bloom
The starflowers were blooming. They peeked their vibrant blue heads out of the forest floor all over the place, and as if Aeris herself had come back to whisper it in her ear, Tifa suddenly knew that everything was going to be all right. She felt it in the warmth of the early spring breeze that playfully stirred her hair, the teasing rays of sunlight that made their way past the protective boughs of the trees to paint the forest floor in stripes of gold. The feeling was rare enough, and deep down she understood that it would soon fade, eclipsed by the knowledge of what lay before them. For now, though, she was content to bask in the rare and precious light of hope. A flash of crimson caught her eye and she grinned, skipping over to plop down on her knees next to Vincent, sitting cross-legged under a tree on his outspread cloak, various gun parts laid out in front of him to be cleaned.
"Hey Valentine!"
Vincent guardedly raised his eyes and quirked an eyebrow in annoyance at the interruption.
"For you," Tifa said softly, holding out a silky blue bloom, and he reached out automatically to take the flower between his fingers. Then she smiled.
Vincent froze, never before having had the full force of her radiant smile directed solely at him. To say that it was disorienting would be an understatement. All irritation—in truth, all thought—was swept away by the allure of her joyous face. His eyes drifted helplessly from her mouth up to her soft brown eyes, to the merriment sparkling from within. He was vaguely aware that it was rude to stare so, but he was quite simply unable to look away. He caught a glimpse of her soul shining there in her eyes, and the beauty of it stopped his breath in his chest, and in the part of his mind that still functioned it occurred to him that Cloud was an idiot. Tifa shook her head teasingly and plucked the flower back out of his unresisting hand.
"Here," she said, reaching up. He lowered his eyes and remained absolutely still as she deftly braided the bloom into a lock of his hair. She sat back and examined the effect with pleasure.
"Perfect!" she exclaimed, and flitted off, a wood nymph with petals tangled into the fall of chocolate-colored hair swirling unbound around her calves, oblivious to the stunned crimson gaze that followed her. Had he really just allowed her to braid a flower into his hair without the slightest protest? The plait felt odd, hanging there against his cheek, yet he made no move to undo that which she had wrought.
"She's really somethin'."
Vincent's eyes flicked briefly to Barret, who had somehow appeared unnoticed at his side to join him in his reverie. He absently noted the uncharacteristic gentleness on the gruff man's face and the woven wreath of flowers draped incongruously around his neck before he allowed Tifa to once more captivate his attention. She had somehow subdued Cid, who had crossed his arms grouchily, but was not putting up any particular resistance as she busily decorated him with flowers.
"Indeed," murmured Vincent thoughtfully.
-owari-
Written (very quickly) in honor of the lone gunman's birthday. Seems not only the flowers are blooming... Hope you enjoyed my indulgence, reviews are shiny!