TOMB OF LIFE

TOMB OF LIFE

CHAPTER 11

A few days later, Lara sat having lunch with Zack at the ShinRa cafeteria, which was another eatery other than the main dinning hall located on the ShinRa complex. She enjoyed her conversations with the upbeat SOLDIER – it was a plus that she could hang out with him and not have Sephiroth go into jealous mode. The General knew he could trust Zack implicitly.

Sephiroth had gone on a trip to Junon by order of the President the previous day, he had asked Lara to accompany him but she needed more time to come to terms with her situation here. She had been working with Hollander and his scientists every day, and they did seem to be making progress – they were even able to recreate some of the portal swirl mist only to have it dissipate like it had done so often with the actual portal device. Lara's earlier fears that this may have all been a set up were somewhat assuaged. Yet she continued to keep her eyes open for any further suspicious activity.

"You know with Sephiroth gone, Angeal and I were going on a mission this afternoon and I was thinking it'd be great to have you there," Zack said, before bringing a fork full of food to his mouth.

Lara hadn't touched much of her lunch as she had been so absorbed in her thoughts, only half listening to Zack as he rambled on about something. However, her attention was brought back to focus by his offer. "I was going to head back to the lab after lunch…"

"It's a short mission we'll be finished by nightfall. I think the lab can spare you 'til then. Come on it will probably be good for you," Zack said encouragingly.

Lara paused for a moment before finally saying. "Well if you put it that way, I suppose I could accompany you. What does the mission involve?"

"We're actually going to back up the Turks, it's a drug bust in the Midgar slums," Zack explained. "One particular slum lord has been eluding us for some time, but today we'll get the drop on him."

"Mafia types, I've dealt with them before. This ought to be fun," Lara said, a grin finally spreading across her beautiful features.

--

Lara wasn't sure why Zack had offered to have her come along when apparently she wasn't going to be allowed to see any of the action. She had been assigned to guard the main exit of the target facility with Elena of the Turks, while the SOLDIER 1sts and Tseng had entered the building. She probably could have tolerated the situation a bit more if Elena hadn't been so inquisitive.

"So Lara, why don't you carry the green sword around?" The wide eyed blond asked the tomb raider.

"I do carry it around, it's in my backpack," Lara softly replied.

"So it's true, it really can separate and reattach? That's amazing," Elena began, staring at Lara's backpack as if trying to imagine Excalibur lying there in pieces. "But why don't you have it put together?"

"I don't think it will be needed for this mission," Lara replied.

"Do you find defending yourself with pistols preferable to a sword?"

Lara had struggled not to roll her eyes as she pondered why the girl found these types of questions impertinent to their situation. "For this mission yes," Lara pasted a smile on her face as she glanced over at the blond. That is when she saw someone duck behind a nearby alley – they were being spied on. "Elena stay here, I'll be right back," Lara stated, as she strode purposefully towards the darkened alley.

Lara walked to the end of the alley that was littered with trash and a broken down vehicle or two. There was no one there – where had the person slipped off too? She entered onto a new back street that was mostly deserted. Suddenly she felt a tingling sensation on the back of her neck and drew her pistols. The attack came from behind her as she was pulled off her feet. She felt the booted pressure of someone else's feet in her lower back, which catapulted her into the air. The blow sent her careening through the glass window of a nearby dilapidated building.

Lara's pistols went flying – she barely had time to stand up before her attacker was once again on her, throwing punches and kicks. Lara was able to block the first few blows with her hands expertly, but her attacker was extremely quick and some of the blows hit home. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth as her teeth scraped across her cheek from a punch that would have dazed a lesser woman.

Lara soon realized she was fighting a dark clad woman with shoulder length black hair. Her black eyes were narrowed at Lara as she viciously attacked, showing her expertise in hand to hand combat. The woman got in another lucky blow which sent Lara flying into a table. She grunted in pain but wasn't allowed a moments' reprieve as the woman was once again upon her grabbing a fistful of her hair. Lara squinted and grabbed the woman's hand to prevent her ripping a chunk of her hair out. "What do you want?" Lara finally managed to grit out.

"For you to go back where you came from," The stranger replied.

Lara took this opportunity to ground one of her booted feet on the woman's foot, which caused her to yelp in pain and loosen her grip on Lara's hair. The hazel eyed woman then shoved her backwards to give them a little breathing space. "Who are you?" Lara demanded.

Tifa looked at the woman with hatred in her black eyes. "It's none of your concern." She had seen the Turks and Soldiers head to the Don Corneo building and the strange woman with them had garnered her attention. She had gotten as close as she could without being discovered and was able to learn that this was indeed Lara Croft – the woman Cloud had fallen for. It was unlike Tifa to exact petty vengeance like this but this woman had hit close to home. She had both Sephiroth and Cloud fighting over her – someone had to put a stop to this.

"Really? Well generally I do so like introductions when someone tries to beat the crap out of me," Lara said, wiping at her bloodied lip. She was prepared this time when the woman charged her, and was able to grab her leg and swing her into a nearby wall. Once the woman landed in an unceremonious heap on the floor, Lara retrieved her pistols and trained them on her.

Tifa stood up quickly prepared to charge Lara once more, but paused when she saw the twin guns pointed at her. "I shouldn't be surprised that you wouldn't commit to finishing this one on one."

"You know nothing about me and if you had bothered to ask for a fair fight, I may have been more than willing to oblige. Instead you attacked me from behind," Lara stated.

"Hmm, this is unexpected," Tifa mused. Why did the woman seem so reasonable – she was a trouble maker wasn't she? Suddenly, Tifa started when gunfire rang out. She soon realized that the woman had not shot her, and gasped when she saw an oversized scorpion fall dead in front of her. They were poisonous.

Lara had seen the scorpion scurry out of a hole in the roof. It had been preparing to sting her attacker when she fired. She hadn't expected the look of surprise on the dark haired woman's face.

"Why, why did you do that?" Tifa had to know.

"Contrary to what you may think, I don't want to kill you. Now I'll ask once again, who are you?" Lara demanded.

There was a pause before she finally relinquished the answer Lara sought, "Tifa Lockhart."

Lara sheathed her pistols and continued to hold the woman's gaze. "You're with Avalanche." Lara had read a report on all of Avalanche's members. It was just part of dozens of paperwork that ShinRa had given her access too since being offered the job by Rufus.

"I see you are well informed. So, are you going to run back to President ShinRa and tell him about this – give him another reason to come after us?" Tifa sneered.

"Another reason? You are aware that all of Avalanche is invited to a party that ShinRa is holding next weekend?"

"On good terms today, all shot to hell tomorrow. It doesn't mean anything, I'm sure this is his way of covering up Sephiroth's attack on Cloud. Or did you think it was all about you? Your coming out party if you will?"

"I don't know what you think you may know of me to justify your antagonism, but know this, I have no misconceptions where ShinRa is concerned nor is it my intention to stay on your fair planet for the rest of my life." Lara continued to stare at her. "I'm not your enemy, and I hope you'll realize that before the situation escalates into something we'll both regret."

Tifa walked towards Lara closing the distance between them – her black eyes searching for any signs of deception on the gunwoman's beautiful face. "Now I can see why he fell for you." Tifa looked the woman up and down taking in the way her camouflage pants and short black top hugged her shapely figure. Was it possible she was beautiful on the inside as well as the outside? "It seems ShinRa doesn't deserve you," Tifa said before walking past Lara and exiting the building.

Lara wasn't entirely sure whom Tifa was referring too. She was unaware of Tifa's relationship with Cloud. She had assumed the woman had wanted to beat it into her – quite literally that ShinRa was bad news. She had no idea the fight had been prompted by Tifa's love for Cloud.

Lara returned to the crime scene to find Zack and Elena waiting for her, she could hear the whir of a helicopter and glanced up to see the ShinRa insignia emblazoned across the chopper, that was escorting Don Corneo to prison. Angeal and Tseng were also aboard, the rest of them were to return to ShinRa by truck.

Zack was looking at Lara with a wide eyed expression on his handsome face. "What happened?"

Lara glanced down at herself and realized she was covered in dirt, her lips and right cheek were swelling and her hair was probably a mess as well. "It's a long story," Lara said shrugging.

--

"It's a good thing Sephiroth wasn't here to see you like that," Zack said to Lara, as they stood on a balcony overlooking the ShinRa lawns. Upon their return to the facility Zack had sent Lara to the infirmary, and had allowed the use of healing materia to remove the bruises of her little scuffle. "And it's a good thing you didn't tell the Turks it was Tifa, that would have gotten back to Rufus and it would have been bad all around."

"She said something before she left – 'now I see why he's fallen for you,' I don't think she was talking about Sephiroth," Lara stated.

"Because she wasn't, I'm almost pretty sure she was referring to Cloud. They live together you know?" Zack glanced at her with a half grin on his face.

"No I didn't know." Lara was thoroughly confused. Why was Cloud interested in her if he was with Tifa?

"They've even got two kids together," Zack continued.

Lara raised an eyebrow at him. "You're kidding?" Lara felt like a home wrecker who had ingratiated herself into Cloud's happy family turning their life upside down.

"Yes and no." Zack began with a chuckle. "The kids – Marlene and Denzel are adopted, but they do live with Cloud and Tifa upstairs of the 7th Heaven. Tifa's bar here in Midgar."

"But they are a real family."

"They are for the kids, but there is nothing going on between Cloud and Tifa other than friendship. They grew up together in their home town of Nibelheim."

"Let me guess, Tifa wishes that were otherwise."

"Right you are, and with Cloud having feelings for someone who just came into the picture. I think I can understand why she attacked you, although she definitely had no right too, especially since you seem committed to Sephiroth."

Lara chuckled. "And just what do you think is going on between me and Sephiroth?"

"Oh I have no idea, but if you're willing to talk about it, I'm all ears," Zack said with a wink.

"I think not," Lara said flexing her eyebrows at him.

"Say, how about we have dinner at Aeris's tonight. She makes a mean pasta dish," Zack offered.

Lara wasn't sure if she'd be able to answer questions about her relationship with Aeris' brother anymore than she could with Zack. However it would be a nice change to have dinner off the ShinRa complex. "Pasta you say? Well with an offer like that how can I refuse?"

--

Lara decided that she would be good friends with Aeris. The younger woman was so very likeable, and experiencing her together with Zack had them breaking into peals of laughter ever so often. They were sitting at a cozy table located in Aeris's abandoned church in the slums where she raised flowers. The pleasant aroma of water lilies permeated the air, adding a light touch to the atmosphere.

"Lara, I do hope that one day soon you will become my sister in law," Aeris said smiling at the other woman her green eyes sparkling.

"Uh, well that might be getting a little bit ahead of ourselves," Lara said, as she crossed her legs uncomfortably under the table. They had managed to keep the conversation away from her relationship with Sephiroth until now.

"Is it so bad living here? Do you not think you could be happy?" Aeris asked.

"It's not that – I have responsibilities on Earth that are put on hold now because I have been gone for almost two months. I suppose if the situation were different I could consider settling here, but right now it's out of the cards," Lara explained hoping she didn't upset the girl.

Aeris gave her an understanding smile and Zack took the opportunity to change the subject. "So, for the big party coming up, have you ladies decided what you're going to wear? I know that's a big deal for women and believe you me, I am grateful that I can get away with wearing my uniform to all social functions," Zack said with a snicker.

"I really hadn't thought about it I suppose. I did buy several outfits during my stay in Costa Del Sol," Lara stated.

"There is a well reputed seamstress in Midgar who probably would be able to whip you up something in time for the party. You are the guest of honor and I think what Zack is trying to say is, that you'll need an outfit that will have you on the tip of people's tongues for weeks to come," Aeris began. "I can get a hold of her tomorrow if you will be willing to accompany me."

"Of course," There was a distant look in Lara's hazel eyes. "I must admit I'm a little uncomfortable with this party being in my honor. I tried to dissuade the President against it but he wouldn't have it."

"Well that is because it's more than just your introduction to the world. We also need to cement relations with Avalanche after Sephiroth and Cloud had that pow – wow in public," Zack explained with a grin.

"Yes of course. I suppose a part of me would simply hate to join the team only to be uncommitted, since the minute Hollander can send me home I will indeed be leaving." Zack had just confirmed what Tifa had said to be real reason behind the party. The truth of it didn't bother Lara that much, but what about the part of them returning to war?

"Let us worry about that when it happens," Zack said reassuringly.

"Perfect, I will not mention it again," Lara said, forcing a grin.

--

Sephiroth had fallen asleep some time ago while Lara lay awake next to him. He had rolled onto his stomach, exposing the pale expanse of his muscular back to her view. Lara was pressed up against him with her face lying on his shoulder while she gently caressed his back. He was unmarred yet she knew distinctly where his wing extracted, and rubbed her fingers delicately across that point.

She was unsure what was keeping her awake. She had gone to the dressmaker with Aeris earlier that day and worked with Hollander in the lab afterwards. Sephiroth had returned that night and came directly to her apartment, it seemed they had missed each other severely which resulted in two hours of passionate lovemaking. Lara should have been exhausted after the workout he gave her, but she still felt an energy thrumming through her veins.

Lara knew almost instantly when he awoke – his body didn't feel as relaxed beneath her touch. What she didn't expect was for him to turn around abruptly and pull her into his arms, planting a deep kiss on her lips. Lara hadn't meant to wake him. She had liked being able to caress him while he slept, but since he was now awake, Lara allowed her passions to ignite once more as she willingly engaged in another sexual encounter with him.

A good half an hour later once they were both satiated, Lara lay atop him, her head resting on his bare chest while he encircled his strong arms about her. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you."

Sephiroth grinned, though he was certain she could not see it in the darkened room. "Do you see me complaining?"

Lara chuckled and felt as he kissed her on the top of head. "Ok now you've kissed me goodnight, I think it's time for sleep."

"Hmm, but now I'm wide awake," Sephiroth replied.

"Good, so tell me about your trip? Since apparently we won't be getting much sleep tonight," Lara grinned.

"It went smoothly, though I mostly attended meetings. Oh and Reeve told me to say 'hello.'"

"Well that was nice of him but I'm going to see him at the party in a few days." Lara was still grinning. She had met Reeve Tuesti once before her trip to Costa Del Sol, it had been a very brief meeting as he was running off to catch a plane, though Lara had sensed he would be someone she could get along with. He was stationed in Junon which is why she didn't see him very often.

"And you better believe he will be there," Sephiroth stated. His mood suddenly sobered. "So, have you given any more thought to working with us while Hollander finds you a ticket home?"

"As a matter of fact I have. I went with Aeris to a dressmaker today, and not only did I have a dress for the party commissioned but also a couple work uniforms," Lara explained.

"Work uniforms?" Sephiroth echoed.

"Well I couldn't very well wear a SOLDIER's uniform – not that you'd have one that could fit me. So I thought I'd have something made that was distinctly, me," Lara replied.

"What does it look like?"

"Hard to describe, you'll just have to wait and see," Lara would have winked at him could he actually see her.

"Alright, I'll wait and see, but there is something else I'd rather not wait for," Sephiroth said as he trailed a hand down her bare back caressing her.

Lara blinked a few times when she realized what he was about. "You are insatiable, oh Seph!" She exclaimed as she felt him nuzzling her neck.

"And you love it," Sephiroth replied, before claiming her lips with his and rolling her beneath him.

Lack of love scenes is to keep with the T rating.