Disclaimer: :( I own nonthing...apart from the story :)
-Tifa: Future-
Envy. Gluttony. Vanity. Greed. Wrath. Lust. Love. Pain. – Every one has effected me.
Don't get me wrong, I am no angel and I really don't want any pity. Do you know why? Because in the end I survived, I live my life now even if I had to give up something which, for many people is their reason for living: the belief in love.
Love.
This, for me, comes in two different forms; it could be the: I-would-throw-myself-off-a-cliff-for-Yuffie, or any other of my close and most treasured friends. The other…well, I've always found it difficult to put into words. It's…it's devastating. I do believe that love is strong, I do believe that love is something which makes you happy, but I've lost the belief that love can survive everything. Why? Because you have to fight for your love, every second, to every minute, to every month to year, but how can you do that if after a while, there is no strength left for fighting? If this love is the reason why you slowly destroy yourself, why risk losing your soul too?
"The light's green you son of a bitch!"
A little like an angry gorilla on crack she let out a horrendous growl and drilling her thumb into the horn button she urged her car to reciprocate her anger for the umpteenth time, however, as quickly as she was satisfied by the initial loud bellow the car let loose, she was dismayed twice as quick, as it soon started to splutter and die, until all it was spitting out was deranged squawks which sounded like a constipated pigeon.
Now that insolent piece of shit has messed up my car! My poor baby…
That's it! She had it up to her eyeballs. She had shouted (windows open and all). Screamed. Thumped out her horn until it actually died. Swore till her hearts content and sat through five green lights and this shit still hadn't moved! At first she had thought it was innocent, perhaps the driver had bent down to reach something, but after the third green light she thought something terrible occurred like a heart attack, but those pessimistic ideas were thrown out the window once she saw the silhouetted movements of two people, and what looked like, in some sort of passionate frenzy. Jesus, rather the idiot DIED! Can't they do this somewhere ELSE and not on some one way road?! She was making it very obvious that she was behind, in a car, so really, any excuse was furtile. Bloody hell, she had discerned, it's time for some physical action!
Eyes bulging she let out a warrior roar to boost her confidence and quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and flung the door open.
The first few steps of marching up towards the pristine Aston Martin did nothing to drain her of her inner strength however, it was five steps into the mission when she realised the situation had definitely gone awry.
Blink.
No, really…
She shut her eyes, slapped herself a couple of times and cautiously reopened her eyes.
Oh. Fuck. No.
If she had any less self control, Tifa would've screamed.
-Tifa: Future-
Dreams, the penumbra of sleep, where the realms of the conscious and unconscious meet. Do you dream? I do…but what are they exactly? Are they just figments of our unconscious imagination, or are they visions of our real, true, wants and needs? Well, let me tell you this: dreams can turn into nightmares, into a never ending chasm which always causes happiness first, creating a perfect façade, and then it suddenly morphs into a chaos of feelings which can eat you alive. Dreams can be beautiful, that's great, but dreams should sometimes stay just dreams as the pain which you inevitably face whilst realizing they are not picture perfect could control your life and blind you. And in the end the dream, the living of your dream, could lead you to do the biggest mistake in your life.
The car was shaking. Seriously, side to side movement. And the windows were beginning to steam up. Tifa could only stand and stare. All sense of direction and place escaped her as the reality of the situation dawned on her.
…
…The…
…Wha…N…EH?!
Now you know when you are so upset you can't seem to utter a coherent sentence? Well, that was it.
Apoplectic with rage she tried to gain control of her waterlogged brain.
THE AUDACITY! She screamed, albeit inwardly, the process of converting electrical impulses into sound hadn't quite been regained yet. Chest heaving with frustration she ran back to her Mini, grabbed her still now cool latté and stomped her way to the Aston. That bastard is going down!
She reached the driver side of the car and praying to god she hoped that it was unlocked. Weapon equipped in one hand, the other braced on the handle, she wrenched as hard as she could. The door, to her amazement sprung open - Muaha so much for posh cars and automatic locking systems! – exposing yours truly, she found the woman straddled on the man's lap, both astounded like hell and very out of breath, no doubt due to their…exertions. After a couple of unmovable seconds they suddenly sprung apart as if some higher being had pressed play on a paused porn flick gone wrong. The woman, shrieking, attempted (in vain) to cover as much as she could with her skinny arms. Wasting as little time this opportunity posed as she could, she uncapped the lid of her coffee with her thumb and flung the contents onto the couple, most of which landed on the driver's side, in which resided the male counterpart. Trying her best not to stare at the exposed flesh of the woman, who was now trying to put on the rest of her clothes, which Tifa noted disgustedly, there weren't much of in the first place, she tried to voice an explanation.
"You see this road? ONE WAY! You see this light? GREEN YOU FUCKERS!"
-Oh-ho the irony-
"And you see this?" She pointed to the couple, whose mouths were gaping like fish and fixed her best glare, "THIS IS JUST NOT DONE IN THESE CONDITIONS!"
Moving her raged view to the man she was horrified to see him still uncovered to the world and to top that off, smirking! The ATROSCITY! What the hell was the world coming to?! Now the one looking like a fish, Tifa tore her eyes off the man's family jewels, which to add to her horror, was still up for duty and raring to go, the cold shower proving fruitless. She forced herself to look anywhere but there, her eyes glazed.
The man spoke, "So you're saying that this could be done in any other situation?"
If possible, her jaw dropped lower and she focused on his face. Something about him seemed strikingly familiar, but as she looked closer into those plain brown eyes that were dancing with mirth she realized that he was wearing contacts. Contacts? Staring a little deeper she saw the remnants of lush blue peeking out from under the plastic film. Suddenly, as if he was only stalling by not really looking back into her, he did exactly that. His eyes, Tifa established, were hypnotic, and she was soon finding herself somehow cornered as the mirth was dropped from them, and was replaced by something that even penetrated through the contacts, something much more intense. Out in the open air, in the middle of Tokyo, Tifa Lockhart was starting to feel very claustrophobic. Deciding this was neither time nor place to be staring into stranger's eyes, and with the remaining brain function she had left, she ran. Literally upped and went. And as she tore down the street she forgot all about her unlocked and opened door Mini, she just needed to get out.
And all she could see was those eyes.
The man felt smug as he felt the woman submitting to him, he knew he was just too damn good. But, to his surprise, something unexpected happened…she looked away and ran. Just like that! And strangely, as many things didn't, it left him feeling a little perturbed. Frowning he glanced over at his partner in the car, whom which had sticky coffee that matted her hair and smudged her makeup, and now seemed more of a turn off than anything.
"Get out."
She froze, astonished. "What? I don't think I heard you right baby, did you say-"
"That's exactly what I said. Now get out" The tone itself screamed authority and the woman knew better than to answer back, and so she opened the door with visible chagrin and hobbled away on her viciously high heels. Her curses could be heard over one hundred meters away.
Sighing Cloud Strife rolled his head, clicking his neck in a few places he threw it hard against the headrest and looked down. Thankfully, it had subsided and so he reached for his boxers and trousers. It was only when he pulled both items up in one go that he realized his €1000 white Valentino slacks were completely covered with suspicious brown stains.
"NO FUCKING WAY!"
Tifa reached Zack's apartment at around 3p.m. the same afternoon as the incident with the Aston guy (as she appropriately named him), the same afternoon she ran from her car leaving it unlocked and open, the same day she went back to find it miraculously unharmed and with no clamp in sight, the same day she missed her only job interview because of Aston guy…that bastard! So the gods we both smiling and pissing on her…lovely.
Knock.
No answer…that's strange, he said he would be here…
Placing an ear to the door she concentrated on any hint of life behind it, and needless to say she could hear somewhat violent crashes and hushed whispers.
Eh? What the hell…
She knocked again, at the same time shouting, "Zack? What the hell is going on in there? Open up!"
She replaced her ear to the door to find that the whispers had ascended in volume, she could make out a couple strings of curses followed by numerous voices…of both genders…just what was going on?!
Out of the blue the door was opened, and caught unawares, Tifa haphazardly stumbled in, which earnt Zack a murderous glare.
"What's going on? You look shifty…" Yes, the way Zack was avoiding her gaze and staring at the floor whilst scratching one arm was definitely what you'd call…shifty.
"Tif…I just didn't expect you so early! You see I was cooking and like…yeh…I couldn't get to the door on time…my bad!" He stroke a pose, teeth gleaming in a strained smile and a quivering hand in a thumbs up signal, in a vain effort to prevent the worse. Damage control was key he thought to himself. Tifa wasn't stupid, she walked over to the kitchen to find it in pristine condition, not spec of oil or dirty dish was to be found.
"Zack, don't pull that shit with me! Who's in here?"
"Tifa! Why would you think anyone was here?! There's no women or anyth-"
"I never said anything about women Zack." She raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "You know, if this is a bad time, I'll just come back later ok?"
"No, nono, seriously I have nothing to hide! Absolutely-"
CRASH
Worried, Tifa ran to the source of the disturbance, a door to the left, and with urgency ripped it open. And surprise, surprise, out popped four scantily clad, super made up, incredibly voluptuous she was positive they all couldn't be real, women.
Turning back to Zack she murmured with as much control as she could muster, "You sure this isn't a bad time?"
After Zack kindly albeit regrettably hurried the hookers out of the apartment he nervously edged back in, racking his head to find an excuse that would at least lessen the blow, the girl had a killer left hook.
"It wasn't my fault!" he started, as if to vindicate himself, "Someone…no…one of my friends" –he nervously gave a suspicious sidelong glance to another door on the right- "Called them over…I'm really sorry Tif, I honestly didn't know…you know I would never do such a thing if you were gonna come."
"And you would if I wasn't?"
"I'm a man Tifa-"
"Sure about that?!"
He ignored her gibe, "A man with needs…"
"Obviously a man with needs and no self control! What happened to love? What happened to the beauty of an honest relationship, huh?" Getting up from the sofa she marched up to him and swiftly dealt him a killer blow to the pit of his stomach, winding him instantly as he crumpled to the floor.
"Wha…what the…je-jesus Ti-…fa"
"That, should teach you not to hang with whores a-"
"WHAT THE FUCK, WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?"
What?! Did she hear right? A third voice…in the apartment? Unmistakeably male, the low tenor had sent a shiver up her spine, temporarily stunning her. Don't tell me, Zack's into ORGYS?! Taking a deep breath, she swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat and cautiously turned around, only to be met with a fully clothed (thank god) yet angry blonde man. Taking a closer look she found him strangely familiar…where did I seem him last?
It dawned on him first.
"Its YOU!"
"Me?" Now she was really confused.
"YES! That bitch that fucked over my valentinos!"
Her mouth hung open at the, what she felt, completely underhanded insult thrown unceremoniously at her. She felt her anger rise she clenched her fists, knuckles whitening, "That bitch. Who the hell are you calling a bitch?! Do I even know you, you piece of-"
"Wench-" He was visibly seething. That face still seemed oddly familiar to her. He took a couple of slow, timed, steps towards her. She took the opportunity to stare unabashedly and came to the conclusion that if he wasn't so angry and his face didn't distort like so, he could be really rather attractive with that eye catching gravity defying hair, and those beautiful, seriously stunning, blue-as-the-ocean like eyes, which were starting to make her feel a little hot, a little heavy, a little…claustrophobic, anyone?
Oh shit.
Reaching her, he grabbed Tifa by the collar of her hoodie and slammed her against the wall. As he pushed his body in her smaller, softer one, she felt as if she could literally feel his anger through his very (she would've drooled if the situation wasn't so…tense) muscular form.
"You're the one who threw coffee all over my 1000 Euro slacks, YOU'RE the one who fucked up the leather in my Aston, and YOU'RE the one who stared till your hearts content at my-"
"Let her go, Cloud. Now." The voice dripped venom.
Twisting around Cloud uncompressed himself from Tifa's body and faced Zack, his one hand though still had her up against the wall.
Zack just gave him a meaningful icy stare and Cloud dropped her to the floor.
It was then that said Cloud spun on his heels and left the apartment, and Tifa escaped her daze.
Strife? Cloud? No way…if couldn't be…
Inner genius of Tifa: Well how many people do you know with the name Cloud?
No…way...but he has infamous blue...the brown…oh…contacts…dammit!
"Seems like you've made an impression on our dear Cloud Strife." The punch forgotten, Zack smirked.
That, to Tifa, was the killer blow. CLOUD STRIFE! She was screaming inwardly as she realised the immensity of both her actions and the consequences which would inevitably follow. Shit. Shit. SHIT. SHITFUCK!
"THE PERVERT!"
Zack could always read the emotions on Tifa's face, and what he saw at this present moment, amused him greatly. Just what did conspire between the two? He was going to find out.
"So Tif…what exactly were you, staring with your hearts content at, hmm?"
Mortified, she slid further down the wall, burying her face in her hands. He on the other hand, erupted into deep laughter.
"Yuffie…" Tifa mumbled, whilst serving a patron a bloody mary.
"Yeah?"
"err," Tifa gathered up the courage.
"Listen, I know you've been hiding something, so spit it out." Yuffie raised a brow.
Tifa turned away, taking a deep breath, "So…err, hypothetically, what would you…you know, say if I told you…I met Cloud Strife…spilled coffee on him…ruined his very expensive trousers…and was thrown against a wall by him?" She closed her eyes hard, waiting for the crazy reaction she expected, however she felt the last point should've at least acted as a dampener on the situation.
Silence
Where was the plate smashing? The screaming? Where was the ludicrous jumping up and down whilst pulling her hair out? There should be something, anything!
Silence
Tifa was getting a little desperate now.
She turned to face Yuffie, watching her serve a drink. Yuffie glanced back, a sickly sweet smile adorned on her face "I'd kill you."
"Oh…aha." Tifa gave an uneasy smile, and snapped back around, furiously concentrating on the dirty glasses that needed washing.
Yuffie cocked her head, examining Tifa until, she froze, eyes threatening to fall out from her sockets, "OH FUCK!"
The previous low mutterings of the bar went completely numb, the silence was painful, and focused on the two.
"Yuffie-"
"YOU'RE SERIOUS AREN'T YOU?!" Yuffie's eyes grew to an even more incredulous size when Tifa didn't reply. Any more and POP, out they'd go, thought Tifa.
And with that, she subsequently fainted.
A/N: HEY GUYS! So sorry for the extra long wait this time, but I've just come back from a short holiday in Malaysia (:D) so I haven't had time to write, let alone update! Anyway I've tried to answer your calls as soon as I could, and plus I've written an extra LONG chapter! The JOY :D
Right, now with this chap there are a few things to say…firstly these little 'anecdote' like entries are there for references to Tifa's thoughts but in the future. Also, I know it's a bit of an. That's the key point guys odd kinda addition so I'm sorry if some of you guys didn't like it as it may be too sentimental, and felt it was too isolated, but this fic isn't meant to be all happy-happy, (as you can probably tell by the tone) so yeh…it definitely won't come in every chapter…unless people like the idea.
Another thing…THEY FINALLY MET! And possibly not in the way most of you guys expected! Naughty, naughty Cloud! However, as you may be able to tell, no they're not gonna instantly fall in love…cos hell, the best part's the chase isn't it!! So get ready for one hell of a ride
Reviews would be greatly appreciated…it's my drug ;).
xXx