Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII or any of the characters or locations. It all belongs to Square-Enix.

Theme(s): #2 - Toys (for when you die, I'll be there for you)

Title: Be There

Rating: K+

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Was he going to live?

That was the question plaguing Elena's mind as she sat next to the hospital bed on which Tseng was laying practically motionless, save for his chest rising with each ragged breath he took. The doctors had said that the chances of him dying were low and that his condition was no longer critical, but in spite of that, Elena still wondered. She hadn't seen him awake and coherent in all the hours she'd spent by his side since he'd been wounded at the Temple of the Ancients.

As she absently fingered a strand of his long, ebony hair, she thought of what had happened at the temple.

If there was one thing that she'd learned that day, it was that fate had a sick sense of humour. It reminded her of someone dangling a toy just within a cat's reach, then jerking it away as the feline tried to swipe at it. While a cat may have enjoyed that game, Elena certainly didn't.

She bit her lip and emitted a shaky sigh as she went over the last conversation they'd shared. It was obvious that neither of them had expected the job to end the way it did.

"Tseng, what's this?" she looked at the Keystone with interest. "Can we find the Promised Land with this?"

"...I wonder." He, too, examined the object. "Anyway, we have to report to the President."

"Be careful, Tseng."

"Yeah..." A pause. "Hey Elena, how 'bout dinner after this job's over?"

It had taken her a second to realize what he'd just said--it was what she'd been hoping would happen for a long time. She felt her face get warm and was certain she was blushing.

"Th... Thank you very much," she said with a shy smile.

But almost as soon as Elena had reached out, fate flicked its wrist and pulled Tseng just out of her grasp. She wasn't there when it happened, but she could've sworn she almost heard fate's barbarous laughter when Reeve had informed her, could almost see its hideous face in the blood Tseng had been rapidly losing.

She stopped stroking his hair and instead took his cold hand into her own. If he was to die, Elena wasn't about to let him go alone. This time, she was going to be there.

-Fin-

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A/N: This one probably would have worked better if Tseng wasn't alive and kicking in AC, but hey, what can ya do?

Thanks for reading, and reviews are always appreciated. :)