Title: When Bonds Are Formed
By: mistress-of-the-fading-moon
Rating: G or PG.
Notes: I looked at the date I had last updated and went, "Oh my gosh! I need to write a new chapter! I saw a few misspells in the last chapter so I have to go back and change those. But right now I need to focus on THIS chapter. Hope you all have a Happy New Years and I hope you had a Merry Christmas!
Italics equals thoughts
" " equals speaking
bold equals someone else speaking in their mind or their conscience.
Sephiroth: 27
Tifa: 23
When Bonds Are Formed - Chapter 3
"You know you could slow down a bit. I'm freezing my butt off back here." Tifa said with exhaustion, as a shiver ran up her spine in the winter chill.
Sephiroth paid her no head and instead turned his head to look at the forest line. Tifa knew he was deliberately ignoring her. She could sense it in his aura. And what an aura it was.
Keep it together, Tif. Keep it together.
"Stop talking in your head. Your thoughts easily filter into mine." Sephiroth said with disdain.
Tifa blushed a bit.
Creepy.
"Highly."
Tifa pouted and stomped her foot.
"Would you stop! I don't enjoy you listening in on my thoughts!"
Sephiroth disappeared and then reappeared behind Tifa, his sword flush against her neck. He growled a bit. He was so close, Tifa could feel his breath on her throat.
"I may not be able to kill you, but I suggest you watch what you say. I don't enjoy listening to your mind ramble about utter nonsense."
Tifa felt sweat roll down her face. She reached for her gloves in pure instinct to a threat. Sephiroth sensed this, and grabbed her hand and moved it back to her side, while releasing her from his hold.
"I wouldn't, unless you have forgotten who you deal with." He said with a smirk enticed voice, though none graced his face.
Tifa backed away from him.
"You started it."
"Did I?" he said with questioning coldness as an eyebrow rose, the only physical response she received.
Tifa couldn't hold his gaze, and looked away. She knew he was right. If she wouldn't have opened her mouth none of what transpired would have occurred. But that still doesn't make it right to try and cut my head off for no reason, she thought bitterly. She then realized what she thought and looked at Sephiroth with caution, expecting to be glared at like no tomorrow...or worse.
She noticed he was looking around in an alert manner, checking the surrounding, not seemingly noticing her thoughts. She sighed in gratefulness.
Will she ever shut up, a voice said in an annoyed tone, as it entered her mind. Tifa looked over at Sephiroth.
"Well I never!" Her gratefulness was lost.
He glanced at her and realized she had heard his thought. He sighed.
"Ridiculous." he muttered to himself.
Tifa huffed and walked off towards the spot Sephiroth said earlier would be their resting place.
How could a bond be made between us? Who's bright idea was this anyways? I mean really? Darkvel says we created it. I doubt that entirely.
Tifa rolled her eyes as she thought about the prospect of the "bond" that was made between the male companion who would rather see her cut up into little pieces than help her in any way.
"You do realize you are heading in the wrong direction."
Tifa was so busy complaining in her head that she had totally forgotten where she was walking. She blushed a bit in embarrassment, and turned around to see Sephiroth with a smirk that practically shouted "holier than thou." She hoped the blush that stained her cheeks was passed off as only being cold, which for a bit of information, she was.
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize to me. I wasn't the one about to fall off a cliff." Sephiroth stated with cold sarcasm.
Tifa furrowed her brows and looked where she was heading and gasped. He was right. She was on a one way track off a cliff! If he hadn't said anything she would have been falling down a cliff, instead of standing around, looking like a total and complete idiot.
She looked back at Sephiroth, who was sitting on a log looking at the darkening sky with no facial expressions what so ever. Tifa walked over to where he was. He looked down, but did not move from his position on the log.
"Done thinking are we?"
Tifa rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, chatter box, I am."
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes a bit, "What was that?"
Tifa smirked.
"You seem to be talking a lot more. Now granted not in a happy tone but it does seem unnatural for you, so I have noticed through the years of fighting you."
Sephiroth rolled his eyes discreetly, and Tifa received no response for her inquisition. Sephiroth thought the conversation had gone on long enough. He stood and began walking in the right direction. Tifa rolled her eyes, and simply followed him, content on leaving him be for the moment. It was strange, Tifa noted, that she seemed more comfortable with Sephiroth now that this "bond" had formed between them.
Maybe because my life is not on the line.
She laughed quietly to herself. Sephiroth glanced at her slightly over his shoulder, then turned back to focus on what was ahead. He stopped short of their destination and Tifa soon found out why. Their was a unknown presence making its way towards them.
"I suggest you prepare, Lockhart."
Tifa grimaced at the usage of her name, but ignored it for the time being. She pulled out her gloves and put them on, a slight bit of nostalgia flashing through her mind as she prepared. Shaking her head to be rid of such thoughts, she got in a fighting stance, her back facing Sephiroth, who had yet to draw his sword. Just when Tifa was about to relax her guard, 5 monsters emerged from the trees. Tifa not expecting this, got caught in the fray of claws. She got scratched multiple times but quickly recovered with a double back flip to escape the fray of battle.
Narrowing her eyes, she charged the group of monsters, and as she did so she caught a glimpse of Sephiroth fighting his own monsters, with much ease and grace in his movements. She knocked out 2 of the 5 monsters. Grabbing another by the throat before it could do any damage, she threw it into another one to have them both collapse on one another, out cold. The last was a bit more of a challenge considering it seemed more wary than the others, but she had little time to contemplate a plan considering a very, very long katana came flying past her, to hit the monster in the heart, killing it in an instant.
She turned around to see Sephiroth standing there, monsters scattered all around him, dead or dying. He walked over to her, and pulled his sword out with unmatched grace. He walked over to the four monsters and slaughtered them so they would and could not be a problem later on.
She winced as she grabbed her left arm. It was in pain, because of the cuts she had all up her arm because of her carelessness before. She noticed that Sephiroth has his leather sleeve on his left arm torn in the same places as her, but no blood flowed from the wounds unlike hers. He looked at her coldly.
"Lockhart."
Tifa knew he was referring to his sleeve. She smile sheepishly and shrugged a bit.
"Sorry about that." But it was no use, Sephiroth was ignoring her on purpose, and in no way planning on helping her out with her scratched up arm. She glanced down at said appendage, to see that the bleeding had stopped.
"Good." she sighed.
Sephiroth was already making his way towards the small cave up ahead, his hair flowing gently behind his back as the wind picked up, causing Tifa to squint as snow flakes were flung into her face and eyes, stinging them.
"Can't wait, can he?"
By the time Tifa had made it to the cave, Sephiroth was in the process of making a fire. He glanced at her for a moment, but other than that, ignored her completely. Tifa rolled her eyes and sat down, content on letting the man handle the fire, while she sat down and addressed her wounds. None were major so she would be fine.
"How's your arm?" Tifa asked Sephiroth after the fire was made, and Sephiroth had sat down to polish his sword.
He didn't even bother looking up at her or give her the pleasure of a response. She sighed and got up, walking towards the edge of the cave.
"Thanks." she said as she referred to the help with the monsters from before.
Sephiroth still didn't look up at her.
"I don't help you because I want to. I do it because it is a necessity." He finally said after a great pause in speech from either one.
Tifa shivered, but not at the cold weather, but because of the disdain and coldness that coated his deep, smooth, velvety...oh boy, was Tifa's thought as her mind wandered aimlessly about his voice. She had to admit he was handsome for a man who wanted to kill just about, scratch that, everyone. It was quite obvious actually. Though his hair a bit feminine in length, it wouldn't have been the same without his hair the way it was. If she would have looked behind her she would have noticed a knowing smirk form on Sephiroth's face.
Tifa decided she needed to pull her thoughts out of the gutter. She rubbed her eyes in exasperation. She heard the click of a sword being sheathed, and Tifa sighed as she looked back at Sephiroth, who was at the time, adding firewood to the fire to keep it aflame. She walked back over to the fire and sat down to relish in its warmth. Sephiroth looked at Tifa, for the first time in awhile.
"Hungry?" Though this was said in a question form it had no curious tone but instead a cold contempt towards Tifa, or anyone really. She blushed a bit when she realized her stomach had betrayed her, with loud annoying noises.
"N-no." Gosh, why did she always sound like she was nervous. Tifa sighed inwardly.
Sephiroth rose an eyebrow at her with a look that clearly said 'of course not.' She looked up at him.
"Thanks for the concern." She said mockingly knowing full well he didn't really care.
He stood up and walked out into the cold weather. Tifa glanced at him, wondering what he was doing. She voiced this thought, "The point of going outside is..."
"To freeze." He stated.
Tifa rolled her eyes to heaven. "Have fun with that."
She laid down on the hard surface, which had rocks that poked at her in different angles. She sighed, and turned trying to get as comfortable as possible.
"It would have been easier if someone had let me get things to bring along."
As she faced the fire, looking into its hypnotizing gaze, she thought of all that was happening to her in such a short amount of time.
Sephiroth. Now an ally...of some sort. What has the world come to. I still get apprehensive around him but I guess that's normal. I mean he did try to kill us. And not once but twice. But why him. Why him. Why not...
She stopped her line of thoughts, not liking where they were heading. She lifted her head to still see no Sephiroth.
"Was he being serious about freezing. He better not have. You can never tell with him! Darnit."
She quickly stood up, running to the edge of the cave. It had been a while and he still wasn't at the cave. She knew if he froze to death she would surely die.
Oi vey.
She placed a delicate hand to her forehead as she closed her eyes trying to think positive thoughts about the situation. She opened her eyes to see the snow had stopped falling, fortunately. But unfortunatelythe foot-prints that would have lead right to him were no where to be seen. Just before she was about to go looking for Sephiroth, she heard the crunch of snow being pushed down by weight. Though the crunch was particularly soft, either because of stealthy feet or because the animal or person was light in weight. She rose her fists waiting for a monster to come but soon found said man she was looking for earlier, approach the cave.
He rose an eyebrow at her when he saw her stance. He walked past her and threw down a few hares. She walked around him, to see some food to be cooked and eaten. She glanced up at him with curiosity.
"For me?"
He simply dipped his head a bit in a sort-of 'yes' gesture. She looked back at the meal then back at him.
"This doesn't look like enough for both of us." she said noticing the shortage of meat.
Sephiroth looked at her blankly, "I do not eat as often as you. Being trained in the art of war I can last many days without eating, and still be strong and healthy." he said with a matter of fact voice. As if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Tifa rolled her eyes.
"Okay then. Aren't you cold? I mean that coat doesn't really do you any good, with it not being buttoned and all, and there not being a shirt under it." She said and then realized what she implied.
Oh...my...gosh. Did I just imply I look at his chest often. Oh...my...gosh.
She turned to see him look down at his chest then back at her with an eyebrow raised and a smirk evident. She tried to fix what was said but only succeed in digging herself further into an early grave.
"Wait, I mean...that doesn't mean I look there often..I mean...um...it's just noticeable...that's all. Not that I look." She could have slapped herself for her sheer stupidity.
Sephiroth chose then to interrupt her.
"As much fun as it is to see you ramble about nothing, I believe you should stop. To answer your question," he smirked as he said 'question' earning Tifa a slight blush at what she had said, "I do not get cold as easily as you. I have a higher resilience."
He left it at that and walked off towards the back of the cave and sat down, leaning against the cave wall, his eyes closed. Tifa noticed that the hares were already skinned she just needed to cook them.
Never really had hare before. But I guess now's a good a time as any to try it.
By the time she had cooked and enjoyed her meal, it was night time. Tifa glanced over at Sephiroth to see him in the same position as before.
He must have dozed off.
Sephiroth still lay silent and quiet, but to Tifa it looked fake in a way.
Is he really asleep or is he pretending?
She rose from her position by the fire and walked towards the edge of the cave deciding to leave him be.(A/N: Who thought she was going to go check?)
Hopefully we get to Shiva's soon. If I'm correct it's still a months journey at this pace.
Tifa looked out at the snow laden land and sighed. The peaceful silence seemed strained, and the cold night seemed even colder and harsh. She blamed it on him.
Even the world knows he's back.
Those were some of the last thoughts that filtered through her tired head as she laid down to let sleep envelope her, the only thing to lull her to sleep was the sound of her own memories playing like a broken record in her head.
Fluttering open heavy laden eyes, Tifa blinked, trying to adjust to the sun's rays beating down on her face.
"Hmm." She said her voice still groggy from sleeping.
She heard something moving behind her, and she shot up into a sitting position and looked behind her to see...Sephiroth? She blinked and then she felt memories of yesterday filter through her head and she sighed dramatically.
Oh yeah...
She had forgotten for a moment in time the whole reason why she was in a cave to begin with. Sephiroth was examining his sleeve when Tifa looked at him again.
"So you do care that your sleeve was ripped."
He looked at her blankly. Tifa smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry won't cut it will it?"
He stood from his sitting position, back reclined on the cold, damp, cave wall.
"No." was his simple reply.
Tifa sighed again and stood up as well. Maybe now his ego meter would drop a few points. Not like she was counting or anything. Never...
"Quit daydreaming. We have land to cover."
Tifa snapped out of her wandering thoughts and nodded. He rose an eyebrow at her but walked out of the cave anyways, expecting her to follow suit.
Tifa groaned, "It's been hours, Sephiroth. Even I can't walk this long without a small break."
She was getting pissed that he thought he was high and mighty and that she could not compare to him in stamina, endurance, and that she couldn't stand the long, long hours of travel(without a break). Granted she could walk hours without being tired but it only lasted for so long. She was still human after all. Sephiroth...she wasn't so sure. And she wasn't talking about his genetic mutation.
He could be superman for all I care. But I need a break.
Sephiroth rolled his eyes, though this was not noted by Tifa who was at this point struggling through the snow that had decided to go above three feet in height the night before. It was then that she fell face first into the snow pile. Sephiroth rubbed his temples in annoyance, and walked back over to where she was, easily walking through the supposed "barrier of snow" as she like to put it.
A groan was heard as well as a few curses, and much mumbling about evil snow piles that wish her death.
"Get up Lockhart."
Tifa looked up at him, and spit out snow, trying to reach his face, but failing miserably. Sephiroth sighed in irritation and pulled her up, tired of waiting for her to move her butt.
"Hey! I am fully capable getting up myself!" She pulled from his grasp and dusted the snow off of her.
He only walked away, leaving her to her own devices. She would yell at him no matter what he did. 'Slow down', 'Speed up.' It was becoming very antagonizing, and he was ready to cut her head off, not caring whether or not he survived.
When this bond is broken, her head comes off.
He made the oath to kill her the moment they were separated, and his life wasn't in jeopardy. He could hear her grumbling to herself. He knew he went practically insane before, but she, oh, she, was insane more so than he was, just in different ways.
"Shut. Up." He couldn't take it anymore. She was talking to herself and he was getting tired of hearing her obnoxious voice talk, especially to her imaginary friend named Carl. So, Carl was someone he made up to make his point more justified, but still. Who was she talking too? Obviously it wasn't him.
Tifa snapped out of grumblings about silver haired freaks and glared at Sephiroth.
"No." she said with defiance.
He sighed inwardly and stopped. Maybe it was a break she wanted, and this was her annoying way of asking, considering he ignored her last attempt of trying to get a break. Tifa stopped as well and looked up at him(darn his taller height.)
"What is it now?" She was cold, wet, and irritated. She had, had enough of his stupid games of messing with her brain. Now most of the time it was herself screwing up her own mind, but she couldn't admit that out loud.
"Rest." Was all he said in reply to her loving comment. Note the sarcasm.
"Thank you!" she said with actual gratitude in her voice.
She plopped down on ground not caring about the snow that enveloped her. Sephiroth was more smart about where he sat and placed his butt on a log, that conveniently was near where his companion was. He looked up at the sky, observing it's grey skies.
She will be the death of me.
Was he the only one who say the irony in this situation?
There it is! Another chapter. Not a great chapter and what a horrid stopping point but whatever. At least I posted! Be proud of me people. Now go comment and I will not send hate mail to you.
Lol, kidding, or am I?
mistress-of-the-fading-moon
