3.

He couldn't remember a time when there had been sunshine in Edge. Since that day, the sky had not clouded over again. The grey tinge remained but the warmth was changing things. People had faith in a future, were happier. The long burden of the Stigma gone, no more lives would end in pain and tragedy. No more loved ones lost.

Cloud stood by the window, listening to Tifa prepare breakfast downstairs. Daily routines that he was still readjusting to. His gaze dropped to his sword, propped up against the wall. It didn't look right, standing in a corner. But he'd promised to take time off. Deliveries could wait, he needed to be here for a while.

He shrugged into his regular clothes without thinking, only halting when he realized he was going to pull on the heavy boots. He looked down at them for a beat, before kicking them back under the bed. Not yet.

Footsteps thundered past his door as the kids ran downstairs, taking two steps at a time. He had to smile despite himself. Always eager. Being healed had even changed Denzel into a completely different boy, as though the hardships melting away allowed for the child to re-emerge. Cloud knew that he'd been through a rough patch, had lost his parents and practically everyone who he'd met on his journey. He deserved the slack.

Following the smell of food, he also made his way downstairs, only to find Marlene and Denzel munching on freshly baked muffins. Tifa was undeniably the best when it came to food.

Denzel managed a "G'morning," between mouthfuls and Marlene just waved, too engrossed in her breakfast. He joined them at one of the tables, watching in barely concealed amusement. She really knew how to put them in the best mood.

A coffee mug suddenly appeared in front of him. He glanced over his shoulder and was met by a warm smile. "Hey," she took a seat beside Marlene, "Do you want one too?"

He shook his head but reached for the mug, taking a gulp. "Thanks, Tifa"

She just rested her chin on her hand, giving him a thorough look. The rest of the meal passed in comfortable silence and the clatter of cutlery, then the children bounded back upstairs to prepare for school. She faced him then, an eyebrow raised, "You look like you had a rough night?"

A shrug, he focused on his coffee. It wasn't an issue he wanted to have Tifa worrying about. She'd had enough on her plate because of him. "Not sleeping so good," he admitted. Not adding that his dreams were filled with the feeling of a sword in his flesh and the steel gaze on his back. Not mentioning that he woke, to find himself tense and paranoid. It wasn't a nightmare exactly, but a memory that he hoped would finally fade in time.

She pushed a muffin his way despite his refusal. "Maybe getting some food in you wouldn't hurt. I swear, Denzel eats twice as much"

"He's growing," Cloud said but took the offer anyway.

"Listen," she tilted her head slightly, catching his gaze, "If you need to talk about anything, you know I'm here, right? No more shutting out when there is a problem"

Always looking out for him. He wondered what he'd really done to deserve the selflessness, this kind of self-sacrifice. After all, he'd failed to protect her countless times. She wanted this family but he didn't know if he was the right choice for the role. Still, he nodded, "Sure"

She didn't push it anymore as they both got up, clearing the table. The basic household activity was something he still hadn't gotten used to after three days. Maybe because it felt like another time-filler. Something that kept him distracted but never satisfied. He helped because he wanted to but he was missing the journeying already.

She seemed to sense the edge to his motions. "Anything to do today?" she asked.

She knew that he'd cancelled deliveries for the next couple of days. He pondered the question for a moment before deciding, "I should probably get out there. The fight at the monument caused some damage. People will need help with rebuilding"

"Right," she brushed her hair away from her face, leaning against the bar counter. Suddenly, she had a serious look, as thought she wanted to say something that went beyond banal questions. "I'm sure Denzel will want to come to help after school. He really looks up to you, you know. I think after all that's happened, you're a hero…not just to him"

He ran a hand through his hair, self-conscious. Something in her voice was different and he couldn't put his finger on it. He looked away. "I hope he doesn't try to follow my footsteps"

"Not everyone is as good with a sword as you, that's true," she had her eyes on him, completely genuine, "I'm not talking about the bad parts here. Everyone has those. But there's a reason people trust you in a fight. You're brave, you stand up for others. You're a good person. You protect what matters to you. That's something he hopes he can do too"

He blinked, completely off guard. That was an image he hadn't associated with himself. He honestly wished it applied but the description was one he would have matched someone else to. "That sounds more like you, Teef"

Now she was the one to look surprised. There was a silence, which neither of them dared to break. Then trampling down the stairs threw them out of the moment. He didn't stop her from stepping away to see them off. Marlene even took the time to give him a firm hug before she left the bar and Denzel grinned his goodbye. Tifa remained in the doorway, watching them disappear down the street.

"You want to talk about something," he stated, when he was sure they'd long rounded the corner. He had enough intuition to notice that something was bothering her. They'd known each other too long to overlook it.

She didn't move, didn't turn to face him for a while. When she did finally close the door, she shook her head slightly. "Hm. Not today"

After speaking so openly moments before, he was confused. There was no anger but definite reluctance. He could sense that she wanted to speak her mind but stopped herself. He couldn't find the words to ask why. Just as he had before, he simply accepted. It occurred to him that he could insist on an answer but he didn't expect Tifa to indulge him. Not when he hadn't answered her for weeks.

"Tifa…"

"No really, we'll talk about it another time," she waved it off with a smile.

He hesitated. Out of experience, he knew that once the blockade was up, there was little hope of climbing it with only persistence. She was stubborn, if anything. He stepped back. "Alright"

She went back behind the bar and, not knowing what to add, he headed back up the stairs to gather his things. He needed something to do or he was going to start pondering every word she said, or rather, didn't say. He missed the frustration on her face and her eyes following him as he left the bar and started out into the city.

The atmosphere had changed. As he stopped Fenrir in a street beside the square and walked towards the rubble of the monument, he saw it in people's faces. There was hope and with the optimism, came the will to help rebuild what had decayed even before the attack.

The smashed houses were being taken down entirely, the broken pieces gathered by rows of people and thrown into trucks. He was quick to follow the line to the top, where men picked at the toppling walls and let the rubble roll onto the growing hill. Steel structures had collapsed and obstructing parts were taken apart and removed. The activity filling the space was almost too much.

He found a section around the back and for once, appreciated his mako enhancement as he pushed against weakening brick structures and pulled metal supports from their positions. One of the men beside him offered him an axe but he shook his head. It was good to be using his hands without swinging a metal object for once.

It was incredible, what a good hundred people could do in a single day. Cloud lost track of time in the heat of the work and only when the last wall finally collapsed, bathing the men in dust and plaster, he realized that the shadows had moved to the other side of the square. Cheers from the surrounding helpers were followed by water being passed around at the bottom of the debris pile.

He remained, sitting on what had been standing minutes ago. This was good. Not just in terms of building, it was good to be doing this to start over. It was reminiscent of AVALANCHE days. Everybody looking out for another, everybody prepared to stand up for what was right. Looking down at the mob of civilians, he saw the same.

His mind drifted to Tifa again and her behaviour. He knew she still had questions but there were no answers he had. At least none that made sense to him either. Despite best intentions, the time spent together was too silent. At the same time, much too loud, filled with everything they didn't know how to say. It was an invisible barrier and he'd built it with his absence.

"Hey"

He half-turned to see a girl standing behind him. Her hair was pulled into pigtails, her pants scraped open at the knees and from the look of her, he wondered if she was one of the street kids. She was smiling. "You're the one who saved us from the monster"

Saved some, perhaps. Lost about as many. Just as he'd indirectly caused the monster to appear in the first place. "You're sure about that?" he asked.

"Denzel says it was you," she said, solemnly holding up her hand. The worn teddy in her other hand nodded his head with the motion.

He focused on her more clearly. "Oh yeah?"

"He says you're the bravest person in all of Edge and you have a sword that beats all the bad guys," she sat beside him, balancing the toy on her knees, "So I think it's true"

He had half the urge to smile but it was lost amidst strange feelings welling up again. Something like pride and guilt and denial all together. He didn't wonder how Denzel knew her or how he was uncomfortable being congratulated on a victory by strangers. The image of his nemesis filled his vision again and hard as he tried to erase it, the frozen gaze stayed. Sometimes the bad guys couldn't be beaten by his sword.