Cloud clenched his teeth slightly, feeling a icy cold gust of wind embrace him. Maybe if he slowed down, it wouldn't be as bad… But then again, slowing down meant a longer time before he got back home, and that mean being away from the warmth radiating from the heaters. If he hurried, he might even manage to talk Tifa into making him a drink, to warm his insides as well, for he was sure that his inner organs managed to turn into blocks of ice already.
He thought it was going to be cold today, but was just plain ridiculous!
Briefly, he wondered if the Wutaian rum he had with him had already changed its state from liquid to solid.
That led his thoughts to Yuffie. He would already be at the bar, if the aforementioned princess hadn't kept him busy with snatching his keys. She was fulfilling her royal duties as her father was away, and obviously – bored out of her mind.
He gritted his teeth remembering chasing after the ninja all over the city , almost shortening her by a whole head when he finally caught her.
Why, oh why couldn't even ONE day of his deliveries go without any strange things happening?
He could already see the city, now to pass the last marker, Zack's grave, and it would go quickly from…
He stopped and blinked. Then turned around, to look at the cliff.
What the fuck…?
Angered flared within him as he had to admit that the Buster Swords was officially gone from its owner's resting place. Who was stupid enough to remove it?
Aside from the fact, who was strong enough to remove it….
With a steady resolve to tear the city apart in his search for the missing sword, he turned yet again and continued with his journey home.
Tifa was not going to believe this. If she didn't he wouldn't blame her. Kick-ass big swords going missing all of the sudden did seem rather queer, even in his ears. Mind. Whatever.
He glanced backwards , just to reassure himself that he was not imagining things.
Nope. It was gone alright.
Firmly believing he was cursed for whatever reason it could be, he sped up further, feeling tears forming in his eyes because of the harsh wind and rolling down his cheeks (and freezing there, he was sure of that!). The lights of Edge were so close already, and he could even make out some of the buildings. He only had to get through the maze that was once Midgar, and he'll be …
He stopped abruptly with a screech of protest coming from the suddenly blocked tires.
Staring at the dark ruins, almost tearing off his goggles, rubbing his eyes with one hand.
Either he was hallucinating or he saw a glimpse of familiar pink shimmer in the distance.
"No…" he whispered to himself, shaking his head.
He wasn't about to go down that road again. She was in the Lifestream, watching over him one way or other. Hopefully. There was no way she could have appear in the destroyed city, wandering around the demolished buildings.
A sector away from her Church on top of that.
He turned at the shifter, engine purring slightly as he drove slowly, his mind still in some kind of a strange haze.
Closed or not, he will force Tifa into fixing him a drink when he'll get back.
If there was anyone who needed one right now, it was him.
He glanced back as he moved in closer to Edge.
He still could see the gentle hue of pink slowly melting in with the black.
Was this the moment when he finally lost it…?
The bar was still opened as he reached the tall building, parking his bike in the usual place. He patted the machine gently, almost saying his thanks and he picked up a crate of the rum Tifa had asked for. If it was strong, as Yuffie claimed it to be, he was going to put to good use today.
The air inside smelled of fresh made laundry with the slightest tint of spilled drinks.
Blond brows wandered up with surprise. When did she have the time to make laundry…?
The regular patrons shouted him their greetings, as slurred as they usually were at this hour, when he walked towards the bar, the dim lights reflecting on the blade of his sword. There was one chair vacant at the counter, the one he always occupied, and damned be anyone who would take it.
He kicked the crate behind the counter and gave Tifa a quick hug as she placed various drinks and beers onto the tray.
Strangely enough, she only gave him a somewhat desperate look, before leaving to deliver the drinks to her customers.
He unfastened his sword and went to the small room behind the bar, shoving it onto the hooks on the wall. He took a quick look around, noticing everything in place – his battle gear, Tifa's various fighting gloves, and two crates of Materia. He placed his gloves onto one shelf and made his way back into the bar, taking his seat and waiting for his friend to come and serve him a well needed drink.
What a day this turned out to be…
A deep sigh left his lips as Tifa came back and he again noticed the strange light in her eyes.
"Give me something hard" he said rubbing his face with his hands.
Her hands shook a little as she fixed him a drink. Before he could actually feel the surprise because of that fact, she placed a glass in front of him.
Then she turned and made herself one.
His brows reached a new level of up at the sight.
Obviously not only he had a hard day at work…
"How was your day?" she asked, leaning onto the counter, her shoulders slumped slightly forward.
"Tifa…" he bit his lip with hesitation feeling an absolute need to talk about his strange hallucinations, but inwardly cringing at how incredible they sounded.
Of all people, she should believe him, right? Right?
"Zack's sword is missing" he blurted out and took a quick gulp of his drink.
Whoa. When that woman made hard drinks, she made hard drinks!
She nodded her head slightly, her eyes glued to his.
"Missing" she repeated without any real emotions coloring the word.
"I know it's strange. But I swear Tifa…"
"It's ok, Cloud. I believe you" her voice was strangely flat, and she raised her glass "I really do"
"I…" he downed the rest of his drink, because after the thing he was going to say now, she will surely think his head went into overheated "I thought… I saw Aerith in Midgar ruins"
Again, she only nodded.
NODDED!
And pulled a bottle of that Wutaian rum and poured it into their glasses.
Maybe she knew it was the best to remain calm when facing a mentally unstable person. But then again he awaited ANY kind of reaction, a sigh, a chuckle, a tear in the merlot eye…. ANYTHING.
And she only nodded.
"Cloud…" she started, looking into the deep brown of her drink "There's something I must tell you…"
"I swear Tifa, I'm not going through any depressive moments" he said quickly.
"It's not that…"
"I really did saw her, I know I did" their glasses were already empty "And with Zack's sword…" she refilled them again and he stopped in mid-sentence.
Wait. Since when did Tifa drink while working?
Scratch that, when DID Tifa drink at ALL?
He thought hard to remember if he saw her with a drink at any time … oh yeah. After the Remnants and his resurrection, she drank a glass of wine. ONE glass of wine. And she was drying of her third right now!
There was a desperate resolve painted on her face, and a matching glow in her eyes.
"Cloud, I really… need to tell you something…." Her voice was strained and he could actually feel how tense she was, like an archers bow ready to release its arrow.
Oh gods…
"Tifa…" he choked, feeling absolute horror creeping up onto him.
What could it be that got her so …
The door that led upstairs suddenly opened and he almost jumped in his chair. Almost.
He really would if he wasn't absolutely frozen in one spot. What the….
"Hey Teef, I thought… " the jubilant voice was cut off abruptly as the whole bar fell silent "Uh, hi?"
Cloud could die right in that place, as Tifa groaned and hid her face in her hands, the patrons all turned and staring at the man that just entered the bar.
What the FUCK….??
As if seeing a glimpse of Aerith wasn't enough to make Cloud doubt his right mind…
Now he was staring at the grinning face of Zack Fair, dressed in what awfully reminded him of his own clothes.
He didn't even notice the patrons leave in a hurry, dropping the gil onto the tables and leaving their unfinished drinks.
People were used to strange events around here, but this was a little too much to handle even in an intoxicated state of mind. The door closed after the last of the customers with a soft thud, while neither Cloud and Tifa made a move.
Zack on the other hand, felt rather uncomfortable under Cloud's unmoving gaze.
He scratched the back of his head, his cheeky grin changing into a sheepish one.
That broke the spell and the blond slammed his glass onto the counter, startling the bartender back to life.
"More" he demanded looking Tifa straight into the eyes "I'm seeing dead people"
"Oh for fuck's sake!" the life-like illusion cursed with disbelief that could be real.
"He's here, Cloud" the brunette said in a meek voice "Believe me, he's real enough" she flexed her right hand slightly "I don't know how or why, but he's here alright and we're stuck with him"
Zack folded his arms, throwing her a hurt look. After getting resurrected one might have thought to receive a warm welcome.
Up till now he only received a hell of a punch and a complete negation of his presence.
Cloud turned to him again and slid off his chair, making his way towards the supposedly dead man. This seemed all too familiar and Zack quickly pressed both palms to his jaw, ignoring the grin that suddenly blossomed on Tifa's lips.
"You're… real…?"
"As real as I could be, buddy" he grinned, his hands still holding his face "Nice to see you again too"
"Zack…" a calloused palm touched the shirt-clad arm "You're really … real…"
"Just don't hit me, I've had enough of that for one day" the taller man ruffled the blond spikes, letting go of his chin.
The familiarity of that touch and the steady weight of that hand … it made Cloud's lips twitch in a smile. Then he frowned suddenly and punched slightly Zack's chest. He was real. Real and breathing, and ALIVE…
"Oh dammit! I sure hope you won't give Aerith such a warm welcome!" the older man pouted, rubbing the sore spot and moved away.
"What happened to your face?" a hint of curiosity as he took his seat again and his eyes darted to the small bruise.
Blue eyes gave a short glance towards the bartender, who was busy cleaning up the bottle and glasses. Her face hidden behind her hair but Zack could place bets on the fact that there was a smile on her face.
"Her is what happened to my face" another pout.
Cloud grinned suddenly, his cheeks aching from the wild smile, watching her move around swiftly.
"That's my girl" he said with feeling, trying to imagine the scene that had to occur "Zack…"
"What?"
"Why are you wearing my clothes?"
Zack suddenly realized why Cloud and Tifa got together so well.
They both could make you fell oh so welcome.
From the Author:
With this chapter up, I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, with lots of love and laughter.
Thank you for the reviews and I hope you're all enjoying the story!
Next update should be up befor New Years.