Chapter 21
When Barret brought Marlene and Denzel back, they had smiles on their faces that told Tifa Barret had let them behind the wheel again. Was she the only one keeping a hand on things?
She remembered about a month and a half ago after Cloud had defeated Sephiroth. Tifa and Marlene had been taken home by Barret (who was also transporting the rest of the gang except for Cid, Red XIII and Cait Sith, who went with Cid on his airship), but Cloud had taken Denzel with him on Fenrir. Barret went ahead and drove on, and about ten minutes later, Cloud caught up to them. Tifa remembered her horror as she saw Denzel steering Fenrir, Cloud holding Denzel's arms, so small compared to Cloud's, in place, sitting behind Denzel. Tifa screamed so loud and so high Denzel and Cloud turned their heads towards her. Cloud had looked like a child who got caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar, while Denzel didn't seem too bothered by it (Denzel probably knew Cloud would be the one getting in trouble instead of him). She had to suffer the consequence: Yuffie mimicking her scream each time she saw her for the next two weeks. As soon as Barret stopped his truck (everyone was still laughing at Yuffie's constant "Tifa-spazzes-out" scream), Tifa jumped out of the truck, gripping a rolled-up flyer for an expensive seafood restaurant that had been laying on the floor of Barret's truck and attacked Cloud with it.
"Don't – you – ever – do – that – to – me - AGAIN!" she had yelled between gritted teeth, one blow for each word. Cloud had laughed as he defended himself.
That was a good memory. Even though it was because of a horrifying experience that nearly gave Tifa a heart attack.
"Bar-RUUUUUT." Tifa said, a disapproving frown on her face.
"What?" he said.
"You know I don't like it when you let the kids drive!" she scowled.
"Humph." He knew she was right, so instead he dropped down on the couch. "Where's that Spikey?!" Marlene climbed up to sit next to him.
"He went to the store." Tifa shrugged. "Something about the First Tsurugi. Probably wants to clean it."
"So you two are cool now?" Barret asked.
"Yeah," Tifa said. "Are you hungry?"
"Nahh," Barret said. "I should get going." He gave Marlene a hug and Denzel a ruffle and left within three minutes.
"So Cloud's living here now?" Denzel asked.
"Yep!" Tifa said.
"Should I move back in with Marlene?"
"No, I don't think that's a good idea." Marlene was getting too old for that. "I don't know what we're going to do. Uhm… maybe we should move."
"Move?!"
"But Tifa, your bar…"
"I know, sweetie. But we don't want Cloud sleeping on the couch for the rest of his life, do we now? He might hurt his back and he won't be able to fight anymore." Denzel and Marlene laughed at the thought of Cloud as an old man.
"I wonder if his hair would still be spiky…" Denzel wondered.
"Maybe they'd be white spikes instead of blond," Tifa laughed. "Well, what do you two want for dinner?"
Cloud didn't come home until 7:30, but at least he came home, Tifa thought to herself.
"Hey!" Tifa greeted him from the couch where she, Denzel and Marlene were watching. Cloud came inside and shut the door behind him, bolting it.
"Hey." The rings under his eyes were darker and he looked exhausted. He slumped down on the couch next to Tifa.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yeah."
"I'll go heat up some dinner for you." Tifa stood up and walked into the kitchen.
"You guys already ate?" he asked.
"Well, yeah," Tifa said. "We weren't sure if you were coming home or not, so…"
Cloud rubbed his eyes, long and hard.
"Why don't you get some sleep?" Tifa suggested.
"I have to fix Fenrir," Cloud said. "Something's wrong with the engine."
"Can I help, Cloud?" Denzel asked.
"Yeah. C'mon."
"Not too long…" Tifa said softly.
"No. I'll send him in by nine." And with that, Cloud closed the door.
She was being selfish. She wanted Cloud all to herself for a few minutes. But Cloud belonged to everyone. Everyone but Tifa, so it seemed to her. Tifa couldn't help but feel a little jealous when she watched Cloud grab Denzel's hand and show him how to use a wrench.
Reviewy? :3