In you and I

There's a new land

My sanctuary, my sanctuary, yeah

Where fears and lies melt away

Two cobalt-colored eyes stared into the dark; set upon the small, digitally-displayed time blaring from across the room atop a small table.

1:34.

Wonderful.

This night couldn't be possibly going any slower. Not only was the stress from traveling half-way across the continent just to drop off a few packages keeping the blonde warrior up; but the lumpy bed on which his body rested jabbed his figure and caused his whole body to ache.

He should call. She was usually up this hour, still.

But she was going to be mad. She was the one who told him not to take these clients—to take some time off. However, the concept of a vacation was foreign to him. And now he wasn't even sure if she would wish to speak to him, especially at this hour.

Too late. His fingers were already cradling the small, black phone in his palm. They readily punching the the familiar number and hit the 'talk' button. The line rang three times before there was a beep and a click.

"...Hello, this is the Seventh Heaven. Tifa Lockhart speaking. Can I help you?" Her voice was strained and she sounded overall exhausted.

What's left of me?

What's left of me, now?

"It's me," His own voice cracked as he nervously cleared his throat. "Is everything alright?"

"Cloud?" Tifa seemed perplexed. After all, it was strange for the delivery boy to call, let alone this late at night.

"Yeah..." The blonde pulled the phone away from his ear slightly; just waiting for her to begin yelling at him for bothering her.

There was a long pause. "...Everything's fine. Why?"

Cloud blinked. Tifa must have already closed the bar—it was almost silent in the background. When replying to her question, he stammered. "I...I thought you were mad at me."

"Why would you think that?" She laughed softly, although it sounded forced.

"You told me not to go to Kalm for these deliveries," his voice fell quiet. "...But I went anyways." He sounded like a child confessing to his mother that he had done something wrong.

The barmaid paused again, but after a moment her voice filled the speaker once again. "...I'm not mad, Cloud."

Maybe they should talk about this at home. But he wasn't going to be home for at least another week—and this unheard anger and frustration needed to be taken care of now.

"...Cloud?"

He snapped out of his thoughts and looked around into the black of the inn room; as if expecting to find Tifa standing before him.

I watch you fast asleep

All I fear means nothing

"...I'm coming back." The words spilled out in an instant without the slightest bit of thought put into them.

Tifa said nothing.

Cloud looked back down at his phone, checking to make sure the call hadn't been lost. He pressed it against his ear harder than before.

"...What?" Tifa's voice no longer sounded tired and weary.

"I'll be home tonight," he was already standing from the uncomfortable bed and had his bag near fully-packed.

"There's no hurry, Cloud. Everything's going well here."

"...You sound tired."

"I am," Tifa sighed softly, chuckling. "...But it's been a long day."

Cloud rolled his eyes slightly. I know the feeling.

"You know it's dangerous to be traveling this late at night." Her words seemed rushed and concentrated specifically on him.

Cloud blinked. Of course-- It was simply her nature to worry. "...I've done it before."

The Seventh Heaven's line was completely silent for several minutes. "...I guess I'll see you soon."

Was Tifa honestly trusting him to be home by morning? Realization hit him, and he soon realized he was going to have to drive like mad in order to be in Edge on time...

Nibelhiem.

There was a shortcut through Nibelhiem.

Is that what she truly wanted? For him to go back and relive what happened years earlier? For him to remember his childhood? To remember what it was like to be close?

Or perhaps she just wanted him home sooner. That was more logical—Tifa wasn't one to hand out cryptic messages for people to solve.

That was Cloud's job, after all. The blonde's lips twitched slightly at this thought, and he threw his bag over his shoulder. In the end of it, he would be happy to just be able to sleep on a comfortable mattress. "I'll see you soon."

"...Bye."