[ He's so small. Zack can't help but notice it after one-armed hanging on a tall, cold suit of armor not long back or giving that same armor an elbow or shove here and there. He'd gotten so used to that avatar of Al that part of him's admittedly still wrapping his brain around this. But the other part of that is just... between relieved and concerned, really. Relieved because this is what Al wanted so much. But also worried because he's so, so delicate. Zack almost freezes from that sigh alone.
But nothing bad happens, so he continues to hold onto the kid. He's not surprised by Al's lack of words. It's a struggle to even find his own. The kid reminds him too much of Cloud, looking weak and helpless. But at least he doesn't look lifeless, even in his poor state. His eyes are focused and he's not constantly struggling with coherent thoughts let alone stringing them into words. That's good at least.
But he's still skin and bones and that...
That's a train of thought that stills when he feels that dampness soaking through the collar of his uniform, feels shaking that's not just from the cold. He pauses if only for a moment before he reaches up to gently ruffle Al's hair much like he used to (and, well- still does) with Spike. ] Hey...
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But nothing bad happens, so he continues to hold onto the kid. He's not surprised by Al's lack of words. It's a struggle to even find his own. The kid reminds him too much of Cloud, looking weak and helpless. But at least he doesn't look lifeless, even in his poor state. His eyes are focused and he's not constantly struggling with coherent thoughts let alone stringing them into words. That's good at least.
But he's still skin and bones and that...
That's a train of thought that stills when he feels that dampness soaking through the collar of his uniform, feels shaking that's not just from the cold. He pauses if only for a moment before he reaches up to gently ruffle Al's hair much like he used to (and, well- still does) with Spike. ] Hey...