey there," he said, patting the spot next to him.