Final Fantasy 7:

Cured Hearts, Cursed Lives

By: Shade the Raven

(All characters, songs and such properties of their respective owners)

It was almost closing time in Seventh Heaven, but there were still plenty of people crammed inside. Behind the bar, Tifa Lockheart was finishing washing out the glasses, humming along with the soft music that was all but drowned out in the hustle. And even though drink orders were being called out left and right, her mind was nowhere in the continent.

Cloud… please come back to us… please come back to me…

He had left Midgar quickly after Sephiroth's second coming, vowing to hunt down what was left of the geostigma and save the Lifestream…and her she added silently. She was still a bit surprised at the negativity that came attached to those thoughts. It wasn't directed at Aeris, she thought of her as a friend, even a sister. No, the anger came from the simple fact that he was simply wound too tightly to see what was right in front of him. And now he was gone again.

"Hey! Barmaid! Is my money not good enough for your brew or what?!!"

When she snapped back into reality, a hulking bear of a man was weaving toward the bar as best as his drunken feet would move. He slammed his hands into the counter "Where's my fucking drink!?"

Her hands balled into fists as she met her customers glare "Sir, I think you have had enough. I'm sure one of your friends here would be happy to take you home."

The drunk laughed and glared into the tavern. With a nod, two others rose to join him as everyone else began to flee outside. With the patrons fumbling around in panic, no one paid any attention to the entrance of another, somewhat shorter visitor. The scene that greeted him was definitely not what he expected.

By the Lifestream, what's going on?!

"Actually," the ape chuckled, revealing his sidearm "I think it would be better if we crashed here tonight… all of us."

Suddenly, there was a scream from behind him. He turned to see one of his comrades' faces down in the floor, out like a light. The other was trapped into a corner, shaking at the sight of the mean-spirited mass of red fur and fang in front of him.

"WHAT THE HELL IS …" he yelled, drawing his weapon. It disappeared out of his hands just as quickly, and he felt its barrel tap him on the neck. Slowly, he met her huge blue eyes, and her steady aim "I don't think you would like the company."

He nodded and began to stumble backwards. The fierce some cat let his prey back out of the corner and run outside, dragging the limp body of his friend out with him. Once the ape was to the door, he tried to run after his buddies. Tifa hurled the weapon at him, scoring home on the back of his head. The man flew head first down the stairs and landed into a puddle of mud. He would sleep well tonight.

After a moment to calm and collect, Red XIII shook his head at the display "I see that business is doing well for you as well."

She laughed, but he could tell something was amiss. Her voice sounded empty… almost lifeless. "Yea. That was the first time that loser brought help though. You have a great sense of timing."

He smirked "I have been accused of that before. How are you, Tifa?"

She sat on the closest barstool to rest her weary feet "Oh, other than a few stumbling idiots, I'm doing just fine. I'm surprised to see you here, Red. Thought you hated alcohol."

"Ugh, despise the stuff. Actually, I had some free time with Yuffie off in the Northern Continent for ninjit-su training. I came by looking for Cloud. Has he returned yet?"

Her gaze sank to the floor, and her voice began to crack "Not yet, I haven't heard from him since he went to the Forgotten City. All he said was that he was searching…"

Her voice faded, and then was gone entirely. The only sound to keep total silence at bay was the soft drone of the radio.

I'm so much like you restless and reckless
I need a clue
Show me a sign
I feel like making a move
Real geographic a changing mood
Well let go of everything we know

Red watched the single drop race its way down her cheek and hit the floor. Followed by another, then they didn't stop. Suddenly, it dawned on the lion; Cloud was searching for the Ancient.

Abandoning the lovely young barmaiden in the process.

He leapt onto the counter next to her "Tifa…I'm sorry, I had no idea…" Trying to raise her head up with his cheek, he realized that suddenly, he wasn't alone in circumstance. When Yuffie told him she was leaving, he had wished her well. He was actually very happy to see his young ninja want to improve her skills. They had kept in contact for a while, and for a time life was good. Then, the distance slowly took its toll on both of them. She had grown more interested in training than anything else, especially Red. It had been weeks since her last call, which had ended on a very foul note. It normally takes a lot to get the crimson warrior angry, but that was the night he snapped a lot of things, including his PHS.

You and I'll ride tonight
Till the past is out of sight
We don't have to look back now
From the dark into the light
We can leave it all behind
We can stand together
We don't have look back now

Tifa's tears soaked into his fur, and without warning, her arms had encircled his neck and held him tightly. He responded by gently nuzzling her neck. Her skin was warm and soft even through his fur. They stayed that way for what seemed to be an eternity until she let loose to meet his alert emerald eyes with her massive blue gems. "It's all a lie, isn't it," she said, her voice almost a whimper.

"It looks so. They have gone on. Forgetting what they left behind."

"We don't deserve this, Nanaki."

"No, we do not"

I'm so much like you
Caught in the moment
Coming unglued
In world so big
It's not easy to choose
Which path to take
Which part to move
We'll let go of everything we ever known

They stared into each other's eyes, almost completely unaware of the sheer heat rising between both of them. Her lips were trembling and his breath was rapid. The warrior felt his logic take flight as the more basic, more animal instincts kick in. It was like instantly, he had to be closer to her. Suddenly, he saw her gaze start to wander back to the floor. No longer waiting for any other signal, he softly placed his muzzle to her lips, the closest approximation to a kiss he could do. Tifa's eyes became wide with surprise, yet she didn't pull away.

You and I'll ride tonight
Till the past is out of sight
We don't have to look back now
From the dark into the light
We can leave it all behind
We can stand together
We don't have look back now

After what felt like a blissful eternity, Red let his hold of her release ever so slowly. Her face, stunned at what just happened, told the warrior what he needed to know. He dropped his amber gaze away from hers, his voice betraying his emotion "I am sorry, I… well it looked like you… I mean…"

And before he could lower himself back to the bar floor, her voice responded ever so softly, yet resonating with energy.

"Nanaki."

He perked his head up again, only to feel her soft lips latch back onto him. Her hands found their way around his ears and mane. And as their tongues swirled around furiously together, he felt the animal side taking control. This time, Red didn't stop it.

No one can stop us now
The world is rushing by
The wind is at our back
Everything is new tonight
We're going our own way
No matter what they say
The bridge is on fire
We're flying higher now

Slowly, they had worked their way into her bedroom, to her soft bed. And Tifa's clothes had worked themselves off and strewn about the floor, save for her underwear. Red used the grit of his tongue and the point of his front fangs to tease and stimulate any and every part of her body. There was no more cold, logical Red XIII. No, this was Nanaki, the warrior, the primal.

You and I'll ride tonight
Till the past is out of sight
We don't have to look back now
We are knocking down the wall
All for one and one for all
We can stand together
Never gonna look back now
No, no, no, no
We don't have to look back now
No, no, no, no
We don't have to look back now

Finally, the moment had come. He hooked his teeth around the lip of her panties and yanked them down and away. She gasped, breathing heavily, but did not resist. Once the last shred of defense was gone, the warrior let his breath play out first over her exposed nethers. The heat and energy played all havoc with his senses, but he could definitely tell one thing. It was different than Yuffie's scent. This was pure…innocent.

Before he let could tease her any further, her voice cut through the fog in his head.

"Nanaki… there's something …you need to know."

A smile played out across his face. He kissed and licked his way up her stomach and bust until his eyes locked with hers. "Do not worry nushi. I know."

Her hands locked gently onto his shoulder blades "But, how…?"

"Call it, an intuition."

She smiled, and pulled him down to her mouth. He could feel the passion her body ached with, translated through the kiss and the way her grip tightened on his coat. His own power and ferocity let her know the same.

Then, she felt something new, something hot and somewhat moist, prod her inner thigh. Having little doubt about what it was, she shifted slightly, letting it slide across her entrance. Both groaned with lust.

"Take me… Nanaki" her voice emerging almost as a whimper.

And together, on what had started on a simple social visit, they had found something new all together. Secrets had been shared, feeling boiled over, and purity lost into hot embraces and passion-filled movements. Yet when all was said and done, and the two lovers lay together in exhaustion, neither could think of a more comfortable place to be or a more cherished person to be with.

At last, the healing could begin.