"Ignore what a man desires and you ignore the very source of his power." –Walter Lippmann
[Ch.5]
If the village of Fort Condor couldn't get any uglier, it certainly had now. The usual green and gray landscape had been transformed to resemble a giant mud puddle. Trees and foliage were no more, washed away or lying misshapen and broken in the mudded earth. For the first time in weeks the dreary gray sky had been reborn to a marvelous shade of blue. Even the sun had begun to poke through the clouds, shining its warm rays on the washed ground.
The pleasant change in forecast did very little to brighten the mood of SOLDIER's elite General. Battered, bruised, but gratefully alive, he analyzed his surroundings with an angered intensity. How was it possible that he had failed twice in one day? He had lost the president of Shinra Electric Power Company and with his luck the man was probably dead. The one primary goal of SOLDIER and he had failed! Not to mention that he was separated from the expedition party, who had also been guaranteed his unfailing protection. His heart suddenly sank with the realization, Tifa was just a slip of a girl, there was no way she could have survived the disaster. She had looked to him in such awe and he had let her down in the worst way.
He cooled the anger that boiled his blood and attempted a clean train of thought. If anyone else managed to survive it was more than likely that they would head back into the village to seek help. At the least, he could contact Shinra and leave a report about the accident before heads would roll, his head especially. Briefly he was reminded of Zack's favorite line, "Shit's gonna hit the fan." Well, said "shit" had already hit the preverbal fan.
The General frowned deeply and searched the bare horizon again, not a single thing moved. Several kilometers away past the tree line he could see Fort Condor's watchtower standing against the sky like a beacon of hope. Scowling against his current state he made a path back into town.
OOOOTifa Lockhart trudged tirelessly along the riverbank despite her agonized feet. Desperation had quickly turned to despair, there were no signs of Barret, and she was valiantly fighting the urge to give up looking for him. Her only hope was that he had managed to reach Fort Condor on his own and was calling for help. As for the General, something told her that even the power of nature's greatest couldn't stop him.
Shinra grumbled something from behind and Tifa scowled, if someone had to lose his or her life to the mudslide she wished it had been him. Luckily for him, he had stopped complaining when Tifa had stopped paying attention to his useless remarks.
"Something needs to be done about this town, it needs to be wiped off the map if you ask me."
Her scowl deepened again, the Shinra Company would never change under his leadership. Her thoughts drifted to Nibelheim, maybe she had spent too much time in Midgar and maybe it was time to go home. Midgar, Shinra, their people, the plates, it was all just diseased. Gaia praise Barret for seeing hope in it, but even his efforts would be in vain because of this man beside her.
It would be nice to go back home she thought, where the people were normal and Shinra and mako were the furthest things on their minds. Papa would be happy to see her as well; he had complained for her not to leave but had respected her desires and ambition. Often he had chided her for being too much like her mother, but he had always said it with a warm smile. Yes, it was definitely time to go home. If anything, this mission had shown that to her. She would keep in touch with AVALANCHE and Barret of course, he would understand her need to go home. Maybe one day when she was older and wiser in the ways of the world she would return to Midgar.
Tifa spied something in the distance that drew her from her thoughts; something sleek and black was lying near the riverbank ahead. It was too small and unshapely to be the body of a being, but something urged her to investigate anyhow. She walked over to the riverbank examining the object before grapping it by the collar and pulling it free. She concealed a gasp as memories of the night before flooded her mind. She had almost forgotten the coat being placed over her with gentle care by hands known for their violence; she had been touched by his concern.
Despite the turmoil of the storm the coat itself had stayed in immaculate condition, even the leather hadn't been stained by mud. Tifa folded the cloak neatly into her bag like a fragile treasure, now intent on returning it to its owner, dead or alive.
OOOO
The town had carried on about its usual business mudslide or not, those storms were common under this weather and the citizens had been expecting one for quite some time. None of their boys had been on the foothills when it happened, so naturally it wasn't any of their concern. However, gossip had spread that a small party from Shinra had still been camping on the hills; some had even said that one of the members had been the Shinra president himself.
The elders didn't buy in to such talk, if any poor soul had been on the plains at that time they surely were dead. The younger generation meanwhile, was abuzz with visions of the Shinra Company's downfall. Fort Condor waited on edge, as the hours trolled by and no stranger had wandered into the village, their delight grew.
At half past six the silhouette of a tall man could be seen from the gates of the town. As the dark stranger walked through the streets the villagers gave a unanimous silent groan; even in small parts like this his face was well known. Shinra's famed General ambled into the town without a scratch, however his handsome face was grim and etched with a tamed anxiety.
The first place he went to was the inn, if it could even be considered an inn. Several straw mats had been strewn about the dusty floor, each equipped with a single sheet and pillow. Sephiroth scoffed at the sight, but never one to voice his opinions he approached the innkeeper. The innkeeper was a short old man with bottle cap glasses and an ever-eminent smile. His thousand-watt grin seemed to dimmer as he recognized the man that stood before him.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes I believe you can, has anyone signed for a room in the last several hours?"
The man cleared his throat in a professional manner; however, the knocking of his knees gave his façade away, "We're not allowed to release such private information."
Sephiroth's patience had been sorely depleted this day and he fought the urge to snap the man's neck in two, resorting to a smoldering gaze of mako eyes instead. The old man's Adam apple bobbed up and down, he cleared his throat again, "No sir, I'm afraid no one has."
Sephiroth frowned, so no one had reached the town yet, assuming they were still capable of doing so.
"I'd like to book a space," he declared eyeing the floor with distaste.
OOOOTifa felt hope bubble up in her chest, it consumed her whole as she felt it's warm tingle spread from her toes to her heart. Fort Condor's watchtower split the horizon in two; she wondered briefly how many people had looked up to the tower with the same awe as she. Even Shinra himself had heaved a sigh of relief once they crossed the forest and the town came into view.
Her mind traveled back to their current situation and filled her with renewed dread, what if Barret wasn't here? What if he was still out there? She looked back into the depths of the forest and suppressed a low moan. Regardless, the best thing she could do for anyone would be to call for help, a search party could find them easily.
The president had hurried past and half stumbled-half fell into the streets of Fort Condor. The town seemed unaffected by the storm, a few people moved about the street waving to their neighbors or stopping to chat with the street vendors, some people even eyed Tifa and Shinra with malicious glares. She smirked to herself feeling a pain of resemblance in this backwater town. It didn't matter who you were, if you were affiliated with Shinra you were treated like scum.
She thought of finding the medical station first but she knew Barret well enough. If he indeed came here first he would have sought out the inn, he would have booked a room and used the phone to inform the others. Her mind attempted to familiarize the town with her last visit; within minutes she gave up, she couldn't remember where their only inn was located.
Instantly she spotted a small boy playing with a ball ahead of her, she smiled warmly at the child and approached him.
"Hi there! My name is Tifa, can you tell me where the inn is?"
The child looked up at her with wide blue eyes full of life, he smiled back brightly but before he could answer an elderly woman snatched him up.
"Loki! Don't talk to Shinra scum!" she scolded carrying the boy off.
Dejected Tifa sighed, all her life she had stood against Shinra and its goals, she had never been confused for one of them and the feeling wasn't a good one.
The president's chest puffed up with assaulted pride, "Shinra scum? Why that old crusty bag!"
"Lost are we?"
The voice rolled over Tifa like Wutai silk; it sent her mind reeling and her heart racing to a dangerous dance that she had no hope of matching. Even in all its arrogance Tifa still found relief, she turned to face the owner of such a voice.
"Really now? Scaring small children doesn't suit you." He smirked.
Penetrating mako eyes met hers and drew her in, Tifa tilted her chin and laced her voice with practiced steel, "I see you made it out alive."
He shrugged lethargically but Tifa could see the remnants of a smile playing on his face.
"Sephiroth! Thank Gaia! Call headquarters immediately! I want out of this damned hellhole!"
The president almost threw himself at the swordsman, who brushed him off with ease.
"Firstly we need to rest, we've gone a day without food or proper rest. Secondly, if my memory serves me well we're missing one member."
Tifa sighed with relief grateful that someone hadn't forgotten, "I can't find him," she mumbled swallowing a fast forming lump.
Sephiroth's expression softened for a moment, "I've rented us some space at the inn, we can rest up and then alert the search team."
She nodded; it would do no good to race back into the woods in her current state, she heaved a guilty sigh as she imagined how wonderful a bath and some sleep would be.
OOOOThe inn was nothing to look at; however after the day's events Tifa was just grateful for a place to sleep that wouldn't cave in around her. Upon settling in their room before anyone could object the president had snagged the only bathroom available. Tifa tried not to complain, she was a girl after all and programmed to take the longest amount of time. Instead she settled down on one of the straw mats and stretched her aching limbs sighing contently. This earned her an abbreviated stare from Shinra's General.
"Are you alright?"
She eyed her appendages with a quick stare, "Surprisingly yes, I'm doing good considering the circumstance, and yourself?"
"Minimal damage," he replied curtly.
Tifa smirked; somehow he had managed to make the scenario sound more like a battle scene.
"So what are our plans from here on out?" she inquired.
His back straightened regally, "We rest. Once that's over we alert the town's patrol unit who will look for any survivors on the slope. After that, I'll place a call to Shinra who will deliver us all home – end of mission."
Tifa nodded solemnly hoping that Barret would join them on their flight home. She analyzed Sephiroth's figure from his position across the room, he had resumed a commander status in his efforts to gain control of their present problem. His act seemed to be missing something however, her memory kicked in to high gear.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Tifa jumped to her feet with agile poise.
She fumbled through her bag that had been left discarded near her feet and pulled out the black coat of a SOLDIER.
"I-I have something of yours," she fumbled shyly with her words and held the coat up to him sheepishly.
Sephiroth's eyes traced the jacket to her quivering arm and he wondered momentarily why she was afraid of him. No, not afraid more like intimidated by his presence, he realized with a pang of guilt, that it was from their previous interaction last night. She questioned his intentions and herself and was not going to allow it to happen again. Pity really, he hadn't meant to hurt her or to scare her off; the feelings he felt towards her were like a fire that could not always be controlled, they were new to him and profoundly consuming all boundaries of practiced control. Sephiroth closed off the remaining distance between them and watched bemused as she trembled softly. Instinctively her eyes fell to the floor, refusing him the right to read the complex emotions that ran through them.
"Why are you so stubborn?" he asked her quietly.
She straightened rigidly and shot him a fiery glare, "I'm not stubborn!"
Sephiroth smirked, he merely had to insult her pride and the inferno in her soul would light like a fuse. Even when contorted in a holier-than-thou pose, her face was a gift of natural beauty. Her eyes were darker then night, skin as white and flawless as any painted doll, delicate and smooth features, right down to the honest blush of her cheeks. He touched her cheek, running a forefinger along her subtle jaw line to the peak of her chin. Her face turned a darker shade of red and he chuckled lowly, her defenses were cracking like glass, too allured by him to back down but still modest enough to be embarrassed by the contact. His own senses were screaming against the sin he was surely committing, but he was so tired of fighting them.
A daring hand laid claim to his own face and he was drawn back into reality with surprise. Tifa's freehand was tracing a lazy pattern near his mouth with her small nimble fingers. Her touch was inviting but chaste, merely taunting the fire that coiled in his stomach begging to be fed. His hands found their way to her waist and he pushed her against him, capturing her lips in one swift motion. She didn't pull away from him like his last attempt, instead her tongue battled his own with a dominance that hadn't been there before. Sephiroth realized she wanted him to know that she was not to be toyed with any longer, she didn't want him to brush her off anymore – not that he had ever wanted to in the first place.
Completely subjected to her will, Tifa's fingers spun their way into his silver locks while she nibbled a path down to his exposed collarbone. The awoken desire he felt in response was new to him but not unwanted, the fact that a mere girl could have such an effect on him should have chilled him to the core, but it did not. The muffled sigh that was drawn from her gentle abuse of his flesh stirred her even further, her hands moving from hair to belt buckle in a flash. Sephiroth's mind screamed another warning but his body ignored the heed, this step was a first for both of them.
The rattle of the bathroom lock rang out like an alarm against the silence of the room. Tifa gasped, breaking the spell she pushed away from him and righted herself, she tossed him his coat and made a quick beeline to her designated mat. Drunk on the moment Sephiroth fumbled with the expensive leather, desperately trying to re-achieve his usual cold persona while vehemently trying to cool his blood.
President Shinra waltzed into their cramped quarters while drying the few remaining hairs on his balding head.
Tifa folded her arms across her chest irritated, "Finally! I've been waiting forever! I don't suppose there's any hot water left hmm?"
"Very little my dear," he flashed the girl his perfect paparazzi smile, one that clearly said, "I can get away with anything".
Shinra missed the very rude gesture Tifa made behind his back as she darted for the unoccupied bathroom.
OOOOWhat's a girl to do?
The lukewarm bath water didn't relax her as much as she would have hoped, but at least it had managed to wash away some of the caked mud. Tifa stretched her body out to its full length feeling the cold porcelain rest against the back of her head. So much had happened in the last little while it made her head spin. She had lost Barret and wasn't even sure if he was still alive, she was almost positive that she wanted to go back home, plus she wasn't sure she could divert the fast forming feelings towards Shinra's General anymore.
She blew out a heavy sigh, Shinra Co. was an enemy and how could she possibly hope for anything more from him? Once this disaster was over, end result good or bad, they would leave for Midgar and nothing would change. He would go back to SOLDIER and his proclaimed fame, and she would move back home, their paths never to converge again.
Although, she couldn't help but wonder what things would be like if they could change. What would it feel like to be with a hero? It was the stuff of dreams for every girl she was sure. Hadn't she always dreamed of a knight in shining armor to rescue her in her darkest moment? What would it be like to have Midgar's cameras facing her? To be the one that stole the heart of the coldest man alive? To look into the face of something so darkly handsome and know that it was all hers?
Her footing slipped on the ledge and she cracked her skull against the solid mantle. Tifa winced in pain but was grateful for the distraction, such thoughts were impulsive and wrong, simply dreams nowhere near reality. Realizing that her timeframe was well over the polite and acceptable limit, she pulled herself out of the tub and reached for a towel.
NOTE: Hmm…I really had to beat my head against the wall to get this chapter out, but overall I think I'm quite happy with this one.