It was raining outside, days like this were always slow at 7th Heaven. The light coming in from the few windows in the bar was a grey color. Tifa stood behind the bar wiping down places that didn't really need it.
She exhaled and pushed her hair out of her face, looking up at the clock. Another few hours before the bar closed, and exactly 4 weeks and 2 days since Cloud had last left. His leaving wasn't unusual. He was here then he wasn't. When he was here he was quiet, distant and cold. Tifa felt her grip on the bar rag tighten as she was thinking about his aggravating behavior. They'd had their moments, before meteor fall. That quiet night before the battle and so much bloodshed, when it was just the two of them, no one else in the world knew the things they'd shared. He'd told her everything she wanted to hear and for an instant she thought it would all last. Then it didn't. Cloud came home a broken spirit, and he didn't even look at her anymore. She bowed her head as tears began to run down her cheeks, she'd thrown herself at him the last time he was home just hoping for a reaction. That night in the hallway she heard him leaving his bedroom and ran out to meet him, grabbing his hand.
"Cloud just look at me!" She had yelled, her voice cracking with emotion.
"Tifa..." was all he managed pulling away from her.
"Don't start, I know Cloud. I was there remember? For all of it! I felt all of it with you! But damn it Cloud since you feel like you have to relive it everyday can't you relive it with me?! I understand the hurt, the sleepless nights."
For a moment she thought she got through to him, but he just kept walking. He hadn't been home since, and Tifa had all but given up on them. She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked across the beaten wooden floor to the door of the bar, and flipped the lock over. Closing early this one night wasn't going to hurt nearly as much as trying to deal with drunks in her current state of mind. She slowly made her rounds turning off the lights and got to the stairs when she heard the rumble of a motor approaching. She tilted her head to the side, knowing it was fenrir but contemplating if she should keep the door locked this time. The engine cut out and she head the heavy footsteps coming up to the front door, followed by a soft knock. She held her breath and felt a knot coming into her throat. She made it over to the door becoming light headed and swallowed hard as she opened it. Cloud stood there soaked by the rain and lifted his mako blue eyes to her wine colored eyes.
"We should talk."
She exhaled and pushed her hair out of her face, looking up at the clock. Another few hours before the bar closed, and exactly 4 weeks and 2 days since Cloud had last left. His leaving wasn't unusual. He was here then he wasn't. When he was here he was quiet, distant and cold. Tifa felt her grip on the bar rag tighten as she was thinking about his aggravating behavior. They'd had their moments, before meteor fall. That quiet night before the battle and so much bloodshed, when it was just the two of them, no one else in the world knew the things they'd shared. He'd told her everything she wanted to hear and for an instant she thought it would all last. Then it didn't. Cloud came home a broken spirit, and he didn't even look at her anymore. She bowed her head as tears began to run down her cheeks, she'd thrown herself at him the last time he was home just hoping for a reaction. That night in the hallway she heard him leaving his bedroom and ran out to meet him, grabbing his hand.
"Cloud just look at me!" She had yelled, her voice cracking with emotion.
"Tifa..." was all he managed pulling away from her.
"Don't start, I know Cloud. I was there remember? For all of it! I felt all of it with you! But damn it Cloud since you feel like you have to relive it everyday can't you relive it with me?! I understand the hurt, the sleepless nights."
For a moment she thought she got through to him, but he just kept walking. He hadn't been home since, and Tifa had all but given up on them. She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked across the beaten wooden floor to the door of the bar, and flipped the lock over. Closing early this one night wasn't going to hurt nearly as much as trying to deal with drunks in her current state of mind. She slowly made her rounds turning off the lights and got to the stairs when she heard the rumble of a motor approaching. She tilted her head to the side, knowing it was fenrir but contemplating if she should keep the door locked this time. The engine cut out and she head the heavy footsteps coming up to the front door, followed by a soft knock. She held her breath and felt a knot coming into her throat. She made it over to the door becoming light headed and swallowed hard as she opened it. Cloud stood there soaked by the rain and lifted his mako blue eyes to her wine colored eyes.
"We should talk."