#strifeborn

" maybe its time you took a vacation . "

It felt like ages since the last time he saw Cloud. Voicemail after voicemail after voicemail and none of them seemed to entice his... companion out from wherever he was hiding.

In truth, at some point he decided that perhaps his approach wasn't working. Cloud clearly needed some space and bothering him all the time didn't help. So, he did the next best thing.

"Hey Cloud," he said to the voicemail box once more, "I know you're listening to this. It makes this easier.

"I'm not going to call as much anymore."

Zack took a breath, shaking voice hopefully not picked up by the microphone. He hated doing this. He hated doing this so much more than anything before. But he had to. For Cloud's sake.

"I'm not giving up on you, but I can tell when you need your space. I'll check in every so often. I promise not to annoy you, though. I just... want you to know I'm here for you. Whenever you're ready, you know where I am."

Another breath.

"I miss you."

So,   this   was   the   person   intended   to   be   her   new   guard?       Sarah's   gaze   wandered   from   head   to   toe.       Blond,   with   striking   blue   eyes.        Though   toned,   he   was   definitely   smaller   than   the   Knights   she   was   used   to.        

(Not   that   it   mattered,   it   was   merely   an   observation)        

"It   is   a   pleasure   to   meet   you,   Sir   Cloud"    she   spoke   with   practiced   grace,   head   giving   a   slight   bow.     

“Alright, Strife. I’ll give you what you want. But I don’t specialise in close combat - so why don’t we put ourselves at an equal disadvantage? We fight unarmed.” He emphasises his words by taking his gun from it’s hostler and holding it away from him, ready to place it down.

        “ is there ever a place you guys don’t make a mess ? ”