Tifa: Your Back Up Against the Past
Tell me how many times must it be this way
With your arms around the future
And your back up against the past?
- The Moody Blues
S'good enough, Cait decided, taping down the last of Rude's bandages as Tifa opened the bedroom door. You hang on until they get here, Rude. Elena was leavin' soon as she got Reno an' Hojo up. One of the mechanics had told her where to find Cait; he had borrowed' a small house to care for Rude. The house was owned by someone very fond of pink and frills; Tifa suppressed a grin at the sight of Rude, stripped down to his boxers, sitting propped up on pink lace pillows with a frilly pink comforter at his feet. There was a table with a small fussy lamp next to the bed, and an upholstered chair against the wall, his much-abused suit tossed over it.
...Tifa. Long time, Rude said, turning to look at her. He might even have smiled, before he grabbed the comforter to cover himself in embarrassment. She'd forgotten how pale he was; he still never got any sun. Surprisingly blue eyes, disturbingly like Cloud's but without the Mako glow, watched her; his shades were sitting next to the lamp on the table. He was terribly battered, most of his unbandaged skin beginning to bruise, and blood seeping through a few of the bandages. Even Rude's stoicism couldn't hide the pain, and she looked away quickly, eyes fixing on a floral still life hanging over the bed.
Yes. A long time, she replied. He looked away from her and adjusted the comforter as Cait finished fussing with the bandages. Rude had always been shy like that.
Cait sighed and drooped in his version of an apology. Couldn't just leave him, Tifa.
No, I guess not, she sighed. Since you called the rest of them, we're leaving. The only time she ever wanted to see that bastard Reno again was when she beat him into the ground for destroying the pillar. The blonde, Elena, she knew little about ... but if she'd chosen to be a Turk and Tseng was, or had been, interested in her, that was reason enough to dislike her. Rude had been worried about Elena when Corneo had taken her, she remembered, with a small irrational jolt of envy.
The cat nodded. Guess you don' wanna meet up with em. Probably get home an' find Reno's drunk all m'beer and passed out on m'couch again. Cait shuffled out of the small bedroom and Tifa shook her head. She never quite knew what to make of Cait. He didn't give her the impression of someone who liked to drink, much less someone who liked to drink with scum like Reno. She shook her head at the uselessness of her thoughts, rubbed her aching back, and turned to leave.
Tifa. Take care. Rude smoothed the surface of the comforter nervously.
She looked away, looked at anything except Rude, remembering too much. I'd say the same, Rude, but ... but you never listen. She turned and quickly walked out of the room.
What was that about? Cait asked, as they left the house.
Mind your own business, Tifa said shortly. When Zangan had brought her to Midgar, he'd left her with another of his students, Rude's sister. Rude had been solicitous of his sister's sick houseguest, though she rarely found out about anything he brought her until he was already gone. Mostly just little things, but once he'd brought her a basket of fresh fruit; it must have cost him a fortune in Midgar. He'd given that to her himself ... and kissed her. Not a brotherly kiss, either. His sister had teased her later that evening for being too dense to figure out how Rude felt. Then he'd become a Turk. He'd kept it from her as long as possible, but it had only made her even more furious when she found out.
She shook her head and pushed the memories away. No time for that , she thought, and kept from wincing when a cramp flashed through her belly. Gah, haven't had cramps this bad in a while , she thought, as a second one struck her. She gritted her teeth. They had to find Cloud, Cid and Vincent, and think of a way to get past Sephiroth's barrier. Stupid cramps were not going to stop her; she frowned, realizing she should have had her period a week ago. All the stress must have knocked her off her cycle, and she couldn't very well spend the day lying in bed with a hot water bottle. She fought off a yawn. No matter how tempting lying in bed all day was, hot water bottle or not.
She blinked, realizing Cait must have been trying to get her attention for a while. The next thing to register was the sound of Yuffie yelling and someone howling in pain.
Sorry, Cait. Let's go. They hurried to the source of the yelling, a small grove not far from the launch site, to find a battered Palmer surrounded by Yuffie, Barret and Nanaki.
You launched the rocket with people on it! Yuffie yelled. Palmer cringed away from her as she waved her shuriken menacingly in his direction.
Nobody was supposed to be on it! Palmer howled. He looked beseechingly at Cait and Tifa as the least actively hostile of the group.
Change the damn course! Barret ordered. You're gonna kill them!
I can't! I made Shera fix it so no one could change the course!
Geez, somebody oughta tell Shera not to obey orders, Yuffie said, shaking her head. Hey! Where is Shera? I figured she'd be right there watching the rocket launch!
Palmer bounced, his eyes going wide. Oh! She musta still been on the rocket! He shook wildly. Cid's gonna kill me! he wailed.
We might beat him to it, Tifa said, punching the air. Sweat streamed down her face; the heat from the rocket launch had not dissipated, though she seemed to feel it more than the others. Even Barret wasn't sweating, and he hated the heat. Palmer cringed and looked at Cait, who waved his megaphone around. Barret scowled; Nanaki decided to take a great interest in the condition of his claws. Palmer suddenly brightened.
The escape pod! I forgot about the escape pod! They can get off on that! he exclaimed, bouncing.
Nanaki yawned widely, revealing rows of murderously sharp teeth. You would not, he said, quite gently, lie about that, would you?' Tifa rubbed her back, tried not to yawn herself, and wished she could sleep for about three days straight.
Palmer shuddered, staring fixedly at Nanaki. I never lie! Never never never!
Cait asked. What about that time you tol' Scarlet Rufus was ...
No no no! Palmer wailed. Don't mention that! He stopped in mid-breath and stared at Cait. How'd you know that? You're a cat!
Yuffie laughed. Your disguise failed, Cait, he sniffed you out!
S'pretty good for Palmer, Cait agreed. Yep, I'm a cat! An' this is a moogle. He pointed at the stuffed moogle he was riding on. The moogle waved. Cait pointed at Nanaki. An' that's a hungry Nanaki, and that's a ...
Palmer squeaked, before Cait could say something about Barret. Tifa decided it was just as well, Cait would probably have made Barret mad. It's ... hungry?
It has been quite some time since breakfast, Nanaki mused, cleaning his claws.
Cait went on blithely, gesturing at Yuffie. An' Yuffie didn't get t'beat up Rude. Tifa shook her head, realizing what Cait was up to. She wondered why, if he disliked the Shinra executives so much, he was still spying on them.
Yuffie grinned, catching on; she winked at Cait when Palmer wasn't looking. And I get mad when I don't get to beat things up!
Palmer gulped. I swear! I'm telling the truth! We put an escape pod on the rocket cause we couldn't control it on the way down!
Barret shook his head in disgust. How'd a dumb drunk like you ever survive in Shinra, Palmer?
I'm lucky! Palmer exclaimed. Cait choked, nearly dropping his megaphone. They keep me around as a good luck charm! The real mystery's why Reeve's still around!
Yuffie frowned. Who's Reeve?
Secretary of Urban Development, Barret said. Fixes all the stuff that keeps Midgar alive. Well, he don't do it himself usually.
Palmer nodded. Yeah, that's Reeve. He pisses Rufus off twice a week, Heidegger hates him and Scarlet's mad cause he won't go to bed with her!
Sounds like good taste to me, Palmer, Tifa said, wondering how on earth they'd gotten into this discussion. Cait waved his megaphone wildly, seeming to have been struck temporarily speechless.
Palmer went on, oblivious. He's been hanging around the Turks! Maybe he's sleeping with Tseng and that's why Rufus doesn't fire him!
Cait, sputtering incoherently, fell off the moogle. Tifa resisted the impulse to grin; she suspected she knew what was behind Reeve hanging around with the Turks. Palmer's explanation was not it. Barret grumbled something about that damn cat', and glowered at Palmer.
Is everything in Shinra about sex? Yuffie asked, disgusted.
Palmer shrugged. It is when Scarlet's around! Scary scary scary!
Let im go, Yuffie, Barret said, grimacing. Too damn disgustin' to keep around.
Cait clambered back onto the moogle, still sputtering. You want m'advice, Palmer? Don't go back t'headquarters. Turks ever hear what y'said ...
Palmer blanched. Uh ... Rufus told me to go away! Right! Palmer shambled off as fast as he could go.
Ugh. Good riddance, Yuffie said, putting away her shuriken. Come on , guys! Let's go find Cloud!
Author notes:
Not a clue where this one came from. Maybe my subconscious wanted a bit of a break. Anyway ... I was always a bit curious about the scene in Gongaga where Rude says he likes Tifa. So ... combine that with Tifa's escape from Nibelheim, and you have that bit. I tried to cut the Palmer scene. It wouldn't go. Cait got just a little too hyper, I think ... oh well.