Zack would have liked to have been around longer. He would have liked for the chance, then, to talk to Aerith and get things sorted. What he wanted to do was to be there for Cloud every step of his recovery. All of the things that he wanted to do... He knew that there was another Zack here but he also saw the price that was paid.

"No one deserved anythin' that happened," he corrected. None of them did. Not him. Not Cloud. Not Angeal, Genesis, or Sephiroth. They were all victims here.

He shifted then, pulling Cloud's head down with a sigh. Stupid kid. Even technically older than Zack now he still didn't get it. Zack pressed his lips against Cloud's forehead, emboldened by the alcohol coursing through his veins and the need for action - to make the blonde understand. "Never nothing, Cloud Strife."