Lockhart007
Sorry if I made anyone upset last chapter, I honestly didn't think it was that sad, just really corny. XD
Also, sorry for the lateness as I've been held back by unforeseen circumstances: AKA- laziness XD
Chapter Thirty-Six
As she drove home after leaving Cloud's, Tifa was wondering over what she was going to tell her best friend and housemate. She said she would lie and say that Zack had gone AWOL but lying to Aerith made her feel sick and awful. But would telling Aerith the truth hurt her more? The older woman had already gone through so many hardships, did she really need more? But, lying to the other didn't sit well with Tifa either.
"What do I tell her?" Tifa hissed under her breath, tapping her fingers across the circular expanse of the steering wheel. "Lie or not to lie? Have an angry Aerith or a sad Aerith?"
She was slowly reaching her home; still with no solid idea in her head on what she was going to tell Aerith. She knew that if she told the truth, Aerith would want a hand in planning the funeral and want to attend (which was strictly vampire only) and if told she was not allowed to attend, then she would want to go to the burial sight or pitch a memorial. But on the other hand, if Tifa told the other that the man had just ran away, Tifa knew that Aerith would become both angry and depressed, would shout about how people always left her and that it was her that sent Zack away.
Tifa didn't want Aerith blaming herself for anything, but hiding the truth would be easier than telling Aerith that she couldn't attend her own boyfriend's funeral.
She parked in front of the house and left the car, still only half agreeing on what she would say. She went up the steps and wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans, wishing that she wasn't so nervous. Although she wanted to go back and comfort Cloud, she needed to give Aerith some information, whether it be true or false. Taking a deep breath, she unlocked the door and entered, wondering where the older woman could be. She took the living room first, finding Aerith straight away, sat on the sofa with tissues surrounding her, another tissue halfway to her soaked eyes when Tifa entered. The auburn haired woman paused for a moment then let her hand drop, the damp tissue falling to the floor.
"Tifa" she whispered, voice hoarse from all of her crying, "Zack didn't turn up at all last night and neither Cloud nor you let me knew what was happening. I've been up all night, scared half to death"
"And crying" Tifa offered, Aeriths last word sending a pang of sadness through her heart, "I have something awful to tell you"
She sat down next to her friend and took her hands and held them tightly. Aerith was silent, ready and waiting to hear the news and as Tifa looked into those teary green eyes, she knew she couldn't lie, even if it meant breaking the woman's heart into pieces.
"Cloud found Zack last night" she began, wondering how she was going to say this. "And honey, I'm so sorry to tell you this, but Zack's gone"
"Gone?" Aerith repeated shakily but strongly, "What do you mean gone?"
Tears from Tifa's eyes fell rapidly as she whispered, "He's dead"
Everything ceased to exist.
Aeriths world came tumbling down in one large wave of misery. Her heart stopped, her body went numb and her brain switched off, only staying on long enough for her to gasp out, "Dead?"
Tifa's throat was sealed tight, so all she could do was nod and cry, holding onto Aeriths hands even tighter.
Green eyes turned blue as they filled with moisture, tears fell down pink cheeks and fell onto both of their linked hands. Tifa could feel Aerith shaking as her mind processed what she was being told, that her boyfriend would no longer talk or be with her again.
"No!" Aerith suddenly shrieked, ripping her hands from Tifa's and angrily getting to her feet, "No, you're lying! Zack is not dead! He . . . he . . . he . . ."
Tifa shot to her feet and grabbed Aerith in a hug as the older woman fell to her knees, hands covering her face as her body racked with sobs. She gently lowered the older woman to the floor and continued to cradle her in her arms, rocking her slightly, her own cheeks wet from tears.
"I'm so sorry" was all that could pass from Tifa's lips, "I'm so sorry".
"H-How?" Aerith stuttered, not lifting her face from her hands, "How?"
Tifa wanted to spare the other from the details so she just said, "I dunno, Cloud refused to say how. Just that he's gone"
"How can he leave me?" Aerith cried, raising her head and meeting Tifa's eyes, "I love him and I though he loved me too"
"He does" Tifa replied, supplying the comment with a small smile, "He was on his way to meet you, wasn't he?"
"I thought he didn't turn up because he had a change of heart about his feelings for me" Aerith wept, "Not getting himself killed"
Tifa went to embrace her again, but Aerith held her body out of the others reach and shakily got to her feet, "I'd like to be alone if you don't mind, Tifa"
Tifa watched as Aerith wiped her eyes with the back of her arm and dabbed at her running nose.
"Ok" she replied, also standing up, "I could go for a walk and leave you the hou-"
Aerith cut her off by shaking her head, "No need, I think I'll go to the church. I feel like I need to be there right about now"
"O-OK" Tifa said, "I'll be here if you want me. Take your phone ok, just in case you need to contact me"
"I will" Aerith replied, picking up her bag and car keys and leaving the house without saying another word and evading Tifa's arms when the younger tried to give the other a hug before she left. When the door shut, Tifa felt all too alone. Rubbing her arms even though the temperature of the room was warm, she went back into the living room and sat down.
She didn't know what to do. Cloud wanted to be alone as did Aerith so she had no one to talk to. She didn't feel like watching anything either. She ran a hand down her face where her crusted tears were on her face and she frowned.
Why couldn't she cry for him? Sure, she had cried when comforting Cloud and Aerith but she had yet to grieve for Zack herself. Her tears had always been for Cloud who had lost his brother and for Aerith her lover. She had not shed one tear for the man when it came for herself. She felt disgusted in herself. Zack had saved her life once and now that he was dead, she couldn't shed a single tear for him!
Unable to bear it, she shot up straight, stormed towards the kitchen and got out the cleaning supplies. This is what Tifa did whenever she was angry. She argued with someone, beat something or someone up or cleaned. And since the first two options were out of the question, she sprayed some cleaning solution onto the work surface and began cleaning.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
"Cid Highwind speaking"
"Cid" Tifa said quickly, "Hey it's me, Tifa"
"Kid, finally" came her boss's voice, "I was wondering when you were about to call. Listen, you've got a shit load of paperwork to do tomorrow so it may benefit you to come in earlier than usual"
Tifa bit her lip, holding the kitchen phone with both hands and pressing it closer to the side of her face, "Yeah, that's why I'm calling. I need another day off-"
"No" Cid snapped, "You've already had too many paid days off. I need you in tomorrow. I don't care if Death himself is hovering over you; I want you at work tomorrow. If not, the best you'll get is being demoted, at worst fired. I've been covering for you ever since and right now I could use a break myself"
"But Cid" Tifa tried to explain, "My friend and boyfriends partner slash brother died last night. I only want one more day off so I can-"
"And I have a pregnant wife at home that I haven't seen for three days because I've been overworked here at the office" Cid cut over. "Stop being selfish kid, I'm sure your boyfriend and friend can make do without you for tomorrow. Sorry for sounding heartless but you're an agent Lockhart. Don't forget, it's your mission to track down a serial murderer. How would you feel if someone else got hurt by him and you were at home, patting the arm of a grieving person? No excuses, you be in tomorrow or you're fired. Sorry kid, it's just the way it is. I've been lenient enough as it is, you understand?"
"Yeah" Tifa sighed, wrapping the cord of the phone around her finger. "I'm sorry, I know not seeing Shera must be hard on you. I've been selfish. I'll be in tomorrow, bright and early. You've done so much for me Cid, I'm so grate-"
"Cut the sap talk" Cid grunted, but his voice had softened. "See you tomorrow Agent Lockhart"
"Bye Mr Highwind" she replied with a little smile.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"I have to be into work tomorrow" Tifa told Aerith once she had returned home. Aerith silently shook her coat off as Tifa continued, "I tried to get the day off but I faced being fired. But trust me, I'm only a phone call away if you need me"
Aerith nodded dully, "No worries. I'm doing all day at the shop tomorrow"
"You're going into work?" Tifa asked, "You can't. Not after the shock you've had!"
"How else am I supposed to pay half the bills?" Aerith said softly, "I know what you're thinking Tifa. That I won't be able to handle work in this state but you under estimate me. I can be strong like you when I need to be. I'll get thought this. Zack wouldn't want me moping about feeling sorry for myself. He'd want me out there, living my life. And that's what I'm going to do"
Tifa's eyes welled up at her best friend's courage. She felt like a mother watching her young daughter grow into a woman. Without warning, she latched her arms around Aeriths neck and crushed their bodies together. "I'm so proud of you" she breathed.
Aeriths hands slowly moved up and returned the embrace gently. "I have to be brave" she whispered, "if I can't do that for Zack, what can I do? If you see Cloud before I do, please give him my condolences, we all know what it's like losing someone so close to you"
"I will" Tifa smiled, breaking away from the other and taking her hands, "C'mon, I'll make us some food. I'm no super chef like you are but I'm sure I can whip up something good"
"That'll be . . . nice" Aerith smiled, leaning forward and kissing her friend on the cheek, "And thank you, for being there for me".
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Cloud closed the door gently as he said farewell to another vampire who wanted to give him their best wishes and apologies over Zack's death. All day vampires from around the world had dropped by to see him, making Cloud remember how popular and how well loved Zack had been. Usually when a vampire died, it was the creator of that vampire that received all of the well wishes, and in this case it would have been Angeal. But with being a blood related family member, Cloud had received all of the visits from people before they went to see Angeal.
'I'm so sorry Cloud'
'He'll be well missed'
'Such a nice guy, never failed to make me laugh'
'Makes you wish it had been you that died, doesn't it? But seriously, I am sorry'
That had been a couple of the things that some of the vampires had said to him. One had even been so upset and angry that they had said that they had wished it had been the blond that had died, not Zack before storming out of the house. Cloud had never met the man before and wished to never see him again. He hadn't even caught his name, not knowing who to ban from the funeral.
In fact, aside from a few familiar faces, nobody that he actually knew had come to see him. He half expected Genesis to swoop down like an overjoyed bat from Hell and try and comfort him in a way that a master would scald a dog for peeing on the carpet. Cloud shuddered at the thought, hoping that the auburn haired man would keep his distance, and thankfully so far, he had.
As he was about to sit down on the sofa, his doorbell rang again. Running a hand down his face and groaning, he got to his feet and answered it.
"Oh Cloudy-Poo!"
Something light and blonde hit him full force, slamming him against the wall with the force of its embrace. Dazed and confused he pushed the person away, scared slightly for his life. The woman took a step back and pouted, her red painted bottom lip quivering slightly.
"Cloud" she said, "How rude, I was merely comforting you"
"Scarlett" Cloud frowned, watching as the beautiful blonde woman removed her hands from around his neck and let them dangle by her sides.
Since last seeing her a few years ago, he had to admit that she was as beautiful as ever. Her light blonde hair was currently in a long plait that ended between her shoulder blades; her light brown eyes were edged with little make-up, just a little bit of mascara. As ever she was wearing red, this time it was a low cut crop top that showed off her flat, almost athletic midriff and a pair of white shorts and red stiletto shoes. On her arms she wore gold bangles and her earrings were little golden teardrops. And finishing off the look, she had a gold anklet around her left ankle.
"So sorry to hear about Zack" Scarlett said softly, "I cried for a full half hour when Genesis told me"
Cloud winced at Genesis's name but smiled at her anyway, "Thanks" he said, "Much appreciated"
"So" Scarlett said wirily, "Are you going to offer me a coffee or am I going to have to make it myself?"
Cloud blinked, "Erm, well you see I have a lot of things to be doing. I don't have time to make hot drinks or sit around talking"
"Finding brother dearest's killers are we?" Scarlett sniped with a smirk, "I thought Angelina was doing that"
'Angelina?" Cloud thought, 'Must mean Angeal. She's never had respect for anyone but herself and Genesis'.
"He is" Cloud frowned, closing the door that had been wide open, "I've been told to stay out of it"
"Then you have time to talk to me" Scarlett smirked, clasping her hands together behind her back and leaning towards him, her cleavage making him stutter.
"I – I'm sorting out funeral engagements" he said, scratching the back of his head and glancing away from her, "But thanks for stopping by. Sorry you have to go so soon"
Acting offended, she balled her fists on her hips and scowled, "Still rude! I've travelled all the way from Nibelheim to come and see you and all you do is brush me off. Genny said that you've turned into a bit of a brat but I'm an old frie-"
"Fine" Cloud sighed, slapping a hand over his eyes wearily, "You can stay for a little bit. Maybe you'll be able to help me with the funeral"
"Great" Scarlett beamed, clapping her hands together excitedly, "Flowers! We must start with what flowers we're going to have"
"Flowers?" Cloud said, arching a brow, telling the blonde woman that he hadn't thought about flowers.
"Yes idiot" Scarlett said, rolling her eyes, "Roses are nice but lilies are usually used for funerals but Zack didn't like to do things by the book so maybe something different and blue like bluebells or irises-"
"Zack didn't care much for flowers" Cloud interrupted, but then remembering that the man had been dating Aerith the flower girl before his death. He sighed and said, "Lilies will do fine"
"Music?" Scarlett added.
"No" Cloud shook his head, "We're keeping it traditional. So they'll be no music playing"
"Ok" Scarlett pouted, "No music and boring flowers. C'mon, Zack was energetic and different from everyone else, that's why everyone loved him! You need to send him off with style, have everyone remember him"
"I'd rather have people remember him in life rather than from his death" Cloud mumbled, "Listen, you should go home. I said I'm going to keep it traditional so it's going to remain traditional. If you feel like you need to suggest something, you've got my number"
"But I-" she began
"Please" Cloud pleaded, "I'd just like some peace and quiet"
Scarlett sighed and began playing with her braided hair, "Alright, I see you need some space. I was just trying to help you know?"
"And I appreciate it" Cloud smiled, "I really do. But right now, I want to be on my own"
Scarlett nodded, "OK. I'll head back to Nibleheim". She walked over to him and gently wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his shoulder and whispering in his ear, "If you ever need me, call me. You still have my number right?"
"Uh-huh" Cloud answered, nodding his head.
"Good" she said, lifting her head so that they were eye to eye, their faces only inches away from each other. Cloud was about to remove himself from her hold but then her hands went to the back of his head, his fingers grasped his hair and her lips descended and dominated his. His eyes widened and he was so shocked at her actions that he was rooted to the spot. The second that he got over his shock and began to push her away, the door opened and a very shocked voice said, "C-Cloud?"
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The moment that she had got back to work, she had been sat down at a table and a pile of work had been placed in front of her. All of these memos were about Johnny, about what he had been doing during her time away from AVALANCHE and where his current whereabouts could be. Apparently, the psychotic murderer hadn't been up to much since her time away, but the fact that he was still roaming around Midgar scared and pleased her.
She was reading the first document which was about her being strapped down in the burnt house when someone came over to her and sat down beside her.
"I'm sorry"
Tifa looked up and stared into Shelke Rui's sad blue eyes. The girl was wearing a blue shirt and black jeans and her red hair was tied back in a small ponytail. Her feet were under the table so Tifa couldn't see what the young girl was wearing but by the sound of the way that Shelke was scuffing them on the floor, Tifa guessed that she was wearing heavy combat boots.
"Sorry for what?" she asked, trying to remember if the girl had done something to hurt, upset or insult her.
"Sorry about that" the girl answered, tilting her head to the paper that Tifa still held in her hand, a picture of Tifa's burnt legs set besides the black writing. "It was me who told him about your whereabouts. When I talked to him days before his attack on you, I didn't know it was him, you know, a killer! I just thought he was a nice man who had genuine interest in me and about what I had to say. I knew he seemed a bit too interested when I mentioned your name one day. He just said he was an old school friend of yours and I . . . and I believed him! How was I supposed to know that he was hunting you down to kill you? I was too stupid to recognise him as a wanted killer. I'm surprised I wasn't kicked out of the academy straight away"
"It's not your fault" Tifa smiled, "He already knew I was in Midgar before you told him, he just didn't know which Sector. Yes, he had been hunting me down but on that night it was me that walked into him. He said he was looking for someone else he had a vendetta against but unfortunately for me, I'm on top of his 'to kill' list. You did nothing wrong, it was a mistake and I don't blame you. Just . . . next time you see him take him down for me alright? You're an excellent agent Shelke and you have so much potential to be much more. It would have been foolish to kick you out of the academy since you're their top student. I've seen your files, your marks are better than mine when I was there"
"You – you don't hate or blame me?" Shelke stuttered, "But, my actions almost got you killed!"
Tifa blinked, "I don't see how talking to him almost got me killed but no, I don't hate or blame you. Like I said, it was a mistake, everyone makes them. In fact, it was my fault for walking into him and not being prepared. But if anyone's to blame then it's Johnny. He locked me in that house and set it alight, not you or me. But we'll find him won't we? We'll take him down together"
"Yes!" Shelke beamed, now happy that she wasn't to blame for what happened to the older agent. "We'll get him, don't you worry Agent Lockhart"
Tifa chuckled, "Right you are Agent Rui"
Shelke's eyes widened then watered, "No one's called me Agent Rui before, not even Cid. It's always Rui this and Rui that. There's never been an Agent before my surname"
"You're an agent now so it's your title. If you were a doctor you'd be Dr. Rui and if you were the President of Midgar you'd be President Rui. Being an agent is no different"
"I'm glad you're back" Shelke smiled, "Me and Cid have been doing all the work and honestly, I think it's been a bit too much for the old guy. He can be quite scary sometimes. I think he'll calm down now that you're back"
"Cid's bark is worse than his bite" Tifa laughed, "Once you get to know him you can have a laugh with him, sometimes at him"
Shelke nodded, "He seemed really angry when on the phone to you yesterday. Why's that?"
Tifa sighed sadly and placed the piece of paper that she still had hold of down, "A friend of mine died the other day. Actually, he was my partner's brother and best friend's boyfriend. I asked for the day off so I could be with them but Cid denied me it"
"I'm so sorry to hear that" Shelke said softly. "Cid should have let you have the day off"
"No, Cid was right" Tifa replied, "I've already had too much time off, it was about time I came back. Besides, my friend wanted to be alone and I think I'll visit by boyfriend after I finish here, see how he's coping"
"He's lucky to have you" Shelke smiled, "I think any man would be-"
-BOOM-
The floor shook and the walls vibrated making the dust from the roof fall on top of them. Both women covered their heads as bits of plaster came tumbling down and as they did, another explosion shook the room.
"What the-?" Tifa whispered as alarm bells sounded around the room, a red light flashing and dousing them in ruby coloured light.
"Are we under attack?" Shelke muttered, another slight tremble making the floor shift.
"Let's get out of here" Tifa said, dropping what she was doing and getting up. Quickly, both of them went through the security doors, up the steps and through the secret wall concealed in the abandoned prison cell. Smoke hit their lungs and stung their eyes the moment they stepped away from the secret door, the alarms blaring even louder and almost deafening them. Tifa turned to Shelke, hands over her ears and called for her to get out of the building, but she saw the girls mouth move and then she was running.
Eyes wide, Tifa screamed her name and ran after her, barely able to see her though the thick smoke and the flashing red lights. They turned a corner and ran though the entrance room of the police station, officers and civilians running to the double doors that led outside. But Shelke didn't go towards the exit doors, she ran further into the smoke, the deadly fumes getting darker the deeper they went.
Tifa screamed her name again but got a mouth full of smoke in her lungs, making her heave and drop to the floor. She caught sight of Shelkes black boots turning a corner and hand covering her mouth, Tifa got into a low crouch and went after her. As she followed, she was knocked off her feet as someone bumped into her. She had enough time to see that it was a man carrying a woman bridal style in his arms before he ran away.
Undeterred, Tifa continued. Damn Shelke for stupidly running into the danger zone. Although she had forgiven the young agent for the house fire incident, Tifa felt that it was Shelkes mission in life to either have Tifa burn to death of pass out due to the fumes. Either way, as the sight of flames came into view as another corner was passed, she continued after the girl. She was not going that have Shelke get herself killed. She hurtled past the flames and as she did, the floor began to go up, higher than the other ground floors. She hit a metal door and as soon as her hands hit it, they were burnt; obviously a fire was behind it. But it was a dead end; here there was nowhere else to go. So where was Shelke?
"Tifa!"
Over the alarms, the young woman could be heard. Through the black smoke, the golden gleam of Shelkes watch indicated to Tifa where she saw. Tifa crawled over to her, her lungs coughing and her eyes watering and saw that Shelke was trying to open the metal door by punching in numbers to a keypad that kept the door locked.
"Shelke" Tifa screeched, "C'mon. You can't open it; we need to get out of here"
"There are people in there!" Shelke cried, "My sister! My sister is in there!"
"What?"
"Remember I told you about her? Shalua! She came here today because she started work here in the chemistry rooms! She's in here. I came to see her before I went to see Cid! Please, help me open this door"
Tifa gasped, the smoke getting thicker and making her feel drowsy and sick. She knew that Shelke was feeling the same but still she persevered. She was willing to risk her life for her sister making Tifa think – would I do the same? Cloud and Aeriths faces flashed before her eyes and she had her answer. Yes . . . yes she would.
"Right, did your sister tell you the code?" Tifa said, getting into agent mode and crossing the steps that separated them and going over to the keypad and looking at it. It was the same as the AVALANCHE one, needing an entry number, key card and hand scan. Tifa knew then that they would never open the door. "Come on" she said, grabbing the others hand, "We won't be able to get in there this way. We need to find another way inside"
"There was a glass dome roof inside" Shelke said, "Maybe we can get inside via the roof!"
"Good idea" Tifa nodded.
Dragging the young girl, they retraced their steps and went back down the corridors and through the entrance hall. They kept their heads down and covered their mouths and noses with their hand. Once they reached the doors and were outside, they were immediately covered with something light and musty. Tifa raised her head and saw that she was in the arms of a man who was holding her with a fire blanket.
"Are you ok?" he said, his voice sounding far away.
"Yes!" Tifa screamed, fighting out of his hold and searching for Shelke who was nowhere to be seen. Outside stood police officers, civilians and the barking police dogs. As Tifa weaved in and out of them, she saw Shelke run behind the station where all of the smoke was coming from.
Still coughing, she raced after her, hearing Barret shout her name as she ran. As she turned the corner, there was another explosion and she saw the wall cave in and explode, sending the red-haired agent flying across the garden and into the surrounding wall.
"SHELKE!" Tifa screamed, but was held back by a large hand grabbing her wrist.
"Tifa" Barret snarled, "Are you crazy? You'll get yourself killed!"
"There are people in there Barret" Tifa screeched, pointing to the wall that had collapsed. She glanced up and saw the glass dome that Shelke had mentioned. It was coloured black because the room it was sat upon was filled with smoke. She glanced back down again and saw that Shelke was not moving. "Let go of me Barret!"
"Leave it to the fire brigade" Barret said, "They'll handle-"
"They won't get here in time" Tifa snarled, wrenching her wrist back and running towards the fallen girl. She knelt next to her and felt her pulse. It was weak but there. Barret knelt next to her and said, "I'll grab her. You follow"
"No" Tifa said, glancing back at the caved in wall and seeing an entry point, "I'm going inside. I'm getting everyone in there out"
"You can't" Barret screamed as Tifa got to her feet and ran, "Tifa! TIFA!"
Like in action movies, Tifa went over to the shattered brick wall and jumped through the hole that she had spotted. Instantly she was shrouded in smoke and debris. Once again she eyes watered and her lungs shrunk. She couldn't see anything except the floor that was covered in wood, brick and chemicals. Keeping her head low, she wandered further inside, fire surrounded her and as she walked deeper she could here pops and bangs of things exploding and loose wires popping and swinging from ruined walls.
"HELLO!" she screamed, scrunching up her eyes so she could maybe see better, "HELLO!"
"HELP!" someone called back, "We're over here!"
"Keep talking" Tifa shouted back, "I'll follow your voice"
"We're here by the far wall" a second voice shouted, "There are five of us in total and one of us is seriously injured. We were trying something new but it went wrong and exploded before we could escape!"
Tifa followed the man's talking until she found them, huddled together in the corner like trapped rats. There were three men and two women, one of the men unconscious and his head resting on one of the women's knees. The woman wore an eye patch and one of the sleeves of her white jacket was pinned up. Her face was blackened but even Tifa could see the resemblance between this woman and Shelke. It was Shalua, Shelkes older sister.
She reached the huddle of scientists and she saw their faces light up. "Is everyone here?" she asked them.
"Yes" Shalua replied, her voice unnaturally steady and soothing, her fingers combing through the unconscious man's white hair.
"Then you all need to follow me" Tifa said, "Come, take my hand. I'll guide you through the smoke and out of here"
They looked at each other but did as instructed, the tallest man grabbing the unconscious man and flinging him onto his shoulder in a fireman's carry. He ended the line behind the two women and the other man. Tifa's sweaty hand kept hold of Shalua's only one, the other white coated woman having to grab hold of the unused sleeve of the others jacket. They were halfway across the room when something made Tifa look up.
The glass dome was cracking, the pressure of the fire and smoke getting to much for it to hold. Before Tifa could tell them to get under something, the dome shattered into a hundred big and small pieces and came hurtling towards them.
Tifa pulled the older Rui sister along and navigated her towards the hole, telling her to get out. She did and Tifa ran back, bits of glass shattering around her. She grabbed a piece of broken wood from a collapsed table and held it over her head as she ran back to the rest of the group, the wood thudding as bits of glass hit it.
The other woman was laid on the floor, a large slab of glass skewering her chest. Her eyes were wide and there was a trickle of blood coming out of her mouth and Tifa knew that she couldn't help her. She found the three men huddled together, the large man hovering over the two smaller ones, bits of glass slicking out of his back and blood running down his coat.
"I had to save them" he whispered as Tifa got to them, flinging the glass bitten piece of wood aside "It was me that added the chemicals together. It was me that caused all this. I'm sorry"
"You can apologise later" Tifa scalded, picking up the unconscious man and hitching him up onto her back, "C'mon, follow me. I'm not going to let another one of you die!"
The four of them made their way back to the hole, most of the smoke leaving the room via the broken dome making visibility much easier. One by one each of the men got out and Tifa passed the man back over as she too got outside.
The instant she was out she was wrapped up in another fire blanket but this time it was by a fireman. They had arrived just in time to douse the fire out. She was dragged back out the front and through everyone who were all applauding her as she was led to an awaiting ambulance. A mask was placed onto her face and a paramedic was checking her pulse.
She coughed and closed her eyes, her lungs were burning and her muscles were in agony. She felt sick and had to quickly remove the mask as she moved her head to the side and vomited on the grass.
"Out of my way, out of my way"
Tifa looked up and saw Cid pushing his way towards her. The man pushed a woman with a camera out of the way and went over to Tifa and immediately crushed her into a hug.
"Stupid girl" he hissed, "What the fuck did you think you were going?"
"Shelke wanted to save her sister but she got caught in an explosion" Tifa explained, "So I went inside instead" she quickly glanced around and said, "Where is Shelke? I left her with Barret"
"On her way to hospital" Cid answered, "She's got a large gash on her head but she'll be fine. Her sister went with her. You saved the whole chemistry team"
"Not all of them" Tifa mumbled, "A woman got hit by glass when the dome collapsed. When it did all I could think of was getting them all out but the woman must have let go of Shalua's jacket and gotten hit. It was an awful way to die"
"But you saved four people today" Cid beamed, "I'm so proud of you. Welcome back Agent Lockhart"
"It's good to be back" Tifa smiled.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
After she had went to the hospital and gotten an all clear and visited Shelke who was awake and talking to her sister who couldn't be thankful enough and had gotten a shower and a change of clothes, Tifa was discharged and on a bus since her car was still at the station.
She was thinking that she could go home and wait for Aerith and tell her what had happened, but one look at her watch told her that the older woman wouldn't get off work for another four hours. So she had caught the first bus that would drop her off closest to Clouds house. She was going to visit her boyfriend and see how he had been coping since they last saw each other.
She still occasionally coughed and her eyes were badly bloodshot, but once she got off the bus and walked to her partners home, she felt fit enough to tend to Clouds needs if it were needed.
She had gotten a call from Cid when she was at the hospital, telling her that she had had another lucky escape since the station was surrounded by cameras and reporters, all looking for the heroine that had risked her life for the chemistry team.
"I've told 'em Jack shit" Cid had said, a little bit of pride in his voice, "Take the rest of the day off and be in tomorrow. The clear up team have come and deemed Headquarters safe to still be in use"
She smiled as she reached Clouds house and opened the door, feeling that she was familiar enough to not have to knock.
What she was hoping to see was Cloud either asleep or going over funeral plans, not her boyfriend in the grasp of another woman whose lips were taking control of his. The blonde females hands were gripping hold of Clouds spikey hair and Cloud's eyes were wide open, his back against the wall and his hands pushing at the woman's shoulders.
"C-Cloud?" she stuttered. Her heart breaking into pieces like the glass dome and a shard piercing it like it had the woman who had lost her life. She dropped the bag that was holding her smoke damaged clothes and slapped a hand over her mouth, stopping a broken sob that passed her lips.
"Tifa!" Cloud squeaked, pushing the blonde woman aside and going over to her, "Tifa, it's not what it looks like!"
"You . . . you and her!" Tifa shrieked, recognising the woman. It was the same woman who had gone to Aeriths flower shop looking for a type of flower that she shop didn't have. The woman had then insulted both her and Aerith and had walked away when Tifa had wanted to stick up for herself.
"No, there's nothing going on between us" Cloud pleaded, "Scarlett is an old friend of mine. She- she just kissed me"
"Like I believe that!" Tifa shouted as the blonde woman smirked, "You've been cheating on me with that slut!"
"Excuse me?" Scarlett hissed, "What did you call me?"
"Tifa" Cloud said, "I promise I'm not cheating on you. She came around with sympathy for Zack and when I asked her to leave, she kissed me. I love you Tifa, I promise I'm not being unfaithful"
Tifa's eyes welled up with tears, not sure if she could believe him. Unsure what to do, she turned on her heel and fled.
"Tifa!" Cloud shouted after her.
"Just let her go" Scarlett scoffed, "She's an ugly tramp anyway. You can do so much better"
"Shut up" Cloud roared, grabbing the woman around her neck and slamming her against the wall. "You bitch. I'll never forgive you. Get out of here"
He dropped her to the floor and ran after his girlfriend, leaving the blonde woman to rub her neck and laughsourly.
"This is going better than I planned. Oh Cloudy-Poo, you'll get me closer to him whether you like it or not".
Poor Aerith, I was just going to have Tifa lie to her but once I got to writing it, I just couldn't do it so I made her tell the truth instead :'(
My attempt at some sort of action. I was told that Tifa wasn't doing enough to earn her Agent status so hopefully, this sort of makes up for it.
Keza xXx