[nothing about the plaque in his hand has changed but it suddenly feels heavy. And out of all the things he could write, each one would only make it heavier. Zack searches Cloud's face for a moment and he's not sure what he's trying to find, but it isn't there. Cloud's really trusting him with this.
A part of him is worried what will happen next; the last time he watched someone learn the truth, he had to watch a good man's slow decent into madness. There's differences, important ones, but he still can't help but be reminded of it. The week leading up to the disaster, Sephiroth locked away in the manor discovering where he came from - Zack doesn't want to see that happen again.
But . . . he also knows Cloud is stronger than that. This is something that, somewhere inside his head, he already knows. It isn't some life-shattering revelation like it had been with Sephiroth. Really, in the end it's just a reminder.
A big one. But a reminder all the same.
He debates trying to word it in a way that's less direct, but for all that Zack can be vague about most things, this time the words don't come. So, he writes it in answer to what Cloud asked and, after taking a moment to frown at the tablet and his messy handwriting, turns to hang it up before he can second guess it.
"You never made SOLDIER."
His hand returns, this time clasping Cloud on the shoulder. And instead of trying to explain it better, he waits]
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A part of him is worried what will happen next; the last time he watched someone learn the truth, he had to watch a good man's slow decent into madness. There's differences, important ones, but he still can't help but be reminded of it. The week leading up to the disaster, Sephiroth locked away in the manor discovering where he came from - Zack doesn't want to see that happen again.
But . . . he also knows Cloud is stronger than that. This is something that, somewhere inside his head, he already knows. It isn't some life-shattering revelation like it had been with Sephiroth. Really, in the end it's just a reminder.
A big one. But a reminder all the same.
He debates trying to word it in a way that's less direct, but for all that Zack can be vague about most things, this time the words don't come. So, he writes it in answer to what Cloud asked and, after taking a moment to frown at the tablet and his messy handwriting, turns to hang it up before he can second guess it.
"You never made SOLDIER."
His hand returns, this time clasping Cloud on the shoulder. And instead of trying to explain it better, he waits]