2/30 - Frozen moment at the first sight

She was being led through the dark. Her only connection and guide was the rough gloved hand that held hers. Hands that belonged to a man who she barely knew and almost shared a death with.

"Where are you taking me?"

"I know it's difficult for you to hold your silence for more than 5 seconds, but do try."

If she could see him, he would have been at the receiving end of a well-aimed right hook. "I did say that I have fear of the dark, did I not?" she lashed out verbally instead. It wasn't her fault if she was easily agitated. Less than 24 hours ago she couldn't even stay in a room where she couldn't see her hands. And now she was walking in total darkness, through wreckages of things she didn't even want to know about.

"I've always been fond of the quiet ones..." he replied in an annoyed tone.

"Why, so you could hear yourself more often?" She bit her tongue when they suddenly stopped. She could feel the rush of wind in the movement as he turned toward her. His eyes were softly glowing in the dark again, a dark green pool amidst the total black around them.

"I could just leave you here. You know this. Why do you continue to test my patience?"

Tifa looked away from his eerie eyes. She would have pulled her hands away if she could but he held her tightly, wanting an answer to his query.

This wasn't going to be easy. She sighed and bit the bullet. "I'm scared." There, simple, plain truth.

Suddenly she felt herself enveloped by warmth. His hands held her tightly against him. "Don't be scared anymore. I'm here."

She chuckled despite her tears. "You say that as if it makes everything alright." She sighed but it came out as a sob and tried to struggle against his arms. "We… we should be dead."

She could almost see the grin that adorned his face. "But we're not. And that's a cause for celebration. Now come on, we're almost there." He pulled her to walk closer to him this time and they moved with purpose.

Slowly, the shadows shortened and she could see a faint light at turn further down. He instructed her through the debris until they came upon a precipice that overlooked an entire city, bright with lights against the surrounding darkness. Tifa gasped at the sight, unable to move or do anything. Where were they? From the walk, they couldn't be far from Midgar but how could a whole settlement be here?

He turned back to look at her, and despite the dark stains in his cheek and hair, made visible now in the faint light, his smile was bright.

"Welcome to Deepground."


Thank you to xxDarkAssassinxx and 1Deidaras0Gal1 for their reviews, as well as to those who have place this story on their favorites and alerts. It is much, much appreciated and helps inspire me to continue. :)