Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII does not belong to me.
In-between: a series of connected short fics. First chap is a double drabble-y thing.
Loud Silences
When it comes to Tifa, what Cloud is is aware.
The prickling of his hair at his nape signals her gaze; he knows the weight of her stare. He can tell without looking how she is looking at him, either a thoughtful frown marring her brow, or ruefulness turning up the corner of her mouth, or of shy approval and of something else the both of them dare not speak aloud.
But this time it is different, and he has half a mind to turn around and meet her eyes just to figure out what it is. His shoulders relaxes of their own accord, signalling she is looking elsewhere now, and he turns finally as it is his turn to study her.
Anyone else who does not know her well will never notice that slight half-a-centimetre droop on her shoulders; the spark in her eyes are not as bright; there is a hint of sadness to her smile. He wonders what it means: this is a mood he has never encountered before, and he doesn't know what he can do to remedy that, or if he will actually be able to.
He hates the helpless feeling it gives him, but its pursuit is a step toward somewhere unknown, and he's on that unfamiliar brink of breaching the customary impasse that will change everything…or nothing at all.
Thanks for reading… More soon :)