(no subject)

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Who: Zack Fair and Lightning
What: Bein' free on the wind.
Where: Midgar, Chocobo Ranch, Zolom Swamp, Mithril Mines
When: Day after the last thread.
Warnings: NC-17 near the end.



The wind whipped through her hair and her burgandy pink cape fluttered behind her as she speed away, her eyes cold and sharp as she did. Her hands were curled tightly around the grips on the handles, a finger curled over the brake. The machine beneath her was large but stealing a SOLDIER issue motorcycle had been her smartest idea all day. So far, she'd slept late, eaten a tub of ice cream and gotten frustrated in her boredom. Hence, came her idea of stealing the bike. She hurtled through the streets of Midgar, headed for the slums.

Zack, on the other hand, was getting his things in order, slotting materia into his sword and bangle, and getting dressed. He'd had an uneventful morning, breakfast being another of Wall Market's barbeque skewers, and nearly got shot once, though he'd slammed the mugger around to teach him a lesson. He was at his room in Corneo's Corners, and had finished setting up his PHS with a new carrier, and was now fixing to head up to the ShinRa building, to see if he couldn't catch Lightnin's eye.

Parking up outside Corneo's Corner, Lightning whistled with her fingers in her mouth. It was a shrill and loud noise, something that would get the attention of anyone inside or out; which it did. A few men leered at her and she instantly shot them that practised glare, sending them off in an instant. Looking back to the windows of the hotel, she whistled again.

Zack blinked, and stepped outside, his sword comfortably across his back, shoulderguard in place. He was dressed in a beaten up leather jacket, and heavier pants than the ones he'd purchased earlier, as well as the off-white buttondown shirt. All in all, he looked pretty good. "Hey Lightnin', what brings ya down t'me?" he trotted over, and for the moment ignored her bike, beaming at the woman.

Lightning revved the bike, tilting her head. "Get on. We're going." She wasn't sure where, but they were damn well going. She'd left a vague note but she was done with Midgar for now. Her things, all few of them, were in the cargo boxes on the vehicle. "You up for it, country boy?" Her eyes were still rather cold but were a little warmer than they had been.

In answer, Zack swung his leg over the bike, settling his hands on her hips and chuckling, "Long as you know how to drive, I'm glad you came to get me. If we die, well, I've already done it, so what do I have to fear?" he chuckled softly, not really caring to gather his remaining things from his room, as he had his wallet, PHS, materia and gear on him already. "Like the jacket? It was donated this mornin'." he smirked softly, and nipped her neck in a sneaky manner, so no-one could see, "Let's blow this joint, hmm?"

"No doubt as donated as this bike," she replied, giving a slight twitch to the nip and setting the accelleration down hard. At that, they were speeding out of this city and leaving behind ShinRa and all of its bullshit about being able to help people. The cape wouldn't lift now that Zack was against her back but her blonde hair whipped at him, and she made no attempt to stop it. "I don't know where we're headed, so give me a sign when you want to stop."

He spoke right into her ear so she could hear him without him yelling, "Once we clear the black, we'll be in the canyons.. so after we cut up through there, just keep going northeast until you see a small ranch. It's one of the best landmarks I know, just because of what's there." he held tightly to her, arms around her waist, and was rather enjoying the ride.

With the slightest of nods, the teen continued, not saying another word as she shot through, clearing through the area and making a break for the canyons. She didn't slow but her eyes did make a scan of the reddish stone surrounding them and how different it looked close up. Nothing would compare to that spot of red she'd seen in all the black when Zack had her upon that wall. It was magnificent.

Zack knew all kinds of places where one could see something special about the Planet, and he intended to take her to all of them he could find for her. She wasn't talking just then, and he loosened his grip on her to look back over his shoulder, the wind blowing his spiky black hair all over the place, to see if they were being followed or something. So far so good, though, and he pressed against her back again.

When he shifted, she tensed, looking over her shoulder a brief second before turning back again. "What's wrong?" She had to almost shout over the roar of the bike and the screaming the wind was doing in her ears. Lightning hoped to hell that they weren't being followed; she didn't feel like fighting off SOLDIERs or anyone else for that matter.

"Force of habit. We're driving like we're runnin' from somethin', so I just had to make sure we weren't bein' chased or somethin'." he chuckled softly, giving her a reassuring squeeze, "All's clear back there for now, Lightnin'." he watched the road ahead, noting that they were whipping past small caves and holes in the earth that would be monster dens. Definitely wasn't cabin country out here.

The speed they were going was dangerous and rediculous and it was proven so when, out of seemingly nowhere, a pack of blood red coloured wolves made their attack. The beasts tore after them, barking, snarling, snapping at them until they were thrown from the bike. Lightning was instantly pounced on by several wolves but she managed to fend them off with gravity manipulation, shielding herself with and electricity shield. She could barely think of much else than fending off the monsters trying to tear her to shreds.

Zack, on the other hand, careened towards the edge of a cliff along with the bike. He acted quickly, though, his sword flashing out and slamming into the dusty earth, lifting himself off the bike so that he didn't fly off with it. As he regained his feet, it hit the canyon wall below, and exploded, shaking the ground and sending debris into the air. Zack seethed angrily, leaping forward right into the charging creatures, trying to make his way to Lightning. He was impressive, too, parrying, dodging, and sometimes letting go of his sword with one hand, so he could punch one monster away. "Hold on!"

Managing to get to her feet as the beasts backed off for a moment, Lightning drew her weapon, choosing the shoot down the ones further away before slashing back the ones that approached as she made a run towards Zack. "Status?" Her tone was official as she asked him how he was doing but she had a slight worried look behind the cold green eyes she sported. Lightning began using gravity bombs again, a moment later, glaring in focus as she fought.

"Just fine. You?" he turned, spinning his oversized weapon above his head rather impressively, before he brought it down, cleaving through the jaws of one canine, and into the body of another. The momentum carried both off the cliff, and Zack regained his poise quickly enough to ram the hilt of his weapon under one's jaw, blowing it back with a concussive blast that made the earth itself erupt beneath it. Obviously, his materia was up to snuff, now.

Lightning, by the time the ground was shaking, had taken to aerial combat, fighting back those monsters that clawed and dove at her, her blood-soaked blade glinting in the sunlight. Her own gravity had all but vanished and she used that imprint on her thumb to create bomb after bomb, blowing back the creatures with a practised ease. "Just... perfect," she grunted out, tossing an unusually large bomb at the biggest collection of the beasts. Obviously, she also noted Zack's skill and power.

He tailored the way he fought around her own style, leaping in around her bombs, and slamming monsters into the path of others. At one point, he drove his sword through one, leaving it pinned and shrieking, and kicked off, leaping high into the air and getting his legs over his head. He concentrate a moment, and let loose a tremendous blast of lightning, accompanied by a peal of thunder as it superheated the air, travelled through his sword, and reduced the monster to ash. Zack landed, wrenching his sword free, and backing up to the ground Lightning was fighting above, grinning, "Nothin' like a hitch t'wake ya up, hm?"

"Mm. A good mauling always gets me going." Lightning swung her sword before switching in seamlessly to gun-mode, blasting the Hell out of a group of red wolves. At that, the blade was slipped away in favour of magic and gravity as she conjured her most powerful lightning attack, the sky even darkening as she did. It seemed that electricity was her thing. As the thunder shook their surroundings, a large group of the relentless monsters was fried and soon fell to ash, too.

That was about it for the monsters, and Zack swung his sword one way, before snapping it the other, the blood sliding off of the steel before he gave it a spin and put it back on his back, chuckling. He would have had something smart alecky to say about hoofin' it, but he noticed a familiar, if worn and rusted, weapon. "Holy shit!" and he didn't swear all that often!

Coming to rest on the ground, Lightning caught sight of that weapon. "Something familiar?" She didn't stop to hear his answer as she strode past him, cape flicking at him almost playfully as she headed for the rusted sword half buried in the ground. It looked like a memorial, to her. She'd seen many of the same kind when soldiers had fallen in her army. Lightning wouldn't touch it, though. It wasn't hers and if it was there for a reason, it should remain there. Instead, she crouched in front of it, one arm resting over her thigh as she scratch at the rust with her free hand's index finger.

Zack hurried over and stood over the weapon, lamenting it's loss for a moment, before he knelt beside Lightning. "Weeell.. erm.. this is where I died. That's my old sword, the Buster Sword. I got it.. from an old friend of mine.. he hardly ever used it, only when it was important. He saved my life with that sword, once." Zack sighed softly, feeling a little out of sorts, visiting his own grave.

Lightning looked to his face for a brief second before resting a hand on the blade. "How'd it get here? Did you do it?" She rested on one knee, trying to brush away some of the dirt and rust to attempt a better look at the blade. It was large and seemed impractical because of that point but she was not one to talk about oversized weapons, considering her own was more than large.

"Dunno.. I guess Cloud musta put it here.." he rubbed his chin for a moment, and sighed softly, putting his hand on the hilt and giving it a heave, grunting and setting his weight to pull it the rest of the way out of the earth. It was an abnormally large weapon, even for a bastard sword, but he moved it with ease. "I'll have to get it reforged.. if I used it like this, it'd just get broken.. Time was when this blade could slice through anything. You name it, I could get this through it." he smiled softly, "Doesn't seem right to leave a grave for a living dead guy, eh?"

Lightning shook her head slightly. "You are disturbing your friend's memories of you, though. What if he comes here? He will assume some unsavoury type has just ripped up his final memory of a person he loved." She frowned slightly, brushing her hair back. "Yet, it doesn't seem right to leave a weapon out in the elements." The teen knew true weaponry respect, having taken a lot of time to decide upon her own.

"This is my reminder of who came before me.. Angeal's parents gave everything for this sword, so their son could give his all for SOLDIER. He passed it on to me, and I won't let it rust away.." he marked the grave with a few simple stones, and shrugged softly, "If Cloud's alive, we'll see him eventually. Guys like us have a way of findin' one another." he looked down the filthy, pitted length of his weapon, and nodded to himself, "Just gives us somethin' else t'do, hmm?"

"I do hope when you do meet him again, he pummels you for this." She gave him a smirk before turning her back on him, flicking her hair. She cast her eyes out at the land. "Well. We walk." With a sigh, she began forward, one hand rested over the handle of her weapon and a glint in her eye as she continued onwards. She wasn't so sure Zack was thinking of Cloud's feelings but she didn't speak on it. It was a valid point he had given, about Angeal and the sword, so she said nothing.

Zack placed the sword crosswise to the other, on his back, before he stopped. "Duh." he turned and headed on back to the gravesite, taking his materia out of the bastard sword, and plunging it into the earth. "Here lies Zack Fair." he intoned it quietly, before heading over to catch up with Lightning. "Soo.. that was some lightning back there Lightnin'." he sounded impressed with her, "Just how much can ya let out at once, anyway?"

The teen watched him over her shoulder for a moment until he caught up with her. At that point, she brushed her strawberry blonde locks away from her eyes. "I'm not entirely sure how much. I've never pushed it that far. I've got excellent electricity control; I am a dab hand with fire, too." She certainly was, in fact, she frequently had to start fires with her bare hands whilst in the army. Setting up camp, starting a fire... setting things on fire... she'd done it all.

Zack chuckled softly, and took out one of the materia that had been in his sword, "I'm an expert with these. Every SOLDIER is. We use them to augment ourselves, and access magic, summon beasts, amplify our magic by linking them.. ShinRa founded their whole army on materia and mako use." he chuckled again and pocketed the orb, "But, y'know, I can't do magic without 'em. A blessing and a curse in one, I'd say." the man walked alongside the young blonde woman, nodding out over the distance to where the arid canyon became a wide grassland, waving in the breeze.

"Mm. I've small imprints, barely even noticable, on my thumb and index finger..." She held her right hand out to him, exposing the one on her thumb. "They're what create my gravity bombs and they also give me control over my own gravity; hence my aerial combat." The teen lowered her hand, looking out to where he nodded. "I take it we're nearing this ranch you mentioned?" She narrowed her eyes to get a better focus on the grassland, watching for threats if anything.

"Yeah, it'll be a bit more hiking before we get there, but if you look way on that way.." he gestured, pointing to a distant speck in a slight clearing where the grass wasn't so tall, "That'd be it way over there." The man grinned at her, "Ever been around Chocobos before? Some people say they stink, and can't stand it."

Lightning almost scrunched her face up, and nearly sighed, but she kept the whole reaction to herself. "One of my teammates, he kept an infant Chocobo in... in his hair." She shook her head a little, recalling the man who kept such a pet. He was missed... and she was beginning to get nostalgic for the times when they would all just sit and joke with each other, not that she did much of the joking.

"Really? Wow, that must have been -some- hair." he grinned, thinking about it and giving his head a little shake, "I wonder if it imprinted on him, or whether he was just keeping it for fun.." Zack continued walking with her, and after awhile, he took her hand in his, giving it a squeeze, "If we can get a pair, I'll take you to see the Mithril Mines; I gotta find some anyway, but we'll need Chocobos to avoid the Midgar Zolom in the swamp."

Lightning looked to their hands, eyes widening just slightly but she then just looked ahead. "I see." As they walked, she lay her free hand on her weapon's grip, just to know it was there and she was safe as long as it was at her hip. Indeed, the instant you needed to draw your weapon, you were no longer safe. The teen looked out at the expanse ahead of them, blinking a little as it gradually came more into focus.

He held her hand lightly, after awhile giving it a squeeze from time to time, and pointing things out as they walked. That was a wild onion, that was a rabbit burrow, that snake was harmless. Those sort of things. Of course, if she'd told him to shut up, he'd stop mentioning them, but he figured she was the type who liked to learn.

She was certainly the type who liked to learn, however she was the type who didn't like to talk. It was a benefit to have a knowledgeable and talkative man beside her, to show her what was safe and what wasn't whilst they walked. Surely, however, she knew that if the tables were turned and it were Pulse or Cocoon they were travelling through, she would be explaining many of the same things he was to her.

Quite likely. Zack wasn't all-knowing, after all! He skirted them around a large patch of thorny plants, who seemed to reach out for the pair. As he did so, his hand fell to her waist, "And those.. those are the plants that they named Mage Mashers after. The trick is they wait for prey with excess magic to come around, and hook them in their thorns, throwning thorny vines on them once they're caught. Then, they silence you, so you can't cast spells, and slowly drain your magic away, eventually causing fatal mage burn."

Stepping around whatever he took her around, Lightning practically glared at the plant that would turn on her. "...I suppose magic is out of the question, then." She flicked her hair over her shoulder, leaning into him slightly as he put his arm around her waist. She'd experienced mage burn many times after battles, she knew how much it hurt, but nothing would make her want to experience that degree of the burning.

"Exactly. You either leave it alone, or find someone who doesn't have the remotest ability to cast magic, and give them a lawnmower." he snickered, making little vroom-buzz noises as he pantomimed mowing the thorny patch with his empty hand. "That counts you and I out. I might not be able to cast on my own, but I've still got the potential, y'know?"

With a nod, she shifted around him, continuing on, not wanting to linger around something like that. "Magic has its time and place. This is not it." She held a hand back to him as she walked, naturally just expecting him to take hold of it. Of course, it wasn't her right hand. She would rest that on her weapon instead, even if she drew that gun-sword with her left. "Much farther?"

Zack took her hand without thinking about it, squeezing it reassuringly, "Welcome to one of the great truths of life. Everything has it's time, and it's place." he winked playfully, and nodded over a cresting hill, "Over this hilltop, down the other side, and a little jog." he grinned over at her, let go of her hand, mock-saluted, and broke out in a run, "C'mon!"

Lightning made a slight groan but picked up her pace, running after him. She was fast; of course she was, she controlled her own gravity as she ran, able to naturally stop any drag that gravity put on her. Swiftly catching up and passing him, Lightning returned the salute as she ran past, a teasing, almost sadistic little smirk on her lips as she ran.

"Hey, don't be so cocky, there's a great view from back here!" he waggled his brows suggestively, breaking into a flatout sprint, chasing after her with all the speed his SOLDIER training, and mako-enhanced limbs could produce. It was the same charge that terrified enemies, though he didn't have his weapon out, and he wasn't looking to hurt Lightning, just keep up with her.

Rolling her eyes, she contemplated becoming airborne but decided against it. Her boots barely even made noise on the ground as she ran and soon she came to a skidding halt at the sight, sounds and smell of the area. Her cape rested down, the end lightly whipping with the breeze but a frown still came to her face. "Chocobos." Her word held no emotion, simply a statement of what she could see.

Zack skidded to a halt beside her, his heels digging in and throwing up clods of dirt as he did so. He could smell them too, but Zack rather liked the smell of Chocobos, "Yup! Welcome to the Chocobo Ranch!" he grinned at her, looking quite thrilled, and nodding, "Wanna go down and see what's what?"

With a single nod, she walked ahead, eyes on the large birds kawing and squawking happily. They were generally noisy, smelly, excitable and annoying, in her experience but that might just have been Sazh's tiny pet in his hair that made her have a slight aversion to the creatures. The bothered her only because of that annoying rat of a thing that she sometimes wished she could shove up Sazh's nose. She cared for the man like a brother, as she did with each member of Nora, but he annoyed and angered the Hell out of her.

Zack grinned and hurried ahead to the penned area, several bright yellow birds flocking around him as he reached in to scratch under their beaks, and behind their crests. "Oooh, such well-bred birds, hmm?" he was talking to them, not Lightning, "And where's the rancher? D'you guys know?" they responded with a chorus of warks and kwehs, obviously intelligent enough to understand him. Zack grinned back at Lightning, as happy with Chocobos as a little girl would have been with ponies.

Letting out a laugh, she shook her head and moved to sit on the edge of the fence around them, curling her arm gently around the back of one bird's neck and nuzzling its beak affectionately, scratching gently under it. The bird responded well, giving a soft kweh and practically purring to her touch. "Such a foul-smelling beauty..." she all but whispered to it. Lightning appreciated natural beauty. Anything that wasn't walled in by a cocoon was perfect, in her eyes.

Zack watched her for a moment, swearing he could hear music playing in the background, before he shook himself from the reverie. He realized he'd been staring with his mouth wide open.. "Eheh.. erm.. I'll go find Choco Bill, or Choco Billy. See if we can buy a couple birds, and some Gysahl Greens.."

She gave a slight nod, continuing to pet and nuzzle the bird, showing an affection she rarely showed for human beings but was more than willing to show to creatures with no harm meant to her. Lightning ran her fingers over the bird's crest, smiling at it. "I'll wait here."

"Y-yeah.." he swallowed hard, tearing his gaze from the blonde and the bird, and hurrying off to the stables. Zack was gone for a little while, before he and a burly looking man in a straw hat came out to the paddock, Zack carrying panniers over his shoulders, and Choco Bill with bundles of Gysahl Greens. "Got a good price on 'em, Lightnin'!" he called out, waving.

The teen looked up from the birds she had been paying a lot of caring attention to. "Ah, good..." She fixed on her cold gaze as she looked to the man in the hat. She would make no comment nor say even a word to him unless he spoke to her with something she felt like answering. Slipping down from the fence, she straightened her skirt and flicked her hair off her shoulder.

Zack smiled softly, and nodded to the bird she'd been paying attention to, and to the one he liked best, a larger bird, but he weighed more and figured they'd work out nicely. "Those two, Bill." gil changed hands, after Zack hung the panniers on the fencepost, and they shook hands. Bill didn't seem that interested in Lightning besides a cursory glance, and looked critically at Zack, "Be careful with 'er, boy. Y'don't wanna lose a gal with eyes like that." he laughed heartily, and Zack smiled in response, replying, "I don't plan to."

The man's words made her almost snarl. She wasn't even sure if it was a joke or seriously a dig at her but she wasn't willing to find out. Lightning turned and climbed over the fence, stroking a hand down the neck of the bird she was to care for. "I'd be careful if I were you, old man. I'm not some little princess who can't knock back a man." She practically growled her words.

Choco Billy laughed softly, and shook his head, "Not what I meant Missie, just thatcha seem t'have ideas about whatcha want, and bucko here best make sure he's one of 'em, or he'll find himself alone in th'rain." he continued laughing as he walked back, distributing Gysahl Greens to the Chocobos that hadn't been purchased. Zack smiled at her, "You know how to get one of these guys ready to ride?" he stroked the bird's beak affectionately.

Lightning gave a slight nod to Zack. She had an idea on what to do. She wasn't a master at it, though. Brushing a hand through the feathers, she looked to the older man. "Maybe... you should do it. As you are the expert." She smiled just slightly, giving no more words to the man who had so instantly pegged her.

"Give him some Gysahl Greens, tell him your name, and then hop on. He might buck a little, but he'll calm down." Billy threw a wink her way, as Zack got the bags on each one, and put their Greens inside. Zack already knew how, and he was quickly mounted up on his animal, gathing a double-handful of it's soft neck feathers while it bucked, then stroking it's head when the bird had calmed down.

The girl frowned slightly before taking some of the Greens and offering them to the bird. It took them quite happily and she leaned in to whisper to it. "I am Lightning, my beauty." She spoke so gently the Chocobo leaned in and nudged her face playfully. Gradually, she trailed her fingers down its neck then shifted to straddle the creature's back, settling gently, and not being given any bucking. She smiled a little; maybe she was better with animals than people.

Maybe, but if she'd looked at Zack just then, she'd have seen a country boy about to fall off his bird, swooning as he was. He gave himself another shake, and let his animal bob over to hers, the two nudging beaks, and grinned, "Don't forget to name 'er, eh Lightnin'." Billy had gone back inside, and the two were alone save for being surrounded by the smelly creatures.

Stroking a hand down the bird's neck, she smiled. "I will think of a fitting name when we get to know each other." She chuckled slightly, and leaned over, giving him a light shove atop his Chocobo. She didn't want to push him off, just shake him a little. She was becoming gradually more playful with him and it was a good thing. It proved she was beginning to feel a lot more and she wasn't constantly cold to everyone.

Zack smirked and winked, "Alright then, that makes sense." he was already guiding his Chocobo with his knees, and by pressing them forward, the animal leaped over the fence, turning as it landed and trotting forward, "C'mon, you haven't lived until you've felt the wind on your face and a Chocobo tearing it up under ya!" he waved an arm, then urged his mount into a full run. He liked that she could be playful with him, which spurred him on to keep trying to have fun with the girl.

Lightning gave her Chocobo the same treatment, nudging it to dive over the fence. She huffed slightly as they landed and the bird, as reckless as she was, shot forward, warking and kwehing loudly as it sped towards Zack. Lightning laughed a little, gripping the bird enough to keep herself safely on it. As soon as they were side by side, she laughed, slowing the bird. "Well... it seems she has spunk."

"Not unlike another blonde bombshell I know." he winked, and leaned in low on the bird, tucking himself in small so he didn't provide much drag, still urging it forward. The maneuver worked nicely, and he was either racing her, or showing her the finer points of Chocobo riding, "Like this, c'mon!" the mountains in the distance were growing larger every time he looked at them.

Leaning down to press her chest to the back of the bird's neck, she gave her a light nudge and the animal sped up, giving out her excited noises at being able to run free like this. Lightning's eyes were narrowed in concentration as they moved. "Where, exactly, are we headed?" She wasn't worried, she knew Zack wouldn't lead her into danger, but she wanted to be prepared for anything that may happen.

"The mountains over there!" he called back to her, "There's a swamp that we've gotta really motor through, 'cause of the giant snake that lives there!" he laughed happily at being able to ride the bird and let it have it's own way, tearing over the grasslands, "Unless you wanna stop and kill it, but in my experience, things like that are there for a reason!"

"What's in these mountains?" She had to shout over the roar of the wind as the creature ran but she soon managed to get up alongside him, her eyes flicking over to look at him. She was better with the bike, in her opinion. This animal was reckless and it was getting a bit upity beneath her as it ran. She pet her fingers over its crest to sooth it.

"Kalm has men constantly mining Mithril here, but it's pretty monster-infested, and anyone who can go in and get his own stuff is welcome to it." he reached back and touched the Buster Sword indicitavely, "I'll need some Mithril if I'm going to have this reforged.. Through the mountains is a place called Fort Condor. If we get that far today, we can stop there and take in the sights." there had been a Mako Reactor on top of the place, and a Condor had been there, guarding it's egg. Zack wasn't sure what had happened since, but he was curious.

Lightning didn't reply. She would just stay silent until they came to a stop now. Her body was already aching from the movements the feisty bird was making beneath her and it was beginning to make her uncomfortable. She wasn't used to riding anything other than a bike, in all honest. Cars, bikes... mechanical vehicles were her thing.

Zack slowed the birds down as the grass gave way for the wet, swampy area, not even taking them close to it. He gestured out to the area, frowning, "Eh.. this thing's taken out all kinds of ShinRa troops, and miners.. but they still come here for the Mithril. I wonder if it's that valuable, that it's worth that many lives." he scoffed and sighed, looking over at Lightning and shrugging, "It's kind of an on the way thing for us.. we're there anyway, might as well grab some." after all, they'd have to go all the way to Wutai to find a craftsman capable of doing the Buster Sword justice.

"Alright." She gave a nod, shifting on the bird as she fought beneath Lightning a little. "Damnit, Nora, calm down!" She snapped, the bird instantly halting. She'd named her Nora? After her team? Lightning shook her head slightly, petting a hand down the Chocobo's neck. "We will need to be swift about anything we do. I do not believe she'll stay calm and stick around for very long without guidance."

He reached into his bag, pulling some Gysahl Greens out, "Try this?" his own bird was more docile, though powerful, and content to be ridden. "Once we're ready, we'll run on over to that cave there.." he gestured, though at that moment the Zolom exploded out of the water, it's sinuous body undulating as it rose into the air, snapping several birds out of the sky and then splashing back down. "Yeesh!"

Lightning's eyes were wide as she looked up to the creature but as soon as it vanished, she turned to Zack. "We leave. Now." She was very authoritative but her voice was laced with fear. Lightning waited for Zack to take the lead, however. This was not her land and she knew not where to set foot. He was going to need to guide her through this as well, or she'd most likely end up dead.

"Alrighty, this'll be easy. Done it plenty of times." he smiled reassuringly, and nodded, "Just follow my lead, and if you hear it coming, just keep going. If it comes down to it, I'll get it's attention, and you keep making for the cave." Zack had had to fight the thing before, so he knew what he could do. Then, after a breath, he nodded to Lightning and set his chocobo off on an easy trot, following a sandy bunch of little islands in the swamp.

Cautiously following, her Chocobo was tense between her legs as she moved. Even the bird disliked the area and the thought of being caught by that beast. "I'm beginning to think you led me here to show me your heroics." Her voice was playful but slightly strained. If anything, she wanted to make light conversation to ease the aching pain growing in her stomach.

"No, I'd pick something that didn't get me filthy in the swamp water, if that were the case. We're going this way because the end result is worth it. Besides, now you can brag that you saw, and didn't get eaten by, the fabled Midgar Zolom." he grinned back at her, and continued along, keeping a close eye on the swamp for the telltale shadow of the serpent.

Lightning rolled her eyes, brushing back some blonde hair and giving her Chocobo a gentle scratch under the beak as they rode on. She wasn't rightly sure this was all that safe but if Zack said it was, she'd trust him. Besides, it was always fun to do something you know you really shouldn't be doing and walking by this swamp with such a beast inside it was certainly something you should not do. It was a little bit of a thrilling rush to a girl who'd spent her last few weeks cooped up in ShinRa living quarters.

Zack continued to keep his Chocobo at a canter, before he saw the shadow, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. He swallowed hard, taking a steadying breath; he might be a veteran of horrible, terrible war, but giant monsters still made the fear flow. "Lightnin'..?" the shadow angled itself for them, and he kicked his bird, the animal squawking and leaping several feet onto a new patch of swamp, it's feet sinking in somewhat, "Run for the cave!" he pointed, before taking the rusted, beat up Buster Sword off his back. If she looked, she'd notice the sheer finesse he wielded the huge weapon with, compared to how he'd held the bastard sword he'd planted in his grave.

The shadow made her just as nervous and afraid as Zack was; perhaps a little more as she had no idea how that creature fought. With a nod, she kicked her Chocobo into touch and the bird bolted for the cave, squawking and kwehing in rather an angered manner. Maybe she had kicked a little too hard. Lightning soon reached the cave and would turn to face Zack, watching with both interest at his skill and fear for his life.

He continued to move his bird about as Lightning ran, to keep the Zolom's attention on him. When she reached the cave, the shadow was very close, and he leaped off of his bird, which instinctively ran for the nearest Chocobos, the creatures having a strong herd instinct. Then, the Zolom's massive head exploded out of the swamp.. right under Zack. He yelled, flung high into the air, and kept a tight grip on the Buster Sword, righting himself as the Zolom aligned to finish him in one bite. Instead, Zack deflected one large fang with his sword, spinning from the impact, but managing to catch hold of a fang. "Nng!" brb

As the Chocobo reached her, Lightning slid from her own and gave her a look. The bird instantly seemed to know she was not allowed to leave, and neither was her feathered companion. At that, Lightning charged in, drawing her weapon and using its gun mode, she shot at the head of the Zolom as her feet began to leave the ground. Almost like a bullet herself, she shot towards the beast, coming to land on the back of the damn thing's neck as she hooked an arm around it. "Zack! Make a break for it!!" Her tone held a small about of fear but far more command than usual.

"Hey! I said get to the cave, dammit!" he grunted, as the thing thrashed, "I've got this!" he wasn't angry at her, but he shouted the order like just once, he expected her to listen to him. He knew it was about to get under the swamp, and he could handle that; that's when he'd make sure it went for a little break. "Go!" he clambered up onto the snake's snout, stiffening his fingers and plunging them into the beast's huge eye, up to his elbow, and hooking his arm in the socket. It reared, shrieking in pain, and thrashing it's powerful coils. Oooh

"And let you get yourself killed for the sake of pride?!" She wasn't willing to just sit back and let him do this alone. Two fighters were better than one. Team Nora always taught strength in numbers; she would live by that rule. Curling her legs around its powerful neck, she clung onto it, raising her weapon and slamming the blade into the flesh, as far as it would go. Lightning's fingernails clawed into the Zolom's body as she clung to it and as the blade dug deep, the beasts blood splattered back in her face, making her growl slightly in annoyance.

"It's not pride, it's gonna di--" his words were cut short as gravity suddenly went away, and with an inhumanly fast motion, the creature dove into the swamp, dragging the pair down with it. It swam powerfully, and Zack managed to keep his senses, jamming the Buster Sword into it's snout for a grip on it with both hands. He could really only hope that Lightning had been swept off the snake, because the amount of magic he'd have to put into the creature would be such that, well, he couldn't direct it at one single thing. Man, he's worried, now that she's there. Before, he was all "Okay, no big deal, she's safe."

Lightning bit back a slight scream as she was pulled beneath the surface of the swamp, her blade lodged deep enough in its neck that her grip on the weapon kept her on the back of the beast. She pressed a hand to the Zolom's flesh, her right hand, and began to expand a gravity bomb inside in. She wasn't exactly sure whether it'd work but she'd damn well try it and find out. Unsure of Zack's well-being, Lightning kept her mind focused on the task, clutching tightly to her weapon and concentrating as best as physically possible on the bomb she was expanding.

The SOLDIER, on the other hand, had already begun merging the magic he could cast, funnelling the most powerful variations of Bolt, Blizzard, Fire, Quake, and Seal directly into the thing's head, one after another, quite glad he had his materia back. Sure, his weapon didn't have any, but he'd always housed his combat spells in his bangle, in case he was disarmed or something. The resulting backlash of the magic, his spells and her gravity bomb, swept the pair up to the surface of the swamp, where they burst forth, along with way too much blood, and snake chunks, for that exchange to have been healthy for the Zolom.

Being shot back out of the swamp, Lightning still had hold of the weapon and her pain was evident the instant she landed on hard ground. The teen growled slightly as she fell, deciding on just letting herself fall back on solid earth, raising her free hand to cover her face as blood, guts and Gods only know what else rained down. Her stomach turned slightly but as soon as she was sure that was the last of it, Lightning lay her hand down beside her, letting her weapon fall to the ground. At the very same time, her Chocobo looked down over her face, tilting its head and giving a loud kweh.

Zack had landed in the swamp, however, and he thrashed a little as he came to the surface, coughing up dirty swamp water and looking generally like a drowned, beaten rat. He got himself up, and sighed, putting his sword back on his back, and squeezing the water out of his hair. There was also blood, and who knew what else, on him, but he didn't care just then. Glancing around, he saw Lightning on her back, and started slogging towards her in the swamp, a -very- worried look on his face, "Lightnin', are you okay?!"

Batting at the Chocobo, the teen sat up, picking some Zolom skin from her own. "I'm perfectly fine." She rose to her feet, dusting herself off as best as possible and wringing the swamp water from her hair that had, with the blood, turned considerably pinker than it had originally been. Well, what a day. She wasn't prepared to talk about anything now, being far too stubborn to speak to him after the way he had shouted at her. Sure, he was worried, but she was neither a child nor a weakling peasant girl. Climbing astride Nora, she picked a few pieces of snake from the bird's feathers, soothing her with calm humming and petting.

Zack nodded, and hauled himself up onto solid ground, dripping wet and favouring his right leg, as he took hold of his own unnamed bird's reins, leading rather than mounting. "We'll start a fire or something once we're inside.." he looked at her and shrugged softly, figuring she was ticked off at him, either for the shouting, or because he'd stayed to fight the thing off while telling her to run, originally. Whichever, he figured with some time to cool off, she'd talk to him again, "Think there's a hot spring deeper in, too, so we don't have to spend the whole night filthy."

Lightning didn't reply with words, just a simple "Hm." As they continued on, she followed him as he walked his bird, rather than mounting him. With a frown, she ran her hand soothingly down her Chocobo's neck, rather to sooth herself than anything. She always worried when one of her teammates was in danger but the pain, fear, sadness and pure anger she had felt when she saw Zack hanging from the Zolom's fang... it was indescribable. It hurt so much she just couldn't stand by and let him fight alone.

He slowed his walk a bit, so she would wind up beside him, and sighed softly, "Look.. I.. I'm sorry I yelled at you.." he was watching the cave ahead, though he had no problems manning up and apologizing, "I was just worried.. I know how to handle that thing, and when I saw you coming for it, I didn't know what else t'do. Y'sure you're okay?" his leg throbbed, and he almost missed a step, but he caught himself on his Chocobo, and continued on. Maybe he'd twisted it, or something..

Comments

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

She noticed him stumble slightly and frowned. "Get up here. That's an order, soldier." She smiled just slightly, her eyes warming enough to show she'd accepted a little of his apology. Lightning reached out and gripped the crest of his Chocobo gently, enough to make the bird stop walking. At that, she refused to let go, looking down to Zack expectantly. She wasn't going to let him just walk on a damaged ankle and she could hardly do anything about it while he was on the ground and she was high up on a Chocobo.

Zack looked up at her and chuckled softly, "If I'm up that high, I won't be able to see.." he gestured out around the dark cave they were entering, and smiled slightly, "Can you maintain a Fire spell, for light?" he listened to her, though, and mounted with a little difficulty. There was no point in continuing on like that if he didn't have to. His eyes were particularly bright in the dark, and shed light on his upper cheeks, giving his face an eerie look.

Lightning curled her hand in the reins around Zack's Chocobo then gripped her own. Raising her left hand, a small fire flickered there, lighting the way. "I should be able to maintain it for... ten to fifteen minutes at a time. I will have to recast, then." As she spoke, Lightning looked over her shoulder to his face, slightly startled by the glow from his blue eyes. With a moment to examine them, she gave a half-smile in the darkness and kissed him gently. "Do not expect me to sit by when your life is in danger. I... care too much." At that, Lightning faced away, continuing into the depths cave.

Zack blushed softly at the sentiment, touched, and returned her kiss. "Alright.." when she lit her spell, though, the cave walls caught the light and refracted it, lighting a much larger area than the small flame would have allowed elsewhere, showing that the stone here was a brilliant, deep blue, with silver flecks inside. Zack was looking for a larger lump of the metal, and was sure they could find one deeper inside, "That's why I was so worried, there.. I didn't want you gettin' hurt. That thing's killed more people than we had today.. some just as skilled."

"I understand that. I still refuse to be your damsel in distress; stood watching whilst you kill yourself." Lightning's green eyes shone under the fire light and she nudged her bird onwards, watching each inch of the cave around them. The blue, silver flecked walls were rather intriguing but she simply continued them on, not wanting to stop and wait at any point, to be honest, just in case another fiend decided to make them a meal.

It seemed that being covered in the blood of a giant predator, while disgusting, had it's benefits, as none of the normal monsters were bothering them just then. Zack smiled at her when she told him how it was, and chuckled, "Instead, you're going to rush headlong into a situation you don't know everything about, and risk getting hurt? D'you know how much magic I pumped into that thing? It was crazy!" he snickered softly, and winked one glowing eye, speaking more softly as he sidled his bird next to Nora, kissing her cheek, "Thank you, though.."

Lightning batted her hand at him, inadvertently tugging at Nora's reins as she did. "I may not have known everything about the situation or the enemy but sometimes, fighting blind is better than not fighting at all." She stroked her hand down Nora's neck, her hand with the flames in it twitching at the heat. It seemed she wasn't as used to the fire as she was the electricity she used. With gritted teeth, however, she would just endure the heat until it became too much.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Zack didn't have anything to use as a torch, really, so he'd have to let her deal with it for now. "Which is why I thanked you.. I mean, I might not be able to count on you to stay behind, but I can count on you to have my back.." he paused, still moving them through the cavern, "I.. think I prefer that. I might be the hero-type, but those people die. I'd rather be the fights-with-his-partner type." he didn't say girl, or girlfriend, because he didn't quite think of her in a subservient manner. Rather, by saying partner, he expressed the desire for her to remain her own person, in tandem with him. Sure, Zack wanted her, but it was who she was that really attracted him, and he wasn't about to go changing that.

With a single nod, she continued on, her eyes scanning each area they walked through. "What, exactly, are we looking for?" She wasn't the kind to do this sort of thing. Growing up in Cocoon, things are done for you, made for you, ready for you when you need them... A soldier never learns to make their own weapons or what is needed to do so, purely because the Cocoon Army would hand you it all on a silver platter.

Zack chuckled, and smiled softly, "There should be a hot spring near the back of this cave, and the water running would have made some Mithril easy to find there. Two birds," he gave her a thumbs up and a grin, "One stone. I was telling the truth. The basic training logs really do mention me, and how dashing, handsome, and cunning I am." he was trying to make her laugh a little. "After we get a good chunk, we'll head to Fort Condor. If it's not too late, that is. If it is, we can bed down just outside the cave."



She couldn't help but laugh a little, shaking her head slightly. "I have no idea why I partner with you." It was a joke, a sarcastic one, but a joke. Lightning frowned slightly, looking to her palm. "Just a moment." At that, she clenched her fist, extinguishing the flame. A moment later, she cast Water on her own hand and soon followed it with another Fire spell. It would sooth her hand to have the slickness of the water and the flame wouldn't go out by that.

"Because of the basic training files, perhaps?" he winked and laughed softly, amused more than stung by her sarcasm. "Shouldn't be too much longer before we can give these birds a rest, and somethin' to eat, and get ourselves clean. I dunno about you, but I'm ready for -that-." he patted his bird, cooing softly to him as they went. He still hadn't thought of a good name for the animal, yet.

"Maybe." She chuckled softly, smiling as they stroked into the depths of the cave. She wasn't really getting tired but the battles had taken a lot from her, having been more action than she'd seen in quite a while. Fighting ShinRa operatives and SOLDIERs was fine for a workout but she knew the fighting styles well. She knew how each new SOLDIER fought and exactly where their weaknesses were. That didn't give her a challenge. Being out in the wild like this... it gave her a reason to keep improving her own skills.

Zack dismounted when the cave suddenly widened, steam rising off of a large pool of water that was fed by an unseen source, and trickled down into a large depression, where it disappeared lower. He winced when he put weight on his ankle, but shrugged it off, nodding, "I don't think we need that fire anymore.." and indeed, the cave seemed illuminated, here, some kind of luminous moss fed by the ambient water was growing all over the place. Zack was the type who always loved to learn new things, but he'd have agreed with Lightning; there was only so much you could learn in a controlled environment.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Crushing the flame, she shook out her hand a little, murmuring a Cure spell over the slight burning she'd received. Lightning slid from her Chocobo and reached up, brushing back golden feathers from the creature's ruffled appearance. "Thank you, Nora." She smiled to the bird before moving towards Zack. "Stay still. I'll tend your ankle." She wouldn't take no for an answer as she pushed him, pressing him back against the wall. As she did so, she held his gaze for only a brief, somewhat meaningful moment before she slid down to her knees, resting her hands over his ankle and casting her strongest curative magic.

Zack bit his lip, trying this time not to blush quite as furiously as his face seemed to want to. After a moment, the pain faded as his ankle's sore tendons were, well, cured. He rotated it slowly, then rested more weight on it, looking down at the blonde in an adoring fashion, speaking softly, "Thanks, Lightnin'.. I.. well, we'll get the hang of workin' together in a fight eventually, just takes some practice, eh?" he sounded like he wanted that kind of camaraderie with her, and it showed on his face in the dim light.

Lightning nodded once, gripping his belt and using him to pull herself to her feet. Despite the blood and Zolom guts that covered the both of them, she didn't really mind brushing a hand over his cheek. "It always takes work to get in sync with someone you've never fought alongside before." She smiled very slightly before moving to turn away. She wasn't really sure what to do now, and she felt slightly awkward about the prospects of climbing into the hot spring alone.

Zack caught her hand when she turned away, and pulled her back, wrapping his arms around her in an affectionate embrace. They were already filthy, so that hardly mattered, and he smiled before kissing her lips gently, "Now.. how about a bath, and we can rinse these clothes out, hmm?" he gestured to the smaller pool that sat lower than the first, large pool of hot water, "Well.. erm.. that is if you don't mind bathing with me." he tried not to let his mind go to more intimate places, with little luck stopping it.

The teen let out the slightest noise as she was pulled back, her free hand flying to slam against his chest, albeit quite gently. As soon as his lips met hers, she smiled into the kiss, returning it lightly. "Nn... I don't mind. You'd better keep your hands to yourself, though, country boy." If anything, that was a dare. She wanted to see how long he could resist, assuming that, most likely, it wouldn't be very long. "You go first; if it's dangerous, I'm safe then." Lightning smirked, her fingers toying slightly at the fabric of his shirt.

"Right. If I get eaten by a grue, you run for it." he smirked, and slid his jacket off; he'd have to wipe it down after it dried, tossing it onto a rock. Then, he slowly unbuttoned his shirt, shifting his weight in such a way as to make it clear that, while he had to get undressed to bathe, he was doing it in such a way as to be for her benefit. Zack slipped away from her, and dunked his shirt into the runoff pool, letting it sit in the water, tumbled by the current and scoured on the rocks. He hadn't expected it to work that well, but it was! Thankfully, SOLDIERs received watertight wallets, and the PHS was similarly built, or he'd have been more worried about them being dunked into the swamp.

Lightning watched him, green eyes rather focussed as she did. As soon as his shirt was off, however, she shrugged and unbuckled her now-red surcoat, tossing it in with Zack's shirt. Lightning kicked her boots off then removed the pouch around her thigh, opening it and tilting her head as she looked inside. Her things were generally waterproof, so that wasn't her point. As she looked in, her eyes widened a little at the water she'd been carrying inside, along with a little fish. "I... seem to have picked up a stowaway."

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Zack had unbuckled his belt and set it aside with his wallet and the PHS, before slipping his boots off, putting his pants and socks in the water as well, as she spoke. "Really now?" he came over, just in his shorts, curious about what she was talking about, and looked down into the pouch with a small chuckle, "Well well, you're making all kinds of friends out here, hmm?"

"Hilarious." Lightning settled the pouch down, stood up until she could find a safe enough place to let the fish free. It wouldn't do to toss it in a hot spring and if she were to wait, she knew they'd find some sort of lake or swamp she could release it in. Moving to slip her gloves off, she tossed them to the ground, detaching her weapon and its sheath from her side as she did. Moments later, the teen dropped her skirt, unzipped her sweater, removed all arm guards and was soon stood in merely her exceedingly revealing black panties. "As I said. You first." She gestured to the hot spring.

Zack looked her up and down, and cleared his throat, tossing his shorts into the little spring as well, "Don't forget t'put yer clothes in." he smiled faintly, stepping over the rocks barring the water from escaping, a soft sound leaving his lips as his chilled skin contacted the hot water, then he sank in with a low moan and a content smile. Nothing like a hot bath after a fight that left you cold, wet, and filthy.

Lightning quirked an eyebrow as he gave her the once over but shook her head as he moved to sink into the water. Flicking her clothing from the floor with her foot, she pushed them into the smaller pool, submerging them a moment before moving to climb into the hot spring, hissing slightly at the heat of the water on her flesh. After a moment, she settled into the hot liquid, cupping her hand to pour some over her hair, determined to remove the blood and return it to its natural strawberry blonde colour.

The ex-SOLDIER took the time to soak his mass of hair in the water, picking bits of skin and flesh from it, and washing the blood and grit out. He took good care of himself, making sure to brush his hair and wash it regularly, but he didn't spend way too much time at it. Zack liked to look good, but that's just the thing, he liked to look good, as if he hadn't tried to look good. Oddly, though, even wet, his hair still spiked out, albeit less than before.

With a deep breath, Lightning sank herself beneath the water, shaking off as much of the beast's remains as she could. As soon as she was sure she couldn't hold her breath any longer, the teen rose above the surface, flicking her hair back. She smiled slightly, watching Zack fix his hair. "Would you like a hand?" Watching him still, she tilted her head just a little.
He smiled slightly, still working at it; he had a lot of hair! "Er.. if you don't mind.." he chuckled and moved closer to her in the water, his muscles relaxing as the heat sapped any tension away. Zack really did enjoy bathing, and swimming in general, taking to water like a fish. "Think I should maybe get it trimmed someday, or something. Then again, it isn't every day I get covered in snake."

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"You may well end up covered in who knows what in our adventures, Zack." She chuckled, running her hands through his hair, removing any flesh, blood or... others, trying to get as much of it out as possible. "...I like your hair. You shouldn't cut it." Lightning's voice was quiet as she moved her hands through his hair, gently, trying to be as careful as possible.

"Then I won't. I like it too, y'see." he leaned back against her, just slightly, glad for her help. After awhile, he felt much better, and couldn't find anything else hiding in the long black mane, "I don't mind getting dirty. It's just another reason to keep getting clean again.." he smirked to himself, knowing that there was dirty, and there was dirty, though the second one -could- be arranged while bathing.

Lightning gave his hair a sharp tug, pulling his head back to look at his face. "You, Zack Fair, are nothing but trouble." She let go, shaking her head a little but moving to rest her hands on his shoulders, moving her fingers just lightly before leaning her head down to kiss his neck gently. Sure, he was a pervert and she was still quite a novice, but it was hard to resist him sometimes.

He let out a little grunt when she tugged his hair, then smiled when she spoke, "Gu-guilty.." her kiss interrupted him for a moment, and he wrapped his arms around her, drifting back towards the spring wall, a small smile on his face, "You've known me long enough now t'know that, Lightnin'." his hands drifted along her waist, fingernails rasping along her skin.

At the feel of his nails, she shuddered slightly but held her slight smile. "I've known you a week at most, Zack. The things we've done in that time..." Lightning shook her head a little and simply leaned in, catching his lips with her own and kissing him tenderly. She did adore the man and, even with how little amount of time they'd known each other, she was surely in deep with him. "Just know this, if you break me, I'll break you. Got it?" Her voice tried to come off strong but... she couldn't hold back the small amount of emotion that leaked through.

He held her close, and spoke plainly, one of the few times he was going to in his life, "Lightnin'. Now that I've got you this far, I ain't never lettin' you down, or lettin' you go." he looked into her eyes, quite serious, "I don't wanna lose ya, and I'm sure as hell not gonna mess this up." he settled down slightly, and sighed, "If I was so stupid that I lost ya, then I deserve t'be taken down."

Lightning brushed her fingers over his face, smiling lightly. "Alright. I just... needed to know." At that, she silenced, shifting to scoop water up and pour it down her chest, trying to wash away some more of the sweat and grime she'd been covered in from their battles. Her eyes stayed down on her own body as she work, biting her lip with a slight shiver each time she poured the hot water.

Zack glanced down at her pouring water on herself, and then looked back up at her face, trying not to be a pervert, though it was rather hard. He smiled, and continued to rub her waist, moving his hands to her back and gliding his knuckles firmly over the muscles just beneath her skin. In a way, it was a sort of massage, as well as a way to scour the sweat and grime from the day's exertion from her. "Heh, enjoy this, not every pool of water we'll have to wash in's gonna be warm."

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Lightning laughed slightly, letting out a relaxed moan at the feel of his hands. "Mmn... Zack..." Her voice was a soft, contented whisper as she scrubbed lightly at the skin on her chest, gasping slightly louder at the feel of her hand against her own sensitive nipple. Blushing, Lightning leaned into the man, tilting her head up to nibble his earlobe just lightly. She wasn't so much of a sexual person until she'd met him and the way his fingers felt... it made her skin tingle. In the best way possible, of course.

Zack shivered a little, still hand-scrubbing her back, though he took the time now to let his hands linger at her shoulders, stiffened fingers passing over her flesh to help relax her. Someone like Lightning, he presumed, would wind up tense and knotty, maybe stressed, and Zack knew how to work that out, the added benefit being that he felt very strongly towards Lightning, so it was no trouble at all for him. He thought he might be having a bad influence on her, when she started on his ear, but Zack didn't mind that at all, really, "Yeah Lightnin'..?" he did his best to keep his voice steady, smooth even, keeping an almost innocent tone.

Her hand curled around the back of his neck, threading in his black hair a little. "I... I think... n-no, it doesn't matter." She looked away, unsure of herself and uncertain of the things she was thinking. If she said it, truly said it, would it change things between them? Her hands rested in place on his neck and shoulder as the teen just enjoyed the way he worked her muscles and flesh under his skilled fingertips.

Zack made a small noise, still rubbing with a smile, "Of course it matters. Whatever's on yer mind, Lightnin', y'can tell me." he wanted her to know he was supportive, and there for her, that the girl could always count on him. But that was the way Zack was when he was committed; totally committed. "Last time I didn't wanna tell ya somethin', yer glare looked like I might need stitches. I can't glare that well, y'know, so pretend I can, hmm?"
Lightning laughed softly and she toyed gently at his hair, soon lifting her head.

The young girl moved closer, resting the back of her knee over his thigh and kissing his face, right by his ear. Her stomach was aching and she could barely keep her breath steady nor her heart still but she just went for it, because unless you go after what you want, you never get to feel that thing in your arms. "Zack... I... I think I'm in love with... you..." Her voice was soft as she spoke but that lightness carried more weight than it ever had. She was more than certain of her feelings but... she wasn't sure if he would be so certain of his.

His fingers paused for a brief moment, that in retrospect must have been an agonizing while for the young woman, before starting up again. Zack held her close, smiling softly and looking at her, not daring to question her after she took such a risk with him. He was rather glad he felt the same way about her, so he didn't have to see the hurt in her eyes that would have come if he didn't.. "I.. well, at least I don't have to keep it from ya.. I love you." he'd been in love before, knew what it was like, and regardless of anything else, he was always on Cloud Nine when he was with her, his heart pounding just as he went to see her, and other things. "Have for awhile, I reckon." Who said reckon anymore, either? He must have been a little more nervous than he let on, to slip into hick-speak.

That brief moment had been complete torture to her; her heart stopped, she was sure of it, but when he spoke... and returned the sentiment, she managed to let out a shaky sigh before just burying her face in his neck, laughing lightly at the amusing and adorable way his accent and words came out. She couldn't even think of any witty dig or sarcastic comment; instead, she just pulled back slightly, to look at his face, smiling so openly and warmly at him.

Zack held tightly to her, not wanting to let the girl go, his smile somewhat shaky.. Suddenly, he just hugged her close and tight, his arms strong as steel around her, keeping her against him, with him.. "I'm not lettin' ya get away, Lightnin'. Never ever." he swallowed hard, pleased with how things were right then.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Lightning wheezed slightly to his grip but just laughed, kissing his head. "You'll have to Raise me, if you squeeze any tighter." Her words held no weight, they were mere humour and she couldn't help but laugh again, shuddering just slightly at the feel of his skin against hers. "Not that I mind, of course." Her hand stroked down from his neck to his back, trailing over his skin gently.

He loosened his grip enough for her to be able to breathe, and smiled, "I wouldn't want to have to, but I'll be sure to keep some Phoenix Downs handy, just in case." the man shivered at his touch, his skin feeling almost too sensitive from the heat of the bath, and the thrill of knowing she felt the way she did for him. "I'm glad... that I make you happy, Lightnin'.. I want to keep it like that."

"Hey, who said anything about happy, country boy?" She laughed though, pulling back enough to sneak a soft kiss to his lips. Her laugh came out a moment after and she shook her head. "You've made me a wreck, Zack. I... haven't laughed this much since I was a child." She brushed her thumb over his cheek, smiling lightly. It really was difficult to stop smiling, now. Everything was... just so good.

"Laughing ain't a bad thing, Lightnin'. It beats cryin', or just feelin' nothin'." he sighed softly, happily, and kissed her in return, winking, "If you want, I'll make you laugh more!" his fingers drifted along her sides, moving mercilessly to tickle her ribs, now that he had her in the perfect spot to have it done. Zack really was the playful sort, so he wasn't about to give up on messing with her to make her grin.

Almost like a little eruption, Lightning squealed, pushing his hands away and attempting to wriggle away from him, her giggles coming out shamelessly. She couldn't stand being tickled!! The teen squirmed away from her man and pressed herself back against the opposite wall of the hot spring, raising her foot to keep him at bay. "Don't even think about it, Fair. You're not getting the chance to do that, again." Her eyes were warm, however, even as she glared at him.

Zack followed her until the foot was on his chest, wiggling his fingers, "Oooh, tough girl with a foot, eh?" he backed off with the tickling, sliding his hand slowly along her calf and smiling at her, gently kissing the arch of her foot, a small smile on his face. Wry, yet knowing. "Then.. what do I get to do with you? I mean, if I can't use my fingers.." he was being a dirty pervert intentionally.

Lightning slid her foot up over his shoulder and used it as leverage to pull him close. "No one said you couldn't use your fingers," she purred, shifting her leg aside when he was close enough for her arms to curl around his neck. She wasn't really all that nervous of him anymore, she'd seen him at a most vulnerable point and it eased her fears considerably. Lifting her hand, she brushed her thumb over his cheek as she cupped his face, smiling lightly to him.

"I just can't.. tickle you, hmm?" he smiled softly, kissing her lips softly, slowly, letting her float in his arms in the water as he did so. "I'll keep that in mind, then, Miss Lightnin'." he didn't know her surname, or even if she had one, not that it really mattered. And yes, she'd been the one he'd relied upon most after his altercation with Genesis, and while she hadn't arrived until near the end of his ordeal, he still thought of her as the reason he did it all. Which, really, was the case. He'd still never once considered apologizing for how he felt about her.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

And any apology he could've came out with would've been thrown back at him. Lightning didn't want apologies for something she found so natural and right. Her tongue flicked his lips before she bit his lower one playfully. Certainly, she'd reset his arm and Cured him to the point of mage burn, but that was all done in a free, easy way, her heart guiding her as she'd done it, rather than her head. The teen curled her fingers in his hair, her eyes falling closed as she curved that same leg, around his waist this time, a soft moan coming from her throat.

The raven-haired man deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue over her lips then past them, rubbing it over hers. If she'd asked, Zack would have pointed out that he'd had his tongue over several parts of her, and enjoyed it. His hand crept down the leg around his waist, gripping her thigh softly, in a sense groping her. He was thankful for her feelings, and returned them in kind, having gone to great lengths to try to protect Wall Market, rather than abandon her, which had caused his injuries in the first place. The man was content, though, to have the physical contact and emotional strength with her, to just enjoy their time together, whatever else happened.

Lightning purred against his mouth as that tongue invaded, her own sliding over his with a most contented moan. She was more than glad to have his hands on her body and no matter how she was groped or felt, she would willing give herself over to him. "Nnh..." Her hand slid down his bicep, squeezing slightly and she laughed into his mouth, recalling just how damaged that limb had been not so long ago. It was oddly amusing that she seemed to be constantly healing injuries on this "fine figure of a man".

Well, if he was the one being injured, she'd have to be the one playing nurse for him. If she got hurt, he could help her, but so far she hadn't been injured. The ex-SOLDIER continued to kiss her, his hands rubbing over her sides, not to tickle, but to make her enjoy herself. He knew some of what she liked, and he wasn't about to withhold it from her.. he was a man who liked intimacy, after all, and making out in a hot spring, in a dark cave, with the woman he loved? Hell yeah!

As his hands worked her skin, she soon broke their kiss, nudging his chin up with her nose and moving to place teasing nips and licks to his Adam's Apple. The very idea of being in a hotspring with a backwater country boy she'd already received an orgasm from would've seemed beyond rediculous to her, not more than a week ago. Though, here she was, her hands on him and his on her as she gradually tried to coax more from the man she wanted, needed and loved. That, in itself, was a miracle. This bitter, cold woman in love? Honestly...

If she'd mentioned it, he'd have pointed out that love really was blind, considering their backgrounds, his own demise, and her view of herself as unapproachable sometimes. Instead, since she hadn't, mentioned a thing, he tilted his head up, moaning, to provide her more neck to toy with. He shifted in the water, sitting down and easily moving her through the liquid, so she was sitting across his lap, his hand resting on her hip, arm over her lap.

Lightning shifted to get comfortable but swiftly continued her playful advances, fingers now trailing down his chest. "Mn... I suppose I'm the one that has to start the engine, so to speak?" Her tone was full of amusement as she gently gave a roll of her hips, as well as she could, considering the position. If it had been up to her, she would've straddled him to perform this action.

Zack laughed softly, and shrugged, "No, not really.. but it's always nice to have someone turning the key, and it's usually easier than a cold start." he winked, and moved his arm, to let her move how she wanted to, trailing teasing fingers up her thigh, but stopping just short of touching her the way he had been the other day. "I really don't have those sorts of problems, getting revved up.." he grinned at her, winking.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"So I've noticed," she purred, repositioning herself to straddle his lap, arms curling around his neck as she gently rocked her whole body against his, each inch of her front grinding against him, a low moan escaping from her mouth. "It's nice to have a ride in working order, though." A slightly wicked giggle came from her mouth, something she had tried biting back but was defeated by.

"Oh? Is that all I am is a ride, to you..?" he grinned wickedly, rocking his hips up against hers suggestively, even as his hands found the curve of her backside, pulling her firmly against him. "'Cause I'll let you ride for free, if that's what you want.." his lips found her ear, and he bit gently, "We don't have anywhere to be, not really.. we can take all the time we want getting your SOLDIER handling lessons in.." his brows waggled playfully, though the way he moved against her was more erotic than anything else.

A tingling ache was in her lower abdomen, trailing all the way down to her wet and warm opening. "Maybe... maybe I'm ready for us to... take a step ahead?" She ran her hands through his hair, rolling her hips like she was trained for the damn moment, her own body erotic and beautiful against his. She hung her head back with a moan, her eyes fluttering closed. After a moment to enjoy that pleasure she'd just received from their friction, she looked to his face. "You haven't got a... sheath for your sword, though, SOLDIER."

The man moaned openly when she moved her hips, letting out a low sigh when he took stock of the situation, then Zack raised his brows and smiled slightly, nodding to his PHS, which he'd always kept several such items in, just in case. As an old habit, he'd restocked it in Wall Market, "Er.. well, not to sound like I was expecting anything like that, but I kinda do.." he shrugged softly, smiling, "Though.. I can't reach it.. from here." as for whether or not she was ready, well, that was her choice and he certainly wasn't going to push her to it, but on the same not he wasn't going to dissuade her.

Lightning chuckled a little, standing up. As she did, water cascaded down her skin, from her hair. She leaned over the edge of the hot spring and snagged his PHS, swiftly removing the contraception and raising an eyebrow as she came to settle on his lap again, tapping him on the nose with the condom packets. "You've had this in mind since we met, Fair. Don't try to act innocent now." She smiled at hip, leaning in to kiss him once more.

"Maybe so, but I haven't been rushing you into it or anything.. and I don't keep 'em on hand 'cause I think every outin'll be a time when I get lucky." he still used terms from his youth, somewhat of a child at heart, "I just figured that one day, sure, ya might wanna.. and y'don't need a kid or anything, so I'd keep some handy." he smiled slightly, and tried not to think so hard on her bending over the edge of the spring as she had, because he'd certainly been looking, and had received quite the eyeful.. Though he wasn't sure how well protection would work in a hotspring.. "Maybe we should find another spot.. for the first time at least.." he'd heard that water could wash away what could help make it easier on her, so maybe someplace more.. dry?

The girl gave a nod and kissed his nose gently before rising from the water and stepping out of it, seating herself on the edge of the hot spring and looking over her shoulder to Zack, the condom packets having found their way between her teeth; safely at the edge of the packet of course. She gave him her most sultry look, but said next to nothing as she removed the condoms from her mouth. "Well?" Turning her head back, she glanced around for a place comfortable enough, smiling lightly at the sight of Nora and the nameless Chocobo curled together in a mass of yellow.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Zack shivered at the look, noticeably, too, and waded over, putting an arm around her from behind. He bit her shoulder gently, thinking.. when he saw the Chocobos curled up, he had a bit of an idea; they'd both been given a blanket to use in case they were riding the birds in the cold, as the animals weren't of the variety born high in the mountains. "We have their riding blankets.." he smiled faintly, nuzzling the girl's neck, "We could gather a bunch of that moss, put blankets on it, and go from there.."

Lightning smiled as her shoulder was bitten, making a slight noise of pleasure and melting against him a little as he nuzzled her neck. It wasn't for sexual gratification or for the sake of pleasing him that she wanted to do this. It was purely because... because she was in love with him. She slipped from his grip and began to gather moss, laying it out on the ground, a shiver crossing her as the breeze came through from the mouth of the cave.

Zack noted the open space of the cave, and he shook his head, picking up her moss and smiling, "Over here, where the rocks are in the way.. it's private, and not out in the open." it was a little cranny in the cave, where the moss was enough to provide multihued light to see by, and he began piling plenty more inside, until the cave was nearly luminous. He wanted her, physically, in a primal, passionate sense, but it wasn't that so much as that he knew he could make her feel wonderful, fantastic and loved, and he best expressed himself physically.. Eventually, they might do it for the pleasure involved, but right then, the whole scene was romantic and everything seemed to click as right.

Lightning busied herself with getting the riding blankets out and spreading them atop the moss, frowning just slightly with a look of waiting passing her face. She wasn't sure where to go from here, so she just smiled a little, taking his hand and curling her fingers in his, her gaze soon dropping to her feet. She never imagined her first time in a place like this but... but with Zack, anywhere would be perfect.

"If.. you want to wait some more, Lightnin', we don't have to do anything like this right now." he smiled reassuringly, "I said I'd chase ya as long as you wanted me to; I'm not gonna get bored of you or anything like that." he certainly didn't want her thinking anything at all like that! The man squeezed her hand, and kissed her lips softly, sweetly, stroking her damp back as he did so. He loved her, he wasn't just lusting after her, and he could get by without constant sexual attention.. he might get a little down without some kissing or hand holding, or a smile or even a sarcastic comment from his soldier-woman, but he didn't need sex to be happy.

"If I keep waiting, nothing will ever happen, Zack. I... I want to do this now, while I know I'm ready and have the... urge." She laughed slightly, leaning into him and laying a hand on his shoulder. "Don't pass up a good chance, country boy." Lightning leaned up and kissed his lips again, giving his lower lip a gentle tug. Of course, she knew he loved her. She knew that no matter the situation, he would be there to back her up in her decisions.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"I'm not passing it up, I was.. postponing it." Postponing the boning, postboning, as it were, if he were one for silly puns at bad times.. "Then we can do this now.." he took her in his arms, bending her back a little, and kissing her tenderly, warmth and affection the mainstays of the embrace, with the undertone of lust expressed in the way he held her nude form against his. It was about the sexiest kiss he could come up with on short notice, without careful planning and logistics, and maybe a petting zoo or something involved.

Her knees all but buckled at the kiss and she had to curl her arms around his neck to hold herself up. Gods, where had he pulled that kiss from?! Lightning even went so far as to let out a soft whimper of pleasure, her lips parting a little against his. She managed to steady her jelly-like legs and began to guide him back towards the makeshift bed, blushing as she did. It was something she wanted and were it to be "postboned" she would probably pass it up far too many times for it to be fair on both of them. She was an opportunist, and this was an open window she needed to climb through.

Zack gently laid her back on their cozy little bed, still holding the kiss, longer than he would of in just about any other instance, unless he was being publically possessive of her, something he doubted she'd stand for. The man settled his weight atop her body for the moment, just taking his time kissing her, trying to make her feel as special and loved as she was in his eyes. His arms were still around her at the moment, so he couldn't do much else.. The amount of moss lent an unearthly caste to their bodies, and faces, though Zack's eyes remained resolutely aqua coloured, the brightest lights in the dimly lit nook.

Lightning pulled back from his kiss, her eyes gentle but seductive as she gazed up at his face in the odd lighting, smiling to the fact that his eyes remained so bright. Brushing her hand over his cheek, Lightning ran her thumb over his lower lip, smiling gently still. "Your eyes really are so very bright..." Her voice was soft and she laid her arm back above her head, still holding his gaze. If anything, she was just admiring his face for the moment.

"Only when I'm feeling my best, or when I'm my angriest.." ShinRa had noticed that mako flowed with adrenaline and endorphins, so when a SOLDIER was happy or angry, or aroused as Zack was right then, their eyes betrayed them. "They wouldn't ever be so bright, if not for you, Lightnin'.." he kissed her lips once more, gently, moving a hand up to stroke her cheek, not wanting to say any cheesy lines, just speaking honestly and plainly with her.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she returned the gentle kiss, laughing lightly against his lips. "Mn... Zack... I want you." If she'd spoken even slightly louder, her voice would've been a whisper; instead, the words were breathed onto his lip and she showed it all by arching her back and pressing herself tight against his body, a leg curving around him, her skin fairly dry now.

Zack nodded, deftly swiping the little wrapped item from her and setting it aside, biting her neck gently, and lifting himself to the side, his hand drifting down over her hip, as he continued to tease the skin of her throat. When his hand left her leg again, he picked up the item in question, nibbling and biting gently at her to keep her well pleased while he tore it open, tilting his hips one way, so he could roll the condom over the tip of his manhood, and working it over his length, shivering softly as he did so.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Her hands toyed with his hair and she moaned in pleasure as he bit and played at her throat, but when he lowered that hand, her eyes opened and she watched him, biting her lip just slightly, a ragged breath escaping her mouth. It wasn't that she was afraid it was just... well, how was something so large supposed to fit inside her? The teen let out light moans, still, as he nipped at her flesh.

Gently, and with lots of coaxing, if Zack had his way about it. He knew some people who just wouldn't be gentle in any instance, and was glad that he was the one to give Lightning her first time, more because he knew he'd treat her right than because he had any special love of virgins.. He could really be happy with anyone who was concerned and sensitive to his desires, and, well, Lightning was someone like that. After he'd finished adorning himself with the latex sheath, he slipped his hand to her thigh, squeezing gently, and kissing her sweetly, even as his fingers began walking their walk, brushing teasingly over hot, sensitive flesh.

As his fingers only ghosted over her, Lightning's eyes fluttered shut and she trembled, moaning openly against his lips, her cheeks flushing pink. He really was going to do this gently... Lightning thanked whatever Gods there were, even if she didn't believe in them. "Aah..." She had to turn away from the kiss, biting into her lip as a frown came to her face. One of pleasure, most certainly, as her nails lightly dragged over his spine.

Zack moaned under his breath at the scratch, one of the things he truly loved having done to him, and rested the heel of his palm against her pelvic area, lightly stroking his fingers over her moist opening, then to the bit of flesh that would be as sensitive as she was inside, very softly rolling it between his thumb and forefinger after a moment. The whole while, though, his lips were finding new spots on her neck to kiss, his tongue brushing over her skin. Oh yes, he'd make sure she enjoyed it; they had no-where else to be, and all the time in the world to spend there right then..

Each touch sent shivers down her own spine and she couldn't help but drag her nails down the man's back, arching her hips up into his tuch. She was so deeply enthralled by this man and each thing he did felt like a new sensation. "Zack..." His name was not spoken to get his attention, more to remind the teen that the man above her, the man whose hand was toying with her, the man whose lips were so wickedly delicious to the flesh, that he was the one she loved, no matter what else had happened. Lightning gasped willingly, her eyes opening a brief second before falling closed again at the sheer intensity of the pleasure.

The man's fingers slowly, and gently, began to dip a little deeper, though when he was using more than fingertips, he only let one digit slip slowly into her, wriggling very softly. He loved making her breathe his name out, like a secret, and it made him want to hear it again each time. He was going slow, but she'd realize he was steadily making more demands on her body, his mouth having wandered slowly from her neck, to one of her breasts, flicking his tongue over her nipple. Even if he was nothing else, he could have been noted for the consideration he made for his bedmate. "Mmh.. we might be here for awhile.." he mumbled it against her flesh, each little quiver he sent through her being yet another call for him to do more.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

The girl writhed and panted, her skin beginning to gloss over with a light, almost feverish sweat as she was teased from inside. "Z-Zack... Oohh..." Her nails dug into his back and she moaned a little louder, wriggling beneath him. He was teasing, and yes, it was amazing but she wasn't the kind to wait too long for what she wanted. Lightning spread her legs a little wider, giving a slight roll of her hips, into the finger that was so deep inside her body.

Her hips only wound up pushing his finger in more deeply, but Zack took that as an affirmative motion enough to begin withdrawing it, then slowly thrusting it back into her, repeating the motion after a moment. Yeah, Zack was going to spend the first bit getting her impatient and riled up, though either he'd be coaxed into taking her, or she'd flip them and she'd wind up taking him, but either way, she'd be -more- than ready.. Zack figured he wanted to bypass as much of her discomfort as he could.


"Nghh... Zack..." Her eyes were watering at the sheer intensity and her breath was shallow. "M-more." It was quite a demand for someone so vulnerable and open but she wouldn't let him just toy with her. She half expected him to just try making her come with only his hand but she wasn't going to let him. She refused to. Arching her whole spine, Lightning let out a shudder along with a moan that was followed by a whisper of his name.

Really, it wouldn't be fair to continue tormenting her the same way he had been. He moved his hand away from her, and gently spread her legs, moving her right with his right hand, and nudging the left aside with his knees. Zack knelt over her, the tip of his member resting against her at the moment, as he kissed her lips sweetly, "I'm gonna go slow, and gentle, okay..? Just tell me if you need me to stop, or back off.." he didn't want to hurt her more than it would.

Lightning nodded, looking up to him with a hazy gaze, her eyes glazed over in lust and her lips parted as she panted softly. "Okay... I trust you." It was a strange sentence on her lips and it tasted foreign to her tongue. Trust was something earned, and Zack certainly had done so. Lightning rested a hand on his forearm whilst the other, her right, tucked itself under her chin, her arm between her breasts. Nothing else needed to be said as she tried to relax herself.

The man was true to his word, and he winced slightly, himself, when he gave a little roll of his hips, pushing his cock slowly into the young woman, teeth clenching softly, a low breath hissing forth. He kept his eyes open and looking into hers, though, resting his weight on one arm, the other hand gently rubbing her arm, trying to be comforting and reassuring as he made the first move in making love to her.

The girl tried keeping his gaze, her body aching pleasantly... until that length began to push further inside. It hurt, certainly, but she couldn't bite back the moan of total euphoria at the pure heat his body gave into hers. "Aaah~" Her hands both reached for his shoulders as her damp eyes looked up to him with trust, admiration, a small amount of fear, and more than enough love to compensate for any pain she was feeling. Her body trembled but, to make it slightly easier on them both, she rolled her hips, forcing that throbbing dick a little deeper inside.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Zack took a deep breath, biting back a moan of his own when she moved, still rocking his hips, slowly but surely working more of himself into her. Gently, he lowered his body onto hers, wrapping his arms around the woman beneath him and kissing her lips sweetly, "Ngg~" he moaned again, into her mouth, his hips twitching a little. But no, he continued his gentle motion, trying to let her body get a feel for him, so to speak. It didn't hurt, for him, except to think that he might inadvertently harm her by being overeager.

It was painful, there was a dull ache and a spiteful sting inside but she barely noticed it. Just the pressure of his size made her breathless and more aroused than ever in her short life. "Ah... Zack..." Her own moans and his name came out against his mouth but she made no attempt to pull away, her arms curled around his neck as she gave a steady, slow roll of her hips. It was rather an exaggerated move but the way it was executed made her body tremble. "D-don't force yourself to stay calm for my sake. Nghh... I want it, Zack."

The man shuddered at her words, blushing enough to be noticed in the prismatic light from the moss, kissing her sweetly. He held her tightly, lovingly, as his hips began a more steady, rolling motion, keeping his shaft sheathed deep inside her, while allowing him to thrust softly against her. It was a gentle, passionate, desperate way of making love, as he tried to keep somewhat of a level head just then, but he loved the girl, and while he didn't want to hurt her, she wasn't shrieking in pain, and was asking for more than he'd been giving. Truth be told, sex or not, he needed her, and it showed in the way he took her, pouring himself out emotionally, at least through his actions.

Lightning's eyes had fallen closed and her hands were lightly clawing into his back, moans coming out steadily and continually as he moved. No matter the small pain she was feeling, the way he kissed her and moved inside... it made it all worth it. She could feel how much he needed her, through each thrust and each sound, and Lightning blinked her eyes open to look up at his face. Something inside her chest was making it hard to look at him without wanting to kiss him; so she did. Leaning up to press her lips to his as her own body rocked against his, her lack of skill being quickly pushed aside as pure instinct began to grip her. Lightning's breath was hot against his mouth and her leg curled around him; she nipped his lower lip and stroked a hand over his face, each gentle action to show her own level of emotion for this man.

Zack returned her kiss, catching her lips in another, then again as he continued to move with the blonde. "Mmph..." his moans were muffled against her mouth, his scarred skin hot against hers. Sometimes, Zack planned ahead, like where they were going, or having protection on hand just in case, but there were some things that he simply couldn't plan or account for. The weather, most of the time, was hard to predict, for instance. Lightning, too, was hard to read for him; she wasn't experienced, really, in what they were up to, yet she performed as well as if she was, and seemed to make him feel as if he wasn't quite as.. well-travelled, as he indeed was. And above all these thoughts, Zack's current largest one was on keeping calm, which was hard to do with her nails knifing into his back like that; he loved that.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Pressing herself up closer to him, her mouth moving to trail over his neck and shoulder then back again, all the way to his ear. Flicking her tongue inside it, she nipped the lobe. "Don't hold back on me, Zack. I'm not a China doll." Her nails then, they were ruthless as she clawed quite spitefully down his back at the same moment as giving her hips a roll. His skin was hot, as was hers, and she panted as she moaned, her normally soft white skin a flushed pink all over, her nipples were hard and her eyes were hazy with lust but she still grasped him enough to be sure he was there for her and to reassure herself that, above all, this was Zack and she was safe.

As long as she knew that, he'd keep reinforcing it, because in his opinion she was safer with him than without. "Nng..!" he moaned hotly against her neck when she clawed him harder, his hips giving an involuntary jerk, pushing hers back down. So, that's the way she wanted to play the game, hmm? He bit her neck sweetly, his hands roaming her sides with the gentle touches he usually used, which were a stark contrast to his movements, now.. Zack's hips weren't letting up much at all, pushing back against hers just after lifting, though he wasn't rough about it, merely forceful, with a quickening pace. "I know that.." he mumbled at her neck, just below her ear, "China dolls aren't nearly as interesting."

"Nggh... you better believe it..." She bit into her lip, brow furrowing as she dug one foot to their makeshift mattress, the heel of her other pressing his lower back. The sheer force he used was so intense and she dragged her nails down his flesh, her own heated sounds muffled against him until she hung her head back, eyes closing tightly, loud and unabashed moans spilling from her lips. Lightning couldn't be sure but it felt like he'd found something deep inside her that was craving his attention and she writhed beneath him. Every inch of her skin was tingling in pleasure and Lightning could almost feel a pressure building; both in her mind and her hot, wet sex that he was so sweetly and thoroughly claiming.

"Livin' and breathin' it lately.." he'd said it in regards to since he'd met her, not in relation to since they'd been on that mattress. His strong arms held her close, tight against him, his hips grinding against hers each time he was plunged deeply into her. If she kept clawing his back like that, Zack thought he might go nuts! Of course, the heel on his back was pretty good incentive, too, along with her chorus of moans. Like Zack really needed an incentive to keep up his actions? Really, it was all overkill for his senses, and despite himself, he was panting and moaning along with her, albeit in a more subdued manner, though right against her ear. He'd known men that refused to vocalize anything during the act, but he wasn't one of them.

Lightning's nails were most probably breaking skin now; she grit her teeth, trying to keep some of her noise to herself but it was so damn difficult with the way he moved and those sounds in her ear. Even if he wasn't as loud as she was, the noises he was making were more than arousing. Everything he did... it was all just driving her crazy. "Aa..." Her eyes half opened and she trailed one hand to his hair but that other one continued to scrape at his skin. "Zack..." She was aching so much that her whole body felt like it would just give in and he'd win her over entirely. Not that he hadn't already.

He moaned her name from time to time, not minding the searing in his back where her nails had indeed broken skin. Some wounds, well, he enjoyed. Maybe a bit too much. The man lifted her hips gently, using both hands to do so, subtly changing the angle of his penetration, still constantly rolling his hips, being quite ruthless as he sought to drive her up the proverbial wall. Sometimes, people didn't think to do little things to alter perspectives during sex, though in that manner, whole changes in position weren't always needed, as he was demonstrating. The downside was that it left his upper body's weight on hers, though he doubted either of them minded.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

The weight of his upper body made no point of interest in Lightning; her entire focus fell on the shift of her hips and how she suddenly couldn't catch her breath between moans and how her eyes were watering with sheer pleasure. The sounds she made were primal and Lightning couldn't even concentrate anymore, her whole body giving into him and her hands gripping him tighter. She was sure she could feel her climax coming close but did nothing to stop it if it would come. It was true, sometimes it was better to change a little, rather than entirely and this shift had made her heart about ready to burst from her chest.

Zack groaned deeply, his muscles tense against her as his own peak drew near. Sure, he could go and be good to go again rather quickly, but he could only endure so much, and Lightning wasn't a cold fish by any means. The man continued to rock his hips firmly against hers, biting at her neck, her name on his lips. Not really wanting to disappoint by finishing before her, the man's teeth clenched and his eyes closed, trying to hold himself back, at least for the little while longer he could, anyway.

Lightning, however, couldn't keep herself from letting go. Her body trembled as she writhed beneath him before she stiffened just slightly, her eyes snapping open and her brow furrowing as her orgasm washed over her. Almost as soon as it began, her eyes fell shut again but her moan was loud, a shudder rolling down her spine. With little else to do but just try to breathe, Lightning pressed both sets of fingernails into Zack's shoulder blades and dragged down, quite spitefully as her lower body tensed around him. Sure, she was going to enjoy this orgasm, but she wouldn't let it happen without dragging him to his along with her.

His breath hissed out as she began to score his back, though he grunted a pained sound, before muffling a short cry into her neck as he followed her off that proverbial brink. His hips were flush against hers, for it, and he clung tightly to Lightning, moaning deeply, his body quivering a little as his muscles began to relax. He gently let her hips down onto their little mattress, panting hot breath onto her neck, his hands rubbing along her hips. But he didn't move from atop her.

If he had, she would've certainly gone cold on him. Right this minute, she needed him close; as close as possible, as they were. Lightning ran a hand over his hair as her own breaths came out hot and short, her eyes gently closed. Leaning to his ear, Lightning nudged gently and playfully with her nose. "I love you," she whispered, her hands finding it more fitting to stroke his bloodied back, rather than to continue clawing into him. With her lips still against his ear, Lightning whispered a gentle Cure for the wounds, smiling lightly.

The man shivered softly, a little noise of relief and contentment coming from him when she healed him, and stroked his back. He nuzzled her neck gently, smiling, "Mmh.. I love you too, Lightnin'." his eyes continued to glow, and while she held him, he was also holding her. "Never gonna be otherwise, y'know.." he mumbled it, shaking off the tired feeling that plagued men everywhere after the act, smiling at her after lifting his head from her shoulder. They hadn't found any Mithril, yet, but right then he didn't really care about anything except her. He also didn't have his materia, or he'd have Cured her in return, certain that at least her back would be sore. Moss or not, it was a rough rock floor.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Yeah, she was sore. All over, really, but Lightning didn't care. She smiled up at him, running her thumb under his eye. "It'd better not be, Zack. You've done a lot to make me open up." He'd done far more than anyone, really, and if he broke her it would break her for everyone. There'd be no chance of revival; concerning her emotions, that is. She'd pick herself up and carry on, but cold front would be her only front. Wriggling just a little, she slipped one arm under her head, laughing just softly as she did. So, that's what it all felt like? Maybe it wasn't as bad as she'd expected. Maybe.

Well, that's what it felt like when someone who cared was handling the reins. Of course, there were a million ways it could have been different, but Zack was happy with how it had gone, and she was obviously pleased. "Don't worry Lightnin', s'not like I've got eyes for anyone else.." and indeed, when Zack had a girl to call his, he was hers. He wasn't the cheating type, and while he would flirt, that was his nature, and he'd take his lumps from her for it. "Somethin' funny?" he raised his brows playfully, kissing the young woman's lips sweetly, his tone teasing, "Was I laughable in my performance?" he winked, to cement the fact that he was, indeed, teasing.

"You were... adequate." She was going to tease back, not just stroke his ego. He surely didn't need that, after their act. "Mn... It's just funny that... so quickly, I'm a different person when I've worked so many years to be a cold, ruthless soldier." Lightning was more than comfortable with that, however uncomfortable the ground was beneath her. Brushing her fingers over his brow and down the side of his face, she cupped her fingers under his chin and drew him in for another kiss.

He had chuckled knowingly when she teased him back, and returned her kiss, holding her face in his hands as he did so, smiling afterwards. "That's not all there is to life, is all I've shown you. You can be cold and ruthless when you need to be, and I'll still love you. You.. just have to be you," he thought he'd shown her that she wouldn't get burned for it, so it was coming through, "I'm not going to hold a few smiles and giggles against you. I know you can kick my butt." he winked, and pinched her cheek gently, knowing he'd get a reprisal for it, but quickly tried to curtail that by kissing her again.

While she smiled to the kiss, her eyebrow quirked to the pinch to her cheek and she swiftly reprimanded him for it by giving him a sharp slap on his backside. Though, in hindsight, that might not seem much of a punishment as a teasing come-on. Lightning continued that kiss he'd tried to use as an escape, her hand remaining on his bottom but the other curling in his hair. Tugging his hair, she pulled him from the kiss. "I'm sure you'll learn your place, soon enough," she teased, concerning his silly idea of trying to tease her with that pinch.

"Mmh, I'm just an ex-SOLDIER, following orders is what I know. Now, if a certain blonde keeps making her will known, I'm sure we'll do fine." he might have professed to following orders, but Zack had only ever really taken suggestions, instead opting to lead the way and brashly forge his own path. He was rebellious as much as obedient, and the two often warred within him. "Careful, though.." he tensed his backside against her hand and snickered, "Rile me up too much, and I've still got enough protection to wile the night away.." he bit her lip gently, giving a little roll of his hips, as he was still lodged inside her.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

With a slight gasp, she shuddered just a little. However, using her soldier-trained force, she soon swapped their positions, his back now pressed to the blankets as she sat up on him, her hands on his chest. Her own spine needed reprieve from the stones beneath the moss. "You, SOLDIER, have no sense of when enough is enough," she purred, giving a roll of her hips. "Though, I expect I don't either, I reckon." Lightning's words came out with a teasing put-on attempt at his accent and, while it wasn't that dissimilar to his, it was obvious she was an upstanding girl from an upstanding Holy City.

He grunted when she shifted their positions, and shivered softly, "If you're gonna move yer hips like that, at least lemme take off this used one, and slip into something fresh." he winked playfully, resting a hand on her hip, the other idly resting on his belly, "Then we'll find out when enough is enough, I reckon." he grinned, putting on an accented version of his own accent, trying to mimic her mimicking him. It was terrible!

Laughing almost wickedly, she gave another roll of her hips before rising off him, hissing slightly at the pain. Okay. She was bleeding there a little, and it hurt, but she simply slipped a hand down and a finger carefully inside as she muttered a Cure spell. The teen shuddered a little then rested beside him, stifling a yawn with her other hand. She might be a little tired but she wasn't ready to sleep. She'd rather stay awake talking to him, if she had to, rather than sleeping. Any chance to just be awake with him.

Zack removed the condom, twisting it and tying a knot in the end rather deftly, before sitting up, leaning out of the cranny, and depositing it in a small depression. Which he covered with a small rock. Then, he smiled, and cuddled back up to Lightning, kissing her cheek, "You alright..?" he looked concerned, but he wanted to know what he could do before he tried doing anything.

"Mm, I'm fine." She watched him for a while, soon pressing him down and straddling him but just resting down on him, chest to chest, her arms near his head as she toyed with his hair. "I was... thinking. If you were in the... the 'Lifestream' or whatever... if you were dead, does that not mean you were reborn? At that thought, would it not mean you were purely a virgin with skill?" She laughed a little at her own thoughts, shaking her head slightly.

Zack thought back for a moment, taking what she'd said into consideration rather than laughing it away. It was true that he'd been reacting to her like a kid with his first crush, and little things she had done would make him nervous, or fluttery in the stomach.. Of course, he still had all of the working knowledge of what to do and what to expect, but his reactions were somewhat off, now that he thought about it. The man frowned softly, replying carefully, "Y'might be right about that. I mean.. I've been reacting kinda.. eagerly." that was a good word to use.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Lightning laughed and pressed a kiss to his head. "I like you eager. Besides, it just means I took your... second first time." She shook her head a little and pressed her lips to his for a brief moment. "Does it matter if you were a virgin? It just means that we'll be each others' firsts." With a shrug, she nudged his chin up, placing chaste kisses down his throat, her fingers still toying with his hair. She did have a thing for those locks, it seemed.

Zack didn't want to downplay the importance she put on it, and smiled, hugging her, "Not to me, no.. For me, what matters is that you trust me, and love me back.." he honestly wouldn't have cared if she'd been a virgin, or had slept with the ranking tiers of ShinRa, as his previous crush on a certain red-dressed Weapons R&D leader had given proof to. "Besides.. if you like me eager, I can be plenty eager. But, if it's important to you.. I'm glad you were my second first time." he saw a running joke there, and mimicked her mimed accent again, "Pardner."

Lightning laughed a little and just rested her head on his chest, sighing softly. It was true that he was happy here... well, not in the cave, but in Zack's company. Strangely enough, though, she did want to see Genesis. To hear him out and just to... just to end it all properly. Even if he probably thought of her as some back-stabbing slut right about now. The teen frowned, petting her hand over Zack's chest and tucking her head under his chin.

Zack sighed softly, rather content there with Lightning against him. It didn't matter to him where they wound up as long as they were together, but his fight with Genesis continued to come to mind. Eventually, if the man turned out to be the monster Zack condemned him as in Wall Market, he'd have to put his friend down. Then again, Genesis was entirely too given to drama and theatrics, so by the time he calmed down, the man might actually turn out to be half decent. Zack rubbed the blonde's back gently, a small frown on his face as he thought about it.