Zack awoke with a start, half way to a sitting position, one hand clutching the duvet. He blinked surprised, as the blur faded away from his sight. First thing he noticed, was the fact that he was alone in the room. While the other bed being empty was something he was already accustomed to, the absence of Tifa was slightly surprising. He was awake and she wasn't here to take away his pillow and cover. And the grey, dull light seeping from under the window's blinds was a sure sign it still wasn't time for anyone to get up.
And he had such a nice dream too…
A terrible coughing fit came from the children's bedroom and just hearing it made Zack feel like phlegm would come off of his own lungs. He sat up, the duvet pooling in his lap and he debated whether he should go and check or not. Before he could make any decision at all, the door opened quietly and Tifa came in, a half-asleep Denzel in her arms, the eight year old boy apparently causing no problems for her to carry him. The dusty-sand head was neatly tucked under her chin, a soft cheek pressed to her shoulder. She gave a tired smile as she saw Zack all awake.
"Would you mind if he slept here…?" she asked quietly, pointing to Cloud's empty bed with her head.
"Sure" Zack nodded, his mind still waking up from his abruptly cut short slumber.
She adjusted the boys weight in her arms as she kneeled by the bed, but she didn't have the chance to even push the covers aside Zack called out her name. He was scrambling out of his bed when she turned to him, the man wincing slightly as his feet came in contact with the cool floors.
"Here" he reached out for the semi-conscious child "It's warm already…"
"Thank you…"
He noticed her bloodshot eyes and messy hair as she watched Denzel curl up into a embryonic form under the warm covers and then she leaned in to plant a soft kiss on the smooth forehead of the boy.
"Night" she whispered before straightening her back and giving a short nod to Zack, then turning to leave the room "I'll let you two sleep in today…"
"What's wrong?"
"Marlene's sick…" tired eyes filled with worry "I don't want Denzel getting it too, so I thought bringing here wouldn't cause too much problem...?"
"Hey it's their home"
"Thanks" and she left the room, her quiet footsteps fading as she walked to the biggest of the bedrooms.
Zack heard the small girl cough again, the immense feeling of compassion filling him. Poor Marlene had to be in pain, as above the coughs he could hear her slight whimpers. He gazed at the sleeping boy, his forehead smooth and free of all creases, brows gently pulled backwards as whatever dreams were weaved behind his lids sure had to be peaceful ones.
With a soft sigh he stood up and left his bedroom, closing the door behind him gently and making his way to the children's bedroom. The night lamp on the desk was on, being the only source of soft light. He could see the outline of Marlene's little body visible despite the cover and an additional blanket. Tifa exchanged a damp compress on her forehead, violent shivers wrecking the small limbs, and her face was flushed with unhealthy bloody red.
"Need help…?" he asked quietly, making the bartender look up with surprise.
"Zack…" the worry in her voice was heavy, evident and her eyes gained a more desperate light.
"What's wrong with her? She seemed alright in the evening" he touched her cheek and frowned "She's burning up…"
"It's been like this for two hours now…" Tifa sat on the bed gently and wiped the damp hair away from Marlene's sweaty face "She woke me up saying she was nauseous… and then it… just went downhill from there…"
Zack glanced around, noticing the fluorescent numbers on the alarm clock on the night table. Showing the painfully early hour of 4:15 in the morning… He glanced at Tifa again, a sudden thought making his brows push forwards. It was the busiest night of the week yesterday, and he went to sleep around midnight after Tifa threw him out upstairs for hindering her cleaning attempts...
"I'll take her to the medic in the morning" she said before she bit her lip and gnawed on it lightly, long fingers picking at the hem of the oversized shirt, short white sleeping briefs visible from underneath "Gods, what I will tell Barret?" she hid her face in her hands.
They trembled lightly. Zack ran one hand through his hair, sighing deeply at the sight. Did this woman sleep at all...?
"You'd like some tea maybe?"
"What?" her eyes took on the hue of cinnamon in the dull light of the lamp.
"I asked if you'd like some tea, as I'm about to go down to the kitchen and make some for me" he explained slowly "And some syrup for Marlene…"
"Zack, you don't…"
"Hey Teef, I'm already up so the least I can do is help you out now" he offered her a small smile, as he leaned onto the door frame.
"Why…?"
His shoulder moved up and then gently down in careless shrug. Of all the times she could have chosen to ask that question, she picked this very moment… Marlene coughed again, the force of the attack making the sick girl sit up and Tifa immediately turned all her attention to the child.
Zack slipped out of the room, and quietly made his way downstairs, bare feet making almost no noise. He could perfectly make out the outlines of the counter and the chairs without turning the lights on. The swinging door that led to the kitchen made a small squeak as he pushed it open, his hand finding the switch in a matter of seconds. The bright lights made him squint at first, his sore eyes looking around the counters for the electric kettle. Soon the loud hum of it working filled the still space, as Zack rummaged the insides of the fridge looking for lemon, garlic and onion. He whistled quietly under his nose as he placed the needed object on the counter, where a jar of honey and two cups already stood, and he patiently waited for the water to boil. Soon the gentle fragrance of tea filled the room, as he filled a tall glass with hot water, and then reached out for the honey and a soup spoon.
His mother would laugh her head off if she saw him right now, he thought with amusement as he put two full spoons of honey into the glass, swirling gently to make it dissolve in the hot liquid. She always made him that stuff when he was a kid, and as he squeezed the lemon into the drink, he could still remembered the taste of it. Then again, anyone would laugh seeing him bustling around Tifa's kitchen, chopping onion and garlic into tiny bits before pouring them into the syrup. In the end, he added more honey, the sweet golden treat drowning out the sharp taste the medicament gained.
Five minutes later Zack was back upstairs, opening the door with his elbow, the heat from the glass and cups burning at his fingers. Tifa was just finishing pulling on a fresh long sleeved shirt over Marlene's head, the girl barely awake, glazed eyes shining through half closed lids. His eyes slid over the bartender's slender frame as she exchanged yet again the compress, long fingers gently brushing against heated skin of the child. He saw the concern and love swirling in her eyes and his throat went dry all of the sudden.
He suddenly understood how come it was Tifa that willingly took the weight of everyone's problems and worries, placing them on her own strained shoulders.
With a soft hiss he placed all three cups on the night table and blew at his fingers. The tip of Tifa's nose moved lightly as she sniffed, as she helped Marlene lay down again, a disturbingly whistling sound coming from the child's lungs as her small chest move up and down with each heavy breath.
The bartender sat heavily on Denzel's bed, shadows creeping up on her face. She looked so much younger right now, and so, so tired. She looked like she could use a good, old fashioned hug, he thought. Then again, with her nerves all tingly and over-sensitive right now, she's probably knock him out cold if he were to try that.
"Thank you.." her voice was strained as Zack handed her one cup, trembling fingers curling around the warm porcelain.
She didn't even flinch when he sat next to her, his shoulder gently bumping into hers. Gentle eyes filled with worry and he saw fear clawing at their edges. Her lips paler than usually as she took her first, careful sip of the amber liquid. She really had to be tired…
"My mother used to make me that suff when I had lung infections" Zack broke the silence pointing the tall glass, left all alone to cool off on the night table on a small saucer "Believe it or not , I was a very weak child. Slimy nose all the time. Neighbor's kid called me Hankerack as I always used tons of tissues if I was lucky enough to go out and play"
A shimmer of amusement appeared in the red depths as she looked at him with curiosity. Tifa knew it was for her sake that he told her a rather embarrassing memory and she was grateful for that.
"I guess it changed… since you went off and got into SOLDIER"
"Yeah I guess… " he grinned tiredly, feeling how the tea warmed his body from the inside "What about you?"
"Hm?" her eyes snapped from Marlene to him and back to the girl again, who broke into sweat again, pearls shining on the child's forehead "I didn't get sick too often…" a shadow skipped over her face for a brief moment "I was in a coma though… and … much later… spent some time at the Midgar Hospital"
"Sorry…" he murmured, knowing very well what was the reason of her hospitalization.
A heavy sigh left Tifa's lips as she looked up at the ceiling. After everything that had happened… She threw a glance to his left arm. The skin there darker than her, but even in the dim light she could see small circular marks that marred its surface.
"You had some serious spunk in yourself" Zack smirked suddenly, causing her to blink with surprise "You know, when we would have some free time, back in Midgar base, and he was still… sane… some of the guys would try and fight with Masamune"
"And?"
"Believe me, no one even managed to fling it properly. And the medics at the company usually had their hands full afterwards. And then there was this fifteen year old cowgirl, who not only wielded the bloody thing but also tried to used it on its owner" he gave her a small jab with his elbow to lighten the seriousness in the air.
"You're never going to leave me alone about that outfit, are you?"
"You looked disturbingly good for a teen…" Zack stood up and checked the temperature of the syrup, taking some of it onto the spoon and blowing gently "A wonder you didn't have half of that village running after you"
"… I did…" she watched him take a sip from the spoon and shake his head lightly, sounding oddly unemotional "Not good?"
"Just a couple of minutes more" returning to his seat at her side he glanced at the clock, seeing how it changed into 5 am already "So Miss Nibelheim…" but he stopped as she raised her head, eyes all serious and large.
"Why, Zack?"
She was looking straight at him and damned be that girl for her wicked ability to form so much into so little. Two words, from which one was his name and she meant so much by them. Why was he up when Marlene was not in his care? Why he stayed up? Why the tea, why the syrup, why the effort of keeping her from straying into a line of depressive thoughts…?
Why did he care…?
Zack wondered, as his eyes trialed small shadows that sharpened the usually soft lines of her face, did she really want a true answer. Would she acknowledge it and just let it be, or would it make her distance herself even further..? Right now, there was an unguarded look in her eyes… He still could remember how in the the dimmed room in Costa, for one brief moment, he really saw her, the real Tifa, broken and bruised and so beautiful in her dark imperfection, but now, the sight before his eyes in the very moment was a mere memory of that night. He got closer to her for an inch, only the suddenly find himself a mile away… He wasn't sure he wanted to have that happen again, not when they were on more neutral grounds in this dimmed room, watching over a sick child. Not when they once again slipped into the comfortable zone.
"I don't know Tifa…" he sighed heavily "I just do… it's not something you analyze through and through…"
The tips of her hair tickled his skin as she shook her head a little, and out of corner of his eye he saw the corners of her mouth move slightly upward.
"You're a terrible liar, Zack Fair" she placed her cup away "But thank you none the less"
"For what?"
"For taking the effort to do so…"
Zack opened his mouth, and closed it again. It would be better of him not to push it right now. She knew, just as well as he knew deep inside. And maybe not voicing it out was the best thing to do right now. He knew he will try again later, on some other day, on some other occasion. Now was not the time…
He watched her rise as Marlene awoke due to another coughing fit, how she patted gently the girl on the back and how she whispered soothing words to calm the feverish girl down. Her hands now all steady and calm as she gave her a spoonful of the syrup Zack made, a gentle smile on her lips as she pulled the blankets up to the small chin. She hummed something softly, the tune lulling the child into a semi-peaceful slumber, cool fingers gently threading the long hair.
And Zack didn't even know when his heavy lids fluttered close, sands of sleep dusting over his own mind, filling his dreams with hues of rich cinnamon and mellow wine. He stirred only once, a warmth enveloping his whole frame and then all of the remains of his consciousness seemed to dissolve completely.
Once again Zack awoke to the sudden coughing, the source being so much closer than during the night. It still was violent and nasty, and surely had to hurt… His eyes squinted at the bright light filling the room, his vision blurry again and his mind still clinging to the last threads of dreams. He heard the door open quietly and he rubbed his eyes with the back of one hand gently.
"Uncle Zack is awake" Marlene's voice was so unlike her usual bright and chirpy tone, now all raspy and harsh due to her infection. She looked way better than in the night though, that nasty flush gone from her cheeks.
Zack blinked then and looked up, welcomed by an amused light in the merlot eyes. He then took a look around, clearly remembering Tifa humming a song and…
"I didn't have the heart to wake you" she smiled as realization crept up into his dazy eyes "And you looked so comfortable in Denzel's bed"
"It's all your fault…" he muttered under his nose, yawning terribly.
"Barret's coming over soon…" she filled a spoon with syrup and placed it in front of Marlene's mouth, the girl opening it wide enough to swallow at least the bartender's hand elbow-deep "That's my girl" she then placed a kiss on the girl's forehead "And later, Zack will keep you entertained, won't you?"
"Your papa will pamper you as he gets here" Zack yawned again, curling up with Denzel's pillow, eyes closing and murmured "A few more minutes..."
"You sure you want him to find you here…?"
Blue eyes shot open and he bolted out of the bed in a flash. Having Barret chasing him around with that gun arm of his ready to puncture his ass into cheese was the last on the list of 'to do' things. And one of the first on the ' things to avoid at all costs', right after patting Tifa's bum and trying to get Rude drunk. They all resulted in heavy injuries.
"I'll make you some pancakes, alright sweetie?" Tifa closed the door to the bedroom as they both left and she threw him another amused look "I should use Barret's name as a wake up argument…"
"You want me to have a trauma of some sort…?" he grunted "Is Denzel up?"
"Oh yeah, been for some time now… it's eleven you know"
He blinked. Whoaaa… It's been a while when he was allowed to sleep in for so long.
"Damn" he sighed, rubbing the back of his head "I'd better hurry, I sure don't want your friendly human cannon to catch me waltzing around in just a towel…"
"Oh he would be so tempted if he saw that " Tifa made her way down the stairs but looked around when she heard him swallow loudly "What?"
"You just said WHAT exactly? TEMPTED??"
"Target practice Zack… it all comes down to target practice"
Zack grinned ,watching her descend down those stairs, before grabbing fresh set of clothes from his own room. She was something, he thought as he stepped into the bathroom, stripping of his sleeping attire. The tiles under the shower were cold, and so was the spray of water that hit his back. His grin suddenly dropped. Barret surely would be staying over and from what he remembered Cloud was due to come home today. And that could mean only one thing….
"Damn it!" he cursed.
Obviously he would have to raid Tifa's Cactuar Vodka supplies as there was no way he could get any extra blankets for that cold bed in the attic, sicne Marlene was sick.
His skin took on the hue of a boiled lobster due to the onslaught of hot water that finally flew through the pipes. Zack wondered briefly how long exactly would Barret stay this time… He and the darker man had a very … hostile relationship to say the least. Sharing as little words as possible, they both tried to stay out of each other's range of view (or fire), but there still were some situations they just had to socialize a bit and try their hardest. 'Family meals' for example. Neither he, Barret or Cloud would (in their right mind) never even consider skipping Tifa's meals willingly. One did NOT let that kind of food just pass you by… But other than that, Zack wouldn't risk turning his back on the older man, especially in the kitchen, not really wanting to find himself on the receiving end of, let's say, a fork. While he didn't know what really was behind their dislike towards each other, but he knew it was HUGE. It was different with Cloud… Barret could claim he disliked the blonde , yet it all came down to holding a grudge for all the trouble the boy has caused back in the days. When it came to him however, Zack had the strange impression Barret saw him as a threat of some sort.
"Shit…" he cursed to himself, turning the water off, watching it spiral down the drain.
He grabbed one of the displayed towels ,running it down his limbs and chest, at the very end wrapping it over his head, turban style. It was when he stepped out of the shower booth as he heard two sets of footsteps, quick yet quite, just outside the bathroom. The thought of Barret being here already crossed his mind, but then it occurred to him that the gun man wasn't even near to being albe to take steps so subtle.
"You'll be ok upstairs, right?" he heard Tifa's hushed voice, maybe just a bit breathless.
Who on earth…? Wasn't he supposed to be the one sleeping upstairs??
Zack hopped on one leg towards the door, pulling on fresh briefs and his old trusty purple pants on the way there, barely stopping with his face inches from the knob. He opened it wide and blinked with surprise as he was welcomed with two blank stares.
One pair of eyes was of the color of rich wine with specks of dusted gold swirling within, and they widened slightly at the sight of the baby blue towel on his head… then looked him up and down, lingering for a moment, tracing a lone drop that traveled along his collarbone.
However it was the second set of eyes that left Zack all wide-eyed and with jaw slightly hanging. That one was very similar to the previous one, yet these eyes were in the color of rich rubies and equally cold as the said stones. Even if he could swear he saw a glimpse of amusement in their depths…
"Zackary" Vincent finally nodded his head in a gesturing manner, then turned to face Tifa again "Thank you"
The raven haired man made his way up the stairs that led to the attic, his bloody red cape flowing up with every elegant step he took.
"You're making ME sleep with HIM?" Zack finally asked, blue eyes wide and strangely big in his face "Or does he change into a bat a cling to the ceiling??"
"Oh don't be silly" she snorted, red eyes rolling as she wiped her hands into the bar apron she had tied loosely around her waist.
"Well pardon me, but it seems to me that we are rather short on sleeping quarters here!"
"I'll think of something" Tifa rocked on her heals, hands deep in pockets and threw an amused look at his head "So…"
"Oh SHIT!" he cursed, almost tearing the cloth from his hair, damp black strands falling onto naked shoulders.
"Cloud and Barret will be here in a couple of minutes, so you might want to speed things up in there… unless of course there is some waxing to do inside…"
"… ha… ha … ha…"
"And could you take Vincent with you, when you'll be going downstairs? Breakfast will be ready in like fifteen to twenty minutes, and I guess everyone will be hungry by then…"
"Yeah…sure…"
Zack watched her run down the stairs, her feet swift and light on the wood, and he fought the urge to smack his face with the unfortunate towel he still had in his hand. What a day will this turn out to be, he thought to himself as he made his way back to the sink, the mirror above it already clear of all steam. He took a closer look at his face.
On top of sick children, over-protective fathers, brooding golden-clawed ex-Turks with serious social problems and too caring barmaids (who will, doubtlessly, tease him about the baby blue attire that had adorned his head), he needed a shave.
Oh joy.
It was half an hour later, after four men gathering around the kitchen table, when the bomb went off. And it was all Tifa's fault, Zack concluded, as he found himself, along with Cloud and Vincent, on the street in front of the bar, waiting patiently for the heated argument inside to wear down. She really shouldn't have asked Vincent how long he was planning to stay…
"And those were some good pancakes back there…" Cloud sighed heavily, his thought obviously circling about the same subject.
"Yeah…" Zack kicked a lone stone from under his feet, then threw Vincent a quick look.
The eldest of them seemed rather unphased by anything, arms folded, and face buried in the high collar of his cloak.
"What about you?"
"They were … pleasant"
"I think he actually asked you why you're here, Vincent" Cloud allowed himself to smile a little.
"Yuffie" came the short reply, dark brows knitting as the man buried his face even deeper into the red cloth.
"Again? Damn, that girl got it hard…"
"Got what?" Zack asked, knowing very well to who they were referring to, but that being it.
"Yuffie's got… this… specific kind of interest in Vincent here"
"An unhealthy one too…" Barret's low growl coming from behind made them all turn "Get yer asses in back in here"
Like obedient little ducklings they made their way back to the bar, Vincent first, Cloud in the middle and Zack closing their little line. He was stopped however before he could go through the door by a heavy, steady hand placed suddenly on his shoulder. He stared at it for a moment, before turning his gaze to finally meet Barret's dark gaze.
"I still don't like the shit ya put Tifa through with yer spiky ass living here…"
Zack shifted uncomfortably under the man's steady gaze. He wasn't afraid of him, if anything happened, Barret wouldn't probably even know what hit him… it was just… Barret. Someone considered a friend… by some.
"And I still don't like ya, hot shot"
"Well…" Zack cleared his throat, his blue eyes darkening lightly "Glad to have that into the open, eh…"
"Still…" the low baritone gained a uncomfortable note "Hear what'cha did for my lil' girl back there…so… good job" Barret then lifted his hand away and made his way inside, leaving Zack questioning his hearing ability as the sturdy door closed slowly.
Then he grinned widely to himself.
THAT had to be as much of a 'thank you' from Barret as it could get. And it made him feel pretty damn good about himself.
The bar was pretty silent that night, the patrons almost cultural and timid towards each other. Preparing drink after drink, Tifa couldn't stop grinning as each time she sold one, her eyes would fall on three figures right in front of her.
The sight of two swordsmen and Vincent drinking in perfect timing - rise glass, take a gulp, place it down with a cling - was just fat too amusing for her not to smile. The light danced of the polished blades of the swords and on the golden scales of the gauntlet.
Barret's low voice could be heard coming from upstairs, where he was spending time with both children, the bored out of her mind sick Marlene and Denzel. And everyone in Edge knew Barret. And everyone also knew what he was capable of doing if anything went wrong. Tifa throwing our people seemed like a kitten's lick compared to the man's rage.
"Cloud…" Zack lowered his head lightly towards the blonde "Can I ask you something…?"
"Yeah?" sky blue eyes looked back at him with curiosity.
"Denzel's staying in our room, since Barret's with Marlene, right? "a nod "And you're there too, right?" another nod, accompanied by a drink from the glass "Vinnie sleeps in the attic" he promptly ignored the death glare sent his way from the man in cape "So… I've been wondering…there aren't any more rooms here ,right?"
"Except the cellar? And the two storages? No, there aren't…"
"Hm…" Zack chewed on his lip lightly "I have no idea how she's going to sort this out…"
"She moved some of your things to her room" Vincent's smooth voice made both younger men look up at him.
He saw their surprised looks literally glued to his face for a very long moment. That mirrored bar-back was pretty handy, he decided… Nothing would escape one's notice. And did those two look silly right now...
"WHAT?" Zack finally asked, brows nearly reaching the hairline "MY stuff…?"
"Did you expect any less of her?" Vincent's red eyes reminded them of a relaxed cat, as they were dull and without that usual cold light in them.
"Well… I … her… Oh I'm going to have a serious talk with that …" he bit his tongue as Cloud gave him an amused look "Nevermind…"
Vincent was the first to leave, as he finished his glass, and gave them just a curt nod as a 'goodnight'. Both pairs of bright eyes watched him as he walked towards Tifa and said something to her, the bartender smiling brightly at him and gently touching his right arm for a moment before he finally left.
Hour later, there were only few customers left, when Cloud bid his goodnights. He too stopped by his childhood friend, his goodnights completely different however. Wrapping his arms around her frame for a moment, the top of Tifa's head fitting nicely under his chin. Zack saw how the eyes of the patrons changed at that, from amused to slightly heated and he wondered how many men that came here were looking for more than just a drink… If looks could kill, Cloud would probably be dead before he was able to reach the door.
"Watching over me?" Tifa smiled at him, taking the empty glass Cloud left.
The outer corners of her eyes were slightly dropping, the usually bright sparkles gone. He saw the red web that was weaved across the whites, and the subtle shadow just beneath her lower lashes.
"Did you… even get to sleep today?" he asked after a while.
"Of course"
It came out too fast, too flat across her lips. Zack only shook his head at her, and she went to collect her pay from the rest of her customers. She was just downright impossible. Was there ANYONE who could talk some sense into that thick skull of hers??
The bell at the door chimed gently as the drunk men left, Tifa chuckling to herself as she closed it behind. A soft thud as the bolt fell into its place, then a click of the key turning.
Zack downed the rest of his drink. Ok, he was ready now. He could confront her and make his point through. And if this didn't work, he will go up and wake that walking and breathing cannon.
"When were you planning on telling me I was sleeping in your room?"
Red eyes blinked at the sudden question.
"Uhm… now?"
"Tifa…"
"Look Zack, I really don't mind sleeping down here on a cot…"
"I know. I mind though…" his brows furrowed.
She wiped the surface of the table with a wet cloth, rum stains and ash disappearing with each swift stroke.
"It's just for a couple of days anyway" she finally said, looking at him, back straight and hands on her hips.
Zack lived here long enough to recognize that stance. It was the "no matter what you say, I'll have my way anyway" stance. It was something Cloud often tried to copy, failing miserably in doing so one might add.
"Tifa, dammit, no!"
"You're just too sweet" she smiled at him and Zack felt the world melt away as she came closer up to him, reached out and ran one finger along his jaw "I'll be ok, so don't you worry your spiky head about this " she squinted her eyes lightly.
"Tifa, I…"
"Sweet dreams Zack" that finger brushed gently against the outline of his lower lip and suddenly he found himself by the door, one foot on the first step of stairs.
Only when she gave him a soft push forward, he smacked his forehead, ignoring the amused chuckle she let out. Dammit! He let himself be manipulated like a scholar.
Either there was something terribly wrong with him for loosing focus so badly, or Tifa's been getting lessons from Aerith on 'how to get your way through Zack's impossible behavior'.
Or maybe it was a combination of both.
"Ah shit…" he murmured to himself as he reached the top of the stairs, opening the door to her room.
Zack felt uneasy, entering it. Funny, he never was in her room before.
It was .. different than he thought it would be. He remembered Aerith's room... and how plush and soft it was. It mirrored its owner's personality. This however… This was something else. This was all memories and dust.
He walked up to the desk, his fingers reaching out to brush over a dried up mountain flower. There were photos pinned to the frame of her vanity mirror, and Zack smiled at some of the snap shots. Damn, she even got one of him, he noticed… too bad it was the one when Marlene talked him into face painting with her and Denzel. He always saw himself as a good-looking guy, but obviously pink wasn't his color. A burned up corner of a photo caught his attention all of the sudden. The colors were already faded, and the right side of it was torn off, and his hand shook a little as he picked it up.
"Tifa…" not even for a split second he realized he breathed her name out.
His eyes softened as he looked at his own face.
She kept it…
After everything this photo stood for, she kept it. Despite all the tears shed because of that day, despite the pain and blood that begun in that little village.
She really was something.
And amazing was the only word he could think of, as he quietly ran down the stairs back into the bar. She turned around violently at the sound of the door opening.
Eyes wide as he reached out for her, arms wrapping around the smaller body. The damp cloth fell to the ground as Tifa found herself in a warm hug, head tucked under well defined chin and strong hands on her shoulder blades.
The scent of fresh laundry and cigarette smoke, a scent more pleasurable than it would seem so, filled her senses as she returned the unexpected hug.
And Zack released her as suddenly as he hugged her, blue eyes soft and honest.
"Goodnight Tifa"
Author's Note:
Before actually anyone can ask why am I feeding a poor, sick child onion's and garlic.... let me tell you, that syrup works wonders.
I used to drink it as a kid (VERY often, since lung infections used to stick to me like glue :/), and it's probably thanks to that I still got my lungs inside of me XD and it's actually very sweet, strange as it sounds.
And soo sorry to those I didn't reply to PMs and reviews, I'm going to do that today so don't hate me ^^'
Next two chapters should be up this week as well, since I got them already written O_o as werid as that sounds, I've written them around the time chapter 6 was up, and now they only needed slight modifications (as I actually didn't plan on making them take a trip to Costa _ )
So anyways, enjoy as usual, and don't forget to feed the review monster in me ;)