Disclaimer: As always, FFVII and it's characters do not belong to me. Happy? Alright, on with the story.
A/N: Rightho, this chapter continues straighton from the last one, and thus the only time jump would be uh, a couple of hours and that's it. More AC spoilers of course, so don't say I didn't warn you. This isn't part of one of the stagesoflove ficlets, but a transition chapter that I needed to dump in so that the story would flow better. Well then, on with the story.
Seamless Vision
In the dying rays of sunlight, just before the sun sets, Reno and Rude return with empty hands to Seventh Heaven and Reno finds that he feels disappointed because in that kind of roundabout way – she loves and cares for children who are not even her own and he admires her for that – he will be disappointing Tifa. Even behind her hardass fighter's nature – he's been on the receiving end and it hurts – there is her gentle smile and the warm eyes that he does not want to taint with sadness (Reno wonders when he became such a sap, and he thinks Rude is starting to wonder this too.). It is dusk by the time they return.
Far be it for him to want – to wish to hope to see – her to smile at him, lips unturned just slightly and eyes warm with welcome, but he reminds himself again that everything she has ever wanted is Cloud, and that there can be nothing more than friendship between them even as he makes his way up the stairs noiselessly. The quiet sounds of breathing in the room stop him from entering – Tifa is still asleep, and he has no wish to see Cloud mooning out the window – so he and Rude wait just outside the door, silent statues in the dark corridor.
Ten minutes after the duo have started waiting outside the door, the rustle of fabric over blankets and the slight creaking of bed springs alerts them to Tifa's waking state. Her voice is soft when she speaks, like waters caressing pebbles slowly as they run over the surface and he is lost in the sound of her quiet murmurs, yet she is straightforward in her questions and when she gets the answers she doesn't want to hear, his heart aches for her. Both he and Rude make their way noiselessly into the room, and neither Cloud nor Tifa hear or see them until Reno speaks because he doesn't want to see her sad – Cloud is an idiot, he thinks, if he still cannot see what is in front of his eyes, and what belongs in the past – and he likes it when her burgundy eyes lit by light through the window hold his eyes steadfast.
She is incredibly selfless, Reno thinks to himself when the first thing out of her mouth is to ask him where the children are – she is a loving mother even to those not of her blood – and he tells her what they have found; his eyes are all for her as he takes in the pale skin lit by moonlight and shaded by shadows, and he wants to run his fingers through her hair, to feel her skin again but he makes no move towards her. She looks back at him, her gaze unwavering, her worry wholly evident in her eyes.
The moment lasts for but a second, before Cloud unknowingly shatters it and Reno is brought back to his senses with a start, but before he can answer Cloud's question, Rude answers it for him. Reno has no doubt that Rude has just saved his ass by taking the attention away from his staring at Tifa. He is thankful for this, and he flicks a glance to Tifa, who has her attention on Rude now, waiting for him to tell her where the children – her children, Reno thinks – are.
In the following pseudo-lecture that Tifa levels upon Cloud when he asks both Reno and Rude to look for the missing children, he gestures to Rude that they should both leave and makes for the door, but the bald Turk drags him back mouthing the words 'Tell her', because he knows that Rude knows exactly what he can say to give Tifa exactly what she wants – for Cloud to take that step towards allowing people back into his life again. When Cloud is silent after Tifa stops to breathe, Reno spares a glare for Rude who has his arms folded and is looking expectantly at him before inclining his head slightly, and tersely tells Cloud that – the one who is always running away from everyone – the blond himself should be the one to go to Ajito to find the children. Without another word, he turns and leaves the room, unaware of Tifa's speculative eyes that follow his back. Her surprise at his voicing exactly what she wanted to say – if not in as many words – is followed by a silent 'thank you'.
She remembers the shadows in his eyes after seeing him again several times after Meteor and here, she thinks, is a kindred spirit who understands how she feels; a kindred spirit who draws out her laughter – and who enjoys playing with kids, she muses, although he would never openly admit it – and who has been a source of silent company on days when Cloud was not around; Tifa finds herself thinking fondly of this man who was once her enemy and now a friend.
She is not blind to the redhead's eyes that follow her movements silently when he comes to visit the bar sometimes, hiding behind a playful demeanour, and she is not surprised that a Reno-shaped hole is starting to make a small dent in her heart, along with all her other companions who belong there.
Although Tifa loves Cloud dearly, she is not in love with him any longer, but holds a sisterly affection and worry for him all the same, which goes to say that she will of course rag him out for not being around and for hiding himself away from everybody. She misses his presence in her life, as do Marlene and Denzel, but not by her side as a romantic companion. Here is a man who is still haunted by the past, she knows, and she will never – and does not want to, in any case – take Aeris' place in his heart. If only you were still here, she thinks of the best friend she found on their journey across the world, but Aeris is gone gone gone in the watery grave that they left her in, drifting, drifting. Aeris would never have wanted Cloud to grieve and be guilty for her death, and Tifa is trying desperately to make him see this. Until the blond understands that the only one that can give him forgiveness is none other than himself – Aeris, Tifa knows, forgave him a long time ago – he will never be free of the guilt that plagues him.
The gentle click of the closed door bring her back from her musings and for now, she will stand by Cloud's side as silent encouragement to help him through his grief.
But one day, she promises herself, perhaps she may take up all those unknown prospects that she sees framed within a certain redhead's blue-gray eyes and knowing smirk.