Splintered Dreams
Chapter 23
"The Great Ninja Yuffie"
They were being followed.
The low-grade buzz of awareness that hummed through Zack had raising hair and sinew tightening —pulling muscles, readying for battle should he need to.
From the corner of his eye he caugt Tifa slant him a look and he nodded subtly. She felt it too.
Behind them, Aerith chattered happily, giving Barret more information than the big man would ever need to know about how to properly nurture and tend to the frail flowers of Midgar, while Red trotted along behind, his flame tail swishing back and forth.
There was no need to alarm everyone just yet, Zack figured, so he feigned a stretch, angling his head to peer into the shadows of the forest around them. The deep underbrush remained still and the trees offered only minimal movement in their branches, but Zack knew there was someone—or something—watching them.
There!
Zack's mouth thinned and he turned his full attention to the forest shadows, giving up the pretense. The breeze had settled, but the leaves of one tree still trembled. His hand closed around the hilt of his sword, and he adjusted his stance. "If you want to sneak up on someone, you should be a little less obvious," he called out.
There was a swell of silence as the others halted, finally noticing that he'd stopped, and that he was shouting at the trees.
Tifa gave Barret a quick hand signal and he immediately adjusted his gun-arm and took position in front of Aerith. Red, who relied on instinct, maneuvered along Aerith's other side with his haunches up.
There was another pregnant pause as they waited for a response of any sort while the trees swayed and the sunlight danced between.
Barret lifted his arm, the gears whirring to life. "You want me to just start shooting?" he asked in a voice loud enough to carry.
The leaves rustled then and a voice called out, "You only know I'm here because I want you to!"
Zack's eyes widened at that voice. It was female, accented Wutainese and young, and it jangled something in the distant parts of his memories. He glanced at Tifa and noticed her expression was also surprised—although he imagined for a different reason. Hearing it, Tifa lowered her fists and relaxed her stance.
"Wait, Ti—shit!" Zack swung his sword out, deflecting the oversized shuriken that spun from the shadows. The weapon spun back, arcing through the air much like a boomerang, the thrum of it lingering inches from Tifa's face. Zack fought down the urge to reprimand her for dropping her guard. He'd let it go...for now.
He turned back to the forest in time to see a small hand dart out from the leaves, snagging the spinning blades casually, and a moment later a slim figure dropped lightly from the branches.
Not only had she sounded young, it was apparent that their would-be attacker was young. Early teens, if Zack had to guess, with short dark hair that framed a face that hinted toward future beauty. Brown eyes, rimmed with dark lashes and mischief sat above a pert, slightly upturned nose and bow shaped lips turned up in a wide smile. "I'm the Great Ninja Yuffie. Pleased to meetchya!" She waved at them, cheeky and arrogant, with the massive shuriken slung over her shoulder. "Now, hand over your materia!"
She was marginally taller and a little louder than he remembered, but her attitude and appearance zipped straight into Zack's memories and pulled up a younger version of the 'Great Ninja'. Memories flickered like old movie footage behind his eyes and he recalled scared bravado and furious taunts while Shin-Ra soldiers crawled through the streets of Wutai.
"You!" He pointed his finger at her.
In turn, she smiled wider and turned her thumb on herself. "Me!"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Zack demanded. "You could get yourself killed with stunts like that!"
"What stunt? I'm about to kick your asses and take your materia," she explained with a wink.
Barret's booming, disgruntled voice drew all eyes to him. "Dammit, and I thought maybe we had some action." He lowered his arm, shrugged dismissively. "We don't have time for this. Let's keep walking." He nudged Aerith into motion. The others followed.
"H-hey!" The Great Ninja Yuffie exclaimed when they began walking. "Wait! Wait!" Ignored, she called out taunts, until one of them struck a cord. "I kicked your ass once, SOLDIER, I'll do it again!"
This brought everyone up short and Zack felt four pairs of eyes boring into him.
"Zack?" At Tifa's inquiring—and subtly amused—look Zack quickly denied the claim.
"She did not!"
"Did so!" Yuffie countered with a tilt of her chin. "One hit and you were whining like a baby!"
Barret's laugh was grating, but Zack expected the ribbing. No way was Barret letting something like this slide. "Got your ass handed to you by a toddler?"
"She was a kid!" Zack protested with a scowl. "What was I supposed to do?"
"Beat the snot out of her," Barret provided evenly.
"Sure. That's a good plan."
"Better than letting her kick your ass."
"She didn't. I pretended to be defeated so she would go away."
"Sure. If you say so."
Zack rolled his eyes. He was never, ever living this down.
"Hey! Quit ignoring me!" Yuffie stamped her foot. When that didn't work she swung her shuriken out again, this time the deadly blades were aimed at Aerith.
The weapon's frantic spin was halted abruptly by the flat of the Buster Sword, the shuriken snapping in half on impact. "Don't." Zack lowered his blade to his side and gave the girl a hard, glowing stare. "I don't have any quarrel with you, and I really don't need one." His voice could have etched stone. "But if you attack my friends again, I will."
"You don't scare me!" Yuffie shouted, her stance defiant.
"He should," Tifa's voice was calm and carried with it the weight of sincerity. She shrugged one shoulder and continued in the same idle tone, "It's not like you'd be the first person he's killed today. I think..." She spaced out her fingers, ticked off three. "Yup, you'd make number four." She gave a weary sigh. "It's so hard to keep SOLDIERs in line. All that Mako...it does stuff to them."
Zack felt something in him shift uncomfortably. He knew Tifa was teasing—knew she playing a part to deter Yuffie from fighting with them, but her words...hurt. She didn't realize; she would never do so intentionally, but that didn't stop the sting he felt or the ache it left behind. Because all that Mako did do something to him.
Something ugly and unchangeable.
"Of course, if he kills you, then we won't have to waste anymore time out here. Hmmm...." Tifa tapped her fingers to her chin, contemplating.
Yuffie, for her part, simply gaped, her mouth flapping open and closed, but no words came out.
"Barret, what do you think?" Tifa asked suddenly.
"Wait, wait, don't ask him!" Yuffie spluttered.
"Why not?"
"Because he'll wanna kill me!"
"Probably," Tifa agreed. "Fine. Aerith, what do you think? She did just try and decapitate you—"
"I was only foolin'!"
Aerith gave Yuffie a long look, and Zack recognized the teasing glint in her eyes. "Well...I don't know..."
"Are you really going to kill the child?" Red's smooth voice was a bit agitated and his yellow eye flickered with inner light.
The shriek Yuffie emitted had them covering their ears. "Ohmygods, ohmygods, it talks! It talks! What the heck is it? It can talk?!"
"I know you idiots were joking before," Barret groused, wincing as the piercing wail crested and fell and then rose again, "but if she doesn't cut that shit out, I'm gonna shoot her."
"Enough!" Red snapped, his growl echoing against bark and sky. "Yes, squealing child, I can talk. As for what I am, I am what you see. Now, if you are done with your insulting tirade, then please be so kind as to remove yourself from our way, and we shall be going."
Yuffie blinked several times and, to Zack's surprise, quieted. "Uhm...sorry," she muttered. She took a breath before straightening her shoulders, her self-assured grin back in place. "So, where are we going?"
Barret scoffed. "What's this we shit, pipsqueak. You ain't coming."
"Of course I am," she scoffed right back. "I'm the Great Ninja Yuffie! Master Treasure Hunter and Adventurer! I go wherever I choose to go, and right now, I choose to go with you guys!"
"No." Zack shook his head as he returned his sword to the holder on his back "You don't want to get involved with us, trust me."
"Ooooh, now you make it sound dangerous!" Yuffie rubbed her hands together. "Even better."
"It's crazy to want to look for danger," Aerith said. "But you may be able to help us."
"How?"
"We're looking for a man in a black cape. Have you seen him?"
"Nope."
"Okay, then, she can't help." Zack made quick motions for everyone to start walking. "The sooner we get to Junon, the sooner we can find out where Sephiroth is headed—"
"Wait!" Yuffie ran up beside him and latched onto his arm. "Sephiroth? As in General Sephiroth?" she asked, her face uncharacteristically serious.
Zack tensed, but nodded. "Yes."
"Why? Why are you looking for Sephiroth?"
"That ain't any of your damn business," Barret interjected, his palm pushing against Zack's shoulder as he passed. "Move it, Princess."
"Look, you have to let me come with you," Yuffie exclaimed, clinging. Gone was her toothy grin and in its place steely determination glinted in her eyes. "You owe me that much."
Zack flinched, but still refused. They had enough problems without adding a kleptomaniac teenager to their ranks. "I'm sorry, kiddo, but my answer is no."
"Don't 'kiddo' me!" A small foot stamped on his toe. "Because of you—because of Shin-Ra and SOLDIER—my home, my home, is a tourist attraction! Nothing is as it should be! And it's your fault! You owe me! If there is a chance to get revenge on the General then I want it! He destroyed my home!"
"Look, Yuffie—"
"She can come."
Zack closed his eyes, his breath leaving him like a punch. "Tifa..."
Even Barret stopped, but to Zack's eternal surprise, the big man said nothing and even nodded.
Hands on her hips, Tifa met Zack's stare, her mouth set. "She can come. I'll be responsible."
Like you need that, Zack thought. One more thing to carry on your shoulders. But he didn't say it. Couldn't say it. He knew—the moment Yuffie had proclaimed her home destroyed by Shin-Ra—he knew she was theirs now.
Yuffie's grin was triumphant.
"Once, just once, do I find any gil or materia missing and you're gone," Zack murmured, low enough for only Yuffie to hear him.
Her gulp was audible, but she still smiled. "Fair enough." She fumbled in her pocket, handed Zack a small pouch.
"What's this?" he asked.
"The gil I took from you." She flashed her grin again before bouncing off after the others.
Zack sighed, a hand digging into his hair. He watched as Yuffie practically tackled Tifa, looping their arms together and yammering away like they'd been friends forever. "Great, just great."
"Ew. This place is ick!"
The loud proclamation was completely unnecessary, but not completely inaccurate Zack had to admit.
Junon Harbor, one of the busiest and most active cities Zack could remember was completely run-down. Buildings, weathered by sea and smog, were cracked and chipped and looked ready to sink against the ground in weary defeat. The air, which should have tasted of salt and freedom, was rank with the stale, muted flavors of things too unpleasant to name and the ground beneath their feet crumbled and flaked beneath them.
"What happened to this place?" The question was one that Zack didn't actually expect an answer to—after all, every one of them knew what happened to any place when it looked as decayed and crippled as this place did—but it came out of him anyway as the group trudged their way past the iron walls of Junon.
"Place looks like it got its ass kicked," Barret mumbled, wiping one hand down his face. Zack couldn't tell if it was simple commentary or an answer to his question, but either way, he chose not to respond.
"You folks from Shin-Ra?"
The group turned and found wrinkled, weary eyes gazing up at him from beneath the wide brim of a tattered fisher's cap. Shoulders slumped beneath a stained brown tunic and worn rope basket. The old man gave them all a cursory once over.
"We aren't," Aerith replied at the same time Barret demanded: "Do we look like we're from fuckin' Shin-Ra?" which earned him a cuff to the back of the head from Tifa.
Gray eyes didn't blink, but crooked teeth appeared behind cracked lips in a gap filled smile. "Well, good, then. Can't stand them damn Shin-Ra. Ever since they built that city up there during the war there's been no fish in the water and nothing but pollution in the air."
"Are you a fisher-man, sir?" Aerith asked, her sweet voice almost too bright in the dimness.
This time the man did blink and his smile grew to painful proportions. "Used to be. Fifth generation, at that. But not anymore." He made tsking noises and shook his head sadly.
"That's all very interesting," Barret grumbled, glowering at the group. "But can we get on with business? We ain't here for the tour. Old timer, you seen a man in a black cape wandering around here?"
"No. I can't say that I've seen a feller like that around here. You're the first bunch of newcomers this town has seen in a long time."
"Would you, by chance, know of any activity around the harbor by Shin-Ra, perhaps?" Red asked, his voice melodic and even toned as usual.
"Holy Leviathan! It talks!" The old man practically shrieked, backing away a few quick steps.
"You get that a lot," Tifa commented, bending to ruffle the tuft of fur behind Red's ear, a half smile on her face. The gesture was meant to soothe any inadvertent sting the old man's words may have given, Zack realized as he watched the tightness ebb from Red's haunches. "Everyone's so startled to hear you speak," she continued in a light, teasing lilt, "but no one ever seems surprised when Barret does it."
"H-hey!" Barret groused, crossing his arms over his chest, but his scowl wasn't as fierce as Zack knew it could have been, and his tone wasn't offended. It seemed their rag-tag little group was forging some bonds, and despite the hardships he knew they were going to face, Zack couldn't help the sense of pride he felt at being a part of them.
The old man adjusted his basket. "You folks be staying in town?"
"Not long," Zack informed him. He glanced at his companions and for the first time noticed weariness in Aerith's shoulders and around her eyes, despite her cheery smile. The flicker of guilt that he'd carried with him since the Shin-Ra tower raid flared to life and burned a hole in his heart. "But if you know of a place where we could find some food and a room for a few hours, we'd appreciate that," he added.
"Decent food is scarce, I'll tell you that right now. But Mother Gerdie has spare rooms in her house if you're not too particular."
"We ain't got time to be sitting on our asses," Barret stated with a firm nod.
"I could use a break." Tifa interjected before Zack could issue a proper counter.
Barret turned toward her, one thick eyebrow arched in clear disbelief. She met his look with a pointed one of her own. "I'm tired," she stated, her head tilted, daring him to contradict her.
She was perceptive, Zack thought with a smile when he noticed the way her brown eyes flickered over Aerith. And caring.
He knew—better than anyone—how anxious she was to confirm whether or not Sephiroth was alive, and how much she needed to know. He had the same drive, the same need, the same bitter taste in his mouth and shadow in his memories. He also knew first hand how strong and capable she was, and knew she wasn't tired...or at least not weary enough to require taking an extended break, yet she was asking for one.
Not for herself. No, Tifa would push herself to the limits of endurance and beyond—of that Zack was simultaneously certain and terrified of. For her friends though, there was nothing she would not give. His heart doubled its rate in his chest and he smiled, soft and tender, at her. Thank you. He mouthed the words over Aerith's head and watched, with amusement, as Tifa blushed and looked away.
He was going to melt her with that look, she thought, red-faced and pulse pounding. She refused to meet his gaze again, though she felt it burning across her skin. He was too endearing like that, she thought, with his eyes alight and smile gentle.
Cocky Zack she could handle—despite his charm and appeal; fierce Zack she could relate to—and valued him as companion and comrade; seductive Zack was a bit more of a challenge with his smoldering eyes and sinful mouth, but still, she could manage. It was humble Zack that she had the hardest time resisting. When his arrogance didn't veil the pain and fear, and when concern and thankfulness changed blue to violet. That was when she wanted to go to him and hold him—and be held. It was in these moments that she felt her heart would be safe in his care, that she could hand it over to him for keeping...
"Yo! Teef!"
"Huh?" Startled, she blinked rapidly and found dark eyes and a darker scowl directly in her vision. "Quit daydreaming and c'mon!"
"Oh, what? Sure." Dumbly she trodded behind Barret who was giving her his 'you better not flake' glare.
Ahead of her, Yuffie spoke to Aerith. "You must really like pink."
Aerith gave her her mud splattered skirt a quick glance. "Actually, my favorite color is yellow."
Yuffie turned her head a bit. "Then why all the pink?"
Aerith's cheeks tinted to match her ribbon. "Uhm...Zack..." She waved her hand toward Zack's back. "He liked the color on me."
Tifa's boots dug a little deeper into the soil.
"Oh," Yuffie chuckled and waggled her brows. "He's really, really cute. Is he your boyfriend?"
Although she wasn't looking at her, Tifa felt Aerith's stare before she heard the reply of, "Not mine, no."
Yuffie, following Aerith's gaze, turned to walk backwards. "So, he yours?" she called.
Was he? Tifa wondered. It wasn't something she was ready to claim...but she found herself even more reluctant to deny it. Zack...hers? The idea set off small sparks of awareness and warmth through her body—and deeper still, into her soul, where it warmed places long left cold and dark. Gods, what was that man doing to her?
"He is!"
Startled, Tifa's eyes flew up and she found Zack's focus locked on her. Her face burned when she realized that he could hear everything being said. Damn his SOLDIER hearing. And then her heart pounded triple speed when she realized just exactly what he'd replied to.
She floundered for a response—confirmation, rejection, it didn't matter, just something—but came up empty.
"Lucky." Yuffie pouted, turning away and returned her attention back to Aerith.
And Zack was still looking at her...
"Help! Please, someone help!" The scream was frayed and tear-filled. "Please, help!"
Sword drawn, gun cocked, gloves donned—they swung around as one to face the elderly woman scrambling up the stone steps of the beach. "Please! My granddaughter!" She staggered, fell.
Tifa rushed to her side, helping her to her feet. The woman was soaked, her gray, thin hair in strings over her eyes and her pale, wrinkled skin was sand covered.
"A monster..." frail fingers dug into Tifa's arms. "A monster has my baby!"
"Where?" Zack was beside them in an instant.
"The beach!" The woman pointed with trembling hands as her knees gave out again.
"Aerith!" Tifa called. "Easy, ma'am. Please, be easy."
"On my way!" Aerith placed her hands beneath the other woman's elbows, facing her. "Go," she said to Tifa and Zack. "I've got her."
"Right. We'll get your granddaughter," he assured, the strength in his voice and sheer presence comforting." He moved so quick that by the time Tifa realized he'd gone, he was already on the steps, his feet flying over the ground and down the stones.
Tifa rushed behind him, and decided not to bother with the beaten walkway and instead chose to vault over the wooden railing and dropping to the sandy ground below.
"Teef! For Ifrit's sake, that girl is gonna be the death of me!" She heard Barret swearing from above . Lifting one hand over her head she waved to let him know that she was unharmed, but didn't miss her stride.
On the beach, down by the shore, a small body lay, crumpled and discarded like a broken doll. In the water a monster slithered, tail churning frothy foam in the waves. "Oh, no," Tifa breathed, her legs pumping faster.
She wasn't going to make it, she thought with terrifying clarity. The sea-creature was arched for a strike, its target clearly the girl laid out on the beach, and she wasn't going to make it in time!
"No, no, no!" Her voice was harsh in her throat and she denied a cry as the creature lurched forward—mouth wide and ready.
Blood sprayed the sky, dropping down like crimson rain and Tifa watched in fascination laced horror as the monster's head slid to the side and then fell clean off. The body swayed a moment longer, then it too fell into the pink water.
Standing with his legs braced on either side of the child Zack held his sword out, eyes flickering with green light as he watched the beast displace and crumble.
It hadn't stood a chance, Tifa realized, eyes wide. Zack had sliced through the creature with cold efficiency, dispatching the giant monstrosity without even breaking a sweat.
"The girl?" Tifa raced to his side, dropped to her knees and reached for the tiny body.
"Don't." His voice was ragged despite his even breathing. "Don't look," he said.
But her hands had already clutched fragile shoulders and rolled the child onto her back. "Oh, gods!" She was going to be sick. Tifa fell back, her hand over her mouth. Eyeless sockets stared back at her and torn, bloody skin flapped in the ocean breeze. "No, no, no." She shook her head, tried to deny the sight in front of her.
"Tifa." Zack's arms circled her, lifted her to her feet. "Go. I'll finish here." He cupped her cheek, his eyes sad. "Go on."
A breath shuddered in her lungs. "No." She wouldn't let him do this alone. Not this. It would crush him, she knew, to tell that frantic woman that her 'baby' was dead. She could see it on his face now--the anger, the sadness, the defeat. She laced her fingers through his, and squeezed. "We'll go together." Zack's words from earlier echoed in her head and her hurt ached. You can't save everything...
She got that now. She understood. Truly, she did.
But, still it'd be nice if they could save someone.
She felt tears sting the backs of her eyelids as, together, they walked up the sand, toward the rocks and the waiting grandmother they'd left behind.
Mother Gerdie's house was dark and quiet, the occupants mostly asleep when Zack entered. He made his way through the small house, toward the back bedroom that he'd been assigned. His steps were careful, keeping the creaking of the floorboards to as much of a minimum as possible.
At the end of the hall, he closed the door quietly behind him. Inside the small, but surprisingly tidy bedroom, he removed his boots and rested them against the wall beside the bed, near his sword.
He brushed his fingertips over the hilt and closed his eyes.
Death.
Everywhere he went he carted death behind him.
This sword...was meant to protect and defend. It was a symbol of hopes and dreams...and honor. And now, thanks to him, there was more blood on it than ever.
"I'm not doing this very well, am I, Angeal?" he whispered. The wistful pang he felt in his chest had him staggering forward, hand braced on the wall as the weight of failure and memories pressed him into the dark. His throat was tight, eyes burning. "I could really use your advice right now...not that I ever took it," he murmured. His breath left him in a long, jerky whoosh. "Please."
"Zack?"
Tifa.
How did she always know?
The light but insistent knock on the door had him recrossing the floorboards and turning the loose handle. Tifa stood on the other side of cracked wood, her arms hugged around herself. She looked very pale in the muted moonlight that managed to filter through the permanently smog stained windows, he thought with a frown.
"Hey." He opened the door, moved back to allow her room.
She stepped through the threshold. "How is she?" she asked after the door clicked shut.
"Sedated." Weariness weighed his words, his heart, him. He'd just come from the house of Priscilla Lane, grandmother of "Little Priscilla", where several townsfolk had gathered to help the elder woman through her grief.
It had torn her apart—the death of her beloved granddaughter. She had cried and screamed and wailed until finally someone, and Zack couldn't remember who, had come and cast sleepel on her.
He had offered to be the one to go back and collect the body, but there was a sense of discomfort with that, and the offer was politely—but firmly—declined. They had a coroner, they would handle it. No need for outsiders to get involved.
Through the buzz and commotion Zack learned that sightings of sea monsters weren't all that uncommon and that Little Priscilla had been going down to the beach for days in search of her missing dolphin—presumably devoured. As a result, Zack and the others had decided to stay for the remainder of the night. There were things they could do here to help, they'd concluded. So they did. Throughout the afternoon he and Barret and Tifa worked to fortify the beach and made barricades along the shore while Aerith went to assist with the elder Mrs. Lane.
Even Yuffie got involved, surprising them all. "What?" she'd exclaimed. "You've met me for five minutes and you think you know me? Pfffft. Losers." And then she was off in a huff, setting about closing the docks. Since fishing wasn't possible anymore, she and Red closed up the untended bait shops and placed signs and picket-posts up as warning.
It had taken hours and several thousand pounds of bagged sand, welding, and organizing, but they had managed to get a great deal accomplished before they lost all daylight and had to call it a night.
Zack had expected blame and harsh words—him being a former SOLDIER and failing to save the child—but he hadn't. What he had received was quiet thanks for his effort and gratitude for his slaying the beast.
He would have preferred the former.
"How are you?" he asked her, breaking the silence.
Lashes veiled shining eyes. "I'm okay." She turned toward the window. The silence stretched with the shadows.
Zack had the urge to fidget, but tamped it down, and instead shoved his hands in his pockets and waited.
"Do you think Sephiroth is still here?" she asked finally, her voice faltering—only slightly—on the name.
That broke his heart, he realized. Watching her struggle to pretend to be okay. Physically, mentally, emotionally—she put on a hell of a show, and Zack felt a small ball of worry form in his gut. Because that was all it was. A show. He could see the lines of tension around her eyes and feel the thrumming of unease beneath her skin.
Not many other people did, though.
Barret, maybe.
But to everyone else Tifa was strong, dependable, unshakable.
"I don't know," he answered, moving so that he stood beside her. Being closer to her helped him. "Maybe."
Another long silence and clouds covered the moon, draping them in ink and muted gray.
Zack rubbed the back of his neck and struggled to find the words that he wanted to say. "Tifa... chasing Sephiroth... there's going to be more death. By his hand or others, it won't matter. When Shin-Ra and Sephiroth are involved... bodies get littered behind."
She lifted her chin, stared out into the blurry night. "I know."
Of course she knew. He wasn't sure what he was warning her of—she'd already lived through the worst nightmare, but he wanted her to understand...to know, that none of it was her fault.
Today had been a staggering blow for all of them. Simply because the honest truth was there had been nothing they could have done for the child. They couldn't save everyone...no matter how much they wanted to.
They—he—needed to accept that, he'd realized, stacking bags today. He had told Tifa that in the marshes, but the fact remained he had expected to jog onto that beach, dispatch a monster, and play hero once more.
Except, as he already knew, heroes were sadly rare and didn't always win.
Studying her, he noticed her fingertips twitch and flex spasmodically, and with a small grunt, he reached out and took one hand between both of his.
Startled, her eyes widened and when they lifted to his they were a shade somewhere between chocolate and roses and Zack felt his heart kick. Slow, he began to rub his thumbs against her palm in firm circles. "You should have told me," he chided gently, his voice a low murmur.
When she looked confused, one side of his mouth curved. "They still hurt," he elaborated, giving the hand within his a gentle squeeze.
"Oh." She blinked, once, twice, and he could see her mentally working up a plausible denial, so he simply gave her another crooked smile before lifting each finger to his lips for a light caress.
"I can feel it," he mouthed against her palm, breath whispering between them.
"Zack..."
"Hush." He brushed her hair behind her ear as his eyes deepened to match the midnight sky. "Let me take care of you." I need to take care of you.
The shadows in her own eyes deepened but after a moment she nodded and relaxed her fingers. "Okay."
Zack diligently massaged her joints, soothed her aches, rubbed away lingering tightness. Tifa closed her eyes, her sigh music to his ears. Her body swayed and eyelids drooped, exhaustion finally able to ease in past soreness and tension.
"Zack...."
"Hm?"
"I...don't...I..can't...want to feel like this..."
His heart stopped. Kick-started again. "Tifa?"
"Sorry," she murmured, realizing she was rambling Gently, she removed her hands. "I'm just tired."
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No, no, nothing like that," she quickly assured him, but her eyes still held a nervous tension that made his breath tight and chest constrict. She stepped away from him, hands wringing one another at her waist. "I just..." She trailed off, shook her head and lowered her lashes to veil the crimson flecks sparking beneath. "Never mind." She turned away from him, reached for the door. "You should get some slee—"
"Don't." He was behind her in an instant, the breadth of his chest pressed into her back, his hand circling hers on the doorknob. He pressed his nose into her hair, took a shuddering breath. "Don't go."
"I...I can't stay," she whispered back, and in the words he heard the sound of goodbye and hello and heartache.
"Yes, you can," he told her.
In front of him, her head bowed and he felt her firm her resolve. "No, I can't." She turned in his arms. "Not yet." And then her mouth was on his and Zack couldn't think anymore.
It was the first time she'd ever initiated a kiss between them, and Zack felt his insides swell and brighten in the way they only ever did for her. His pulse throbbed in his chest, head, hands and lower, while his blood hummed beneath his skin, singing for her. More of her. Only ever her.
She lifted her chin, angled her head and tasted him.
And Zack—renowned ladies man—shivered. His hands moved to cradle her jaw and he returned her kiss with tender affection and simmering passion.
When they parted, it was slowly—reluctantly—and Zack felt her tremble against him.
"Tifa." Breaths came in ragged bursts, his eyes shining in the shadows. "Stay." Please. I need you. His fingers curled beside her ear and his smile was full of gentle coaxing. "Please. I just want to hold you while I sleep."
It was the please that did her in, she'd later contemplate.
His eyes were sincere and swirling with pain, despite the smile on his face, and her heart cracked within her breast. Selfless to the point of sacrificial, Zack rarely asked for anything. But he was asking her now.
How could she deny him?
Holding his gaze, she slipped her hand down his arm to link their fingers. "You'd better not snore," she whispered, and watched his eyes widen and shine with something that was simultaneously joyful and terrifying.
She led him to the small bed, nerves causing her upper teeth to work her bottom lip to rawness, but then his warm, strong hands were on her shoulders and he whispered "It's okay."
And suddenly it was.
Tomorrow they would resume their search for Sephiroth.
Tomorrow the people of Junon would bury one of their young.
Tomorrow they may fight another battle.
Tomorrow they may slay another foe.
Tomorrow they may lose another friend.
But tonight...tonight they had each other.
AN: This chapter didn't go at all how I wanted, and the transition still sucks. :P But I decided to finish it up as I sort of 'originally' planned. I'm so sorry for anyone that read it, and now has to re-read it. But THANK YOU!! So much for reading. It means the world!