The first thing I see is Tifa. The beautiful buxom woman who gave me her heart. She had just finished serving someone a drink at the bar, and was turning to the entrance as I opened the door. "Hi!" she chirped, "Welcome to…" she cuts off when she sees who it is. It's me. Her eyes widen in surprise, water rushing to them against her will. She must have been worried. I notice she sees how I look- even with the use of materia I still look like shit. My clothes are damaged and I have that air of someone who has went through hell. Her eyes flicker to the side, coming across the girl helping me walk. I can feel the indecision in her countenance. She can't be sure what is going on, and she doesn't want to overreact.
I know Tifa. I've been hanging out with her for half a year. In the grand scheme of things, it's really not that long, but when you're with someone almost every day… You learn about them. She's not the woman she would be in the games yet. She hasn't saved the world. She's a damaged young soul who lost everyone she ever loved. She's a woman struggling to get by in the slums, who's only ever had girlhood crushes. She's Tifa. She's my Tifa. I'm sure she wonders who this stranger is helping me, and while she may feel threatened, I am injured.
Tifa rushes around the bar, swallowing any sense of depreciating self-worth she feels. She can only act on what she knows, and she knows I'm in pain. She wraps my other arm around her shoulders and speaks up, "Okay! Everyone out of the bar. This is personal." The locals grumble and complain, but no one dares disobeys her. No one wants to be banned from the Seventh Heaven. Though, it isn't quite the Seventh Heaven yet. The sign still says Tyfer's Bar. Very soon, it's just me, Aerith and Tifa. Idly, I wonder where Barret and the others are.
"Okay," Tifa says in a small, tired voice. "Can you two please explain what's going on? I…" She pauses, "I was about to start mourning you, Daniel." Her arms cross under her generous bust. Lately, she started wearing this really nice white shirt and suspenders. My eyes dip before going back to her wine colored orbs. She notices, I can tell, but doesn't comment on it. I feel really bad. Apparently I've been gone for 4 days. Last anyone heard I was going to sector 5, and people heard there was a Turk nearby there too, and AVALANCHE put the two rumors together. They thought I was dead. That SHINRA caught on to what we were planning and took out their financial backer. "Barret, Jessie, Biggs and Wedge are still out there looking for you." She adds, "What happened?" she asks again.
Aerith and I look at each other. She's standing, and I'm collapsed on a chair. "He was looking for me," Aerith states. "We're friends," she adds, putting a hand on my back. I stiffen, knowing that's a mistake. Aerith probably knows exactly what she's doing. Shit. "And…" she trails off, wondering how to say it, "The Turks keep an eye on me. I- I don't wanna talk about why." She's adamant about that. "But, they said there's something weird about Danny and…" She looks at me and I look at her. Tifa bristles at the name.
"They said Doctor Hojo is after me," I interject. I won't let Aerith continue. "Aerith is a friend- she helped me with our first date," I smile at Tifa, fond memories in my mind. "They revealed something strange about my body. I'll tell the others, but I don't mind explaining twice. You deserve to know." I pause. I don't want to say I'm from another world. It's my secret and I plan on taking it to my grave. Mainly, I'm afraid Tifa will break up with me. I feel like a scum bag, but I don't want her to think I was just going after some waifu. These people… There are no NPCs. Everyone is real. They have real problems and issues. Some of them lack personalities, but I know people from my old life like that too. Sometimes I felt like I was one of them. I don't know if I love Tifa, but I do know I appreciate everything she brings in my life. She's close to my heart. I know I think I love her. I don't want to jeopardize that feeling. That bond between our hearts.
So, I twist the truth a little. "I have no memory before waking up in the slums here, on the New Year's Day." I fidget nervously, "I have… vague knowledge in my mind about a lot of things. Mako, people of interest around the world… Knowledge of many things. I know who I and what I stand for. I remember family, friends, but not from anywhere we will find," I try to flesh out my life a little better. "I have no context, though," I shrug, looking at the floor. "Tseng, the Turk I fought, is the leader of his branch of SHINRA. He said my body has only physically existed for six months." June was only a few days away.
"Aerith saved my life. She stopped them from taking me away." Aerith rubs her hand in my brown messy hair. I don't say anything, but holy shit it felt good. "Tseng beat me within an inch of my life. I've been unconscious this entire time." I finish the tale. Tifa is actually crying.
"Oh Daniel, I'm so sorry." She walks up to my chair, and grabs my head in a massive hug. Her breasts feel so soft on my face. Her skin is cold, and it feels wonderful. I'm in heaven. 7[sup]th[/sup] Heaven. I lift my hands and try to hug her back in this awkward position. I love this marshmallow hell. Fuck yeah titties. She pulls away and I reluctantly let her. She stands directly in front of Aerith and looks her in the eyes. Oh shit, I hope this isn't going to happen. I can feel the tension from here. Are they?
Tifa embraces Aerith in a tight hug. I can hear her softly speak in the flower girl's hair, "Thank you for bringing him home. Thank you so much." Aerith giggles as her voice tickles her ear.
"Of course, silly. I couldn't let you suffer anymore." That was a weird way to say it, in my opinion. Tifa angles their hug to speak over Aerith's shoulder at me.
"And you are going into more training. I won't let this happen again!" They disengage and both of them are looking at me side by side.
"That's right mister!" Aerith happily adds, the tension broken, "You're gonna wish Tseng took you when we're done with you!" Both girls giggle. I'm fucked. Why couldn't they fight instead?