She hummed something softly under her nose, cleaning up the last tables, the wet cloth wiping the remains of spilled drinks and ashes. It was a busy night, yet a calm one… no fights whatsoever, she mused with a small smile. It's been three weeks straight since the last time she broke her door and that settled for a new record…
Of course the presence of both Cloud and Zack sitting at the bar and sharing beer might have had some influence on the behavior of the regular patrons. Swords neatly placed by the wall also could dampen some moods.
"Tifa" a quiet voice broke her small reverie and she looked up, her lips curling into a bigger smile already.
He stood there in the door frame, looking as uncertain as always, his blue eyes vivid yet stormy. His fingers fumbling with the hem of his shirt.
"Why are you still up…?" she asked resting one hand on her hip.
"I need to talk with you…" he sighed, his feet making barely no noise on the floor, until he came to a stop right in front of her "Can we?" he pointed at the bar with the slightest move of his head, the mahogany surface all clean and shining, the glasses all neatly placed in their respective shelves.
"Alright"
He watched her walk behind the counter, the way her hair would swing gently because of her movement, how she placed one foot exactly in front of the other, her moves collected without any unnecessary haste.
Something deep down inside him burned.
Pale, long fingers held a glass and a bottle, the amber liquid tinting the crystal cup as she poured him a handsome dose. The light danced on its pristine edge as she pushed the drink towards him.
"What is it?" there was a soft tilt of her head, those pretty eyes rimmed lightly with red lines.
Of course she'd be tired at this time of night. Up from the crack of dawn, taking care of them all, of their house and the bar… Always with a smile on her lips and with silent amusement, not once complaining. How often she was the first person he saw in the grey early hours of the morning, and the last he saw in the pitch black depth of the night?
"A lot has happened in the last few weeks… hasn't it?" his eyes glued to the swirling liquid in his glass.
He looked up the very moment he felt her fingers thread gently through his hair, their fingers brushing ever so gently against his temple, and then tucking a stubborn hair behind his ear. Her touch burned today, when he usually associated it with this soothing, calming effect it had on his nerves and senses.
"You're going to leave ,aren't you?" she asked finally, her fingers still gently brushing through his hair, the outer corners of her eyes slanting slightly downwards for the creeping up weariness, but there were those red little sparks of tenderness in their depths.
Her voice quiet, soft and knowing.
Tifa always knew. She knew what he was feeling, she knew what he was going through, what he was about to say…
And that all was making this so much harder.
He turned his head lightly, nuzzling his cheek into her palm.
"It's going to change everything ,doesn't it?" he said finally, eyes closed, the taste of rum lingering on his lips, feeling scarred skin graze against his cheek.
"Maybe not everything…"she sighed lightly "The laundry basket will fill less quickly, and maybe I won't have to stay up so long…" there was a smile for him.
"I don't want to quit my job…" Cloud murmured into her palm.
Tifa smiled again, taking her hand away and pouring herself some beer from the keg.
"You're going to allow me to still store packages here, right?" he grinned lightly.
"I may charge you for that since well.. you won't be adding to the rent"
"Thought as much…" his lips still arched gently, his eyes gaining in a new sparkle.
"It will be … different without you here" her brows furrowed lightly as she thought about this for a short while.
"I'll have to get used to not having you around too, you know"
"You'll be in much better hands than mine, Cloud" she laughed lightly and took a sip of the chilled beer.
For the last few weeks she has been preparing herself for something like this to come up. Cloud didn't come any later than he usually did, but since it was Tifa who collected all his calls and requests for deliveries, she knew that he had less of those than normally. And he still came home late in the night.
Smelling of the windy roads and the sweet fragrance of Aerith's flowers.
And while feeling absolutely happy for them both, and maybe a little sorry as she could only imagine how hard it was for them to part each and every night, she also felt something else stir at the very bottom of her heart that one single time when Cloud passed Aerith's greetings to her.
Something very unpleasantly reminding her of being sad.
She clamped that feeling, buried it as deep as she could and promised herself never to let her feel that again.
Tifa's chain of thoughts was broken when she felt cool fingers pry hers off of the pokal. She looked with surprise at their hands, his larger ones gently holding hers. She didn't really like hers, she came to terms with that a long time ago.
Slim and with long, lean fingers, that was true. True hands of a piano player one might say taking just one glance at her hands. But with a closer look, one might see all the places her skin broke and where the knuckles bled perhaps one time to many to remain soft and smooth. Small scars and calluses now marred their surface. Without any trouble she saw the long scare running through her left palm, a imprinted memory of an encounter with a Kalm Fang's claws…
Cloud's hands were definitely masculine, his fingers thicker and more sturdy, his knuckles standing out more in his digits. And his too were scarred, also bore the evidence of all the hard times they once had to face. The skin rough and uneven, the inside of his palms where the hilt of his swords usually rested. The strong fingers told a story very alike to her own, full of fights and struggles, of hope mixing with despair, crushed dreams interwined with prayers that somehow came true.
But he was a man and a warrior and his hands suited him.
"What are you thinking now?" Cloud's voice was rather quiet, his words softly spoken, blue eyes observing their intertwined fingers.
"How much I don't like my hands" she said flatly, her fingers slowly curling and uncurling, the skin and small muscles there clenching gently.
"I always thought you held everything in them" his fingers brushed against the larger scar.
Tifa's head rose slowly, meeting his gaze.
"What?"
"Well… you …" Cloud sighed gently, his eyes locked on hers all the time, something he rarely did "You made everyone, everything whole… Even at some points, when we all drifted apart, still each and every one of us had your number…You held everyone together"
"It's not that of a big deal" she blinked lightly.
"Tifa, you always took care of everyone, took all of us in at one point moment of time… even if sometimes it wasn't that a great idea" a soft tug at one corner of his lips, as he fought of a sudden smirk
"I assume you're talking about Yuffie's unfortunate stay?" crimson eyes twinkled as she slipped her hands away from his.
"Yeah, that too"
Oh that was one eventful stay. Tifa had to lose her mind that day, as it couldn't be explained in any other way that she actually agreed to Yuffie staying for a whole week and helping with the kids. Not only did the ninja stay in her own room, Tifa moving out to the attic thanks to that. That wasn't half bad, as the windows in the slanted roof allowed the bartender to watch her beloved stars just moments before she would drift to sleep. What was bad, was the fact that Yuffie managed to get her hands on some of the strongest wines Tifa kept hidden deep in the cellar. The sight of totally intoxicated Princess of Wutai was so ridiculous that Tifa was unable to react in any other way than laugh. Even when Yuffie dragged out Clouds' Materia case from the storage room and spilled the glowing orbs all over the floor, slipping on them and sliding all over the place, the colorful balls rolling on the floor happily, Tifa still couldn't stop laughing, half lying on one of the chairs, holding her stomach as her muscles hurt to the point she couldn't breathe.
And Tifa really didn't want to go on about the bedtime stories Yuffie told the children….
"When you want to move out then?" she swirled the contains of her glass, causing a little foam to reappear on the amber surface and only then she took a drink.
Cloud shrugged his shoulder gently, his eyes soft around the corners, his face obviously relaxed right now.
"Soon I think… I don't have that many things, so packing won't be a problem" he sighed "And I won't take up too much room at Aerith's place…"
"You'll talk with Marlene and Denzel about this, right?" Tifa downed the rest of her beer and placed the glass back at the counter with just a small sound.
"…yeah…" a lamely hidden hesitation in the deep voice, causing her voice to knit.
"Cloud"
"I just… I don't…" he stammered on his words, the tension and nervousness from before again present in his eyes "I'm not Zack"
Red eyes blinked with utter surprise.
"And what does he have to do with anything here?"
"He's good with kids…you had to notice that"
But of course she did. Mostly when a happily laughing Marlene ran to her, hiding behind her legs from Zack ,whose hair was richly decorated with the girl's cat shaped hair pins. The man fell asleep and Marlene couldn't just stop herself… But he really got along well with the kids, often abandoning the bartender to play with the kids outside or upstairs in their room, and often Tifa was left to wonder actually who had more fun at those times.
"You don't have to be him for them to love you" she smiled , ruffling his hair gently, as he let out a heavy sigh.
"It's going to be… hard… explaining why"
"They will understand that. Those are two pretty mature kids we have there, Cloud"
Tifa swore she saw a very, very hard to catch emotion flicker through his eyes, the brief glint gone almost the very moment it appeared and if she didn't knew the man in front of her, she would doubt it was even real.
"Let's go outside" Cloud's voice was oddly flat as he slipped out from his chair all of the sudden.
It took a while for her to acknowledge what he really said, the man already walking towards the door, taking his warm coat from the hanger there. He threw her a look over his shoulder as he opened the door, his fair brows knitting slightly as he noticed she didn't even move an inch.
"Come on"
Bedazzled, Tifa followed his steps, slipping into her own coat on the way, the cold air hitting her flushed face the very moment she stepped through the door. The night was a quiet one, the winds that would come with heavy rains during the day were now gone, the air fresh and crisp, the cold air coloring their cheeks in an instant and making it slightly difficult to take deep breaths. The streets of Edge were empty at this time of night, and Tifa realized that the city looked absolutely beautiful, with its steel and polished wood sparkling in the lights coming from the street lamps.
Cloud stood on the pavement, his hands buried deep in his pockets, the tip of his nose taking on a more pinkish hue. His head was tilted upwards, eyes locked on the skies above. He didn't even move an inch as he felt Tifa's elbow brush against his ,as the girl fell into a soft stop right next to him and looked up as well.
It was quite the sight to behold too.
Like thousands of little diamonds spilled on black silk, the stars above their heads twinkled and sparkled, some more, some less, but all of them simply breathtaking. They seemed to be floating in the dark cobalt blue, completing the overall feeling of tranquility and calmness.
Despite the beautiful and serene display right in front of their eyes, Tifa felt a sudden pang of pain deep in her heart.
"You said 'kids we have'…" Cloud finally broke the soft silence, those sparkling stars mirrored in azure eyes "It sounds nice…"
"Cloud…"
"It's all going to mean nothing, when I move" there was a gentle regret lacing his words.
"No it won't" she too still held her head tilted up, but she could feel how he clenched his hands into fists.
"I won't be here, Tifa"
"You're not running away from them" her voice was as strong and soft as he knew, as he hoped it would be "You are leaving to live with someone else, loving someone else, and that's that, but it does not make us any less of a family than we are now"
"How can you be so sure… last time…" he stopped when she turned her head to look at him, eyes soft and a small smile on her lips.
"It's just how it is, Cloud. Nothing will change that"
Cloud looked at her for a moment and then reached out, pulling her into a warm hug. He felt her chuckle softly, her arms wrapping loosely around his waist.
"Thanks Teef…" he sighed against her hair.
"Hey, that's why I'm here for" she smiled , tightening her embrace slightly "I'm going to miss this so you better visit me from time to time…"
"I will…but… you can always hug Zack you know"
"You're joking right?" she pulled away, looking up with one brow raised that funny way that made her look really amused and he couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"What, he's nice, friendly, true SOLDIER boy, you get along, he threw snow in your face, you burned his pants…" Cloud grin grew wider as she punched his shoulder lightly.
"Yeah, that all just screens as a hugging material"
"Makes you all warm and fuzzy inside" he nodded as they finally turned back, the remains of snow melting away beneath their feet.
"But I won't take that offer… Heavens forbid, if I were to hug him, and Marlene saw that? I'd have a raging Barret here faster than it takes her to say Adamantamai" she laughed lightly, hanging the coat back in its rightful place.
The door closed behind, and there was that soft click when Cloud turned the key. He looked at his friend, her abandoned not so long ago rag once again in her hands as she returned to her task of cleaning up. Their two glasses still standing on the counter.
"Need help?" he offered, keeping his voice light but low, in case anyone upstairs was still awake. Which was rather unlikely, the children were out like a light the moment their heads hit the pillows, and Zack followed their steps despite the age difference.
"I'm fine" she smiled at him, wiping the round surfaces clean.
He stood for a longer moment at the door, leaning onto the doorframe and just watching her move around. He felt the strange sadness creep upon him, as he observed the long ,smooth strokes of the cloth against wood and as he listened to a low hum of a unknown song.
Despite her words, he realized that him moving out will change everything.
There will be that lovely scent of flowers welcoming him upon opening the front door, instead of smoke and rum and laundry.
There will be a cheery giggle and sparkling emerald eyes welcoming him upon return home, and not a tired smile and golden hues melted in red.
There will be just them three, he and Aerith and Elmyra, quiet and peaceful and calm. They will have peaceful evenings, with the elderly woman reading her old books, yellow pages with curled corners and her daughter tending to them both, with a dazzling smile on her lips. And she would be near him all the time, warm and gentle and loving and loved back.
It will be everything he wanted, but in the same time it will be nothing like it was here.
No curious Marlene with her strange maturity that didn't suit her 6 year old face. No shy Denzel who opened up only to Tifa and him and Zack, his big eyes filling up with awe each time one of them came home. No soft urgirng of the kids telling them to go and spar on Sundays... There would be no Zack, grinning that big cocky grin of his and ruffling Cloud's hair like he used to do. There will be no Tifa, with her strong voice and even stronger will, with a bar and heart opened for everyone.
"Tifa…" he said, his voice raspy with something he couldn't yet recognize.
She turned her head, a few longer strands of dark brown hair falling into her face. She graced him a gentle smile.
"Goodnight Cloud"
"…goodnight Tifa"
He could still hear her hum that song as he took careful step up the stairs, his mind swirling with different thoughts. He entered the small room he shared now ...still... with Zack, quietly closing the door. He turned around and jerked back slightly, as wide eyes, their color the same as he saw each day in the foggy bathroom mirror, welcomed him.
"Zack" he finally said "I thought you were asleep"
"Me? Naaah" the older man grinned lightly "Heard some news of someone moving out…"
What the…
"Now how the hell did you hear that?" Cloud sighed heavily, walking to the bed and sitting on the mattress, the springs giving out a soft squeak.
"Hey you and I both were stuck in those tubes. Didn't you get the great hearing as well as the enhanced eyesight?"
The blond threw him a dark look as he untied his boots.
"You of all people… joking about that…"
"I've been dead Cloud. There isn't anything as bad as that"
"You got some twisted way of thinking there…."
"So? How did it go?" he propped his head on one hand, a small smile on his lips.
Cloud sighed heavily. Sure the talk went great, better than he expected actually…
"Fine" he said flatly.
"Well… THAT I already guessed, eve if you are awfully down for a 'fine'"
"I'm gonna move out soon…."
"How did she take it…?" something darker flashed in Zack's eyes, making Cloud's brows rise gently.
"Tifa?"
"Of course"
"Tifa is…" Cloud hesitated for a moment " Tifa is Tifa"
"Seriously Cloud, we got to work on your communication skills" the older man chuckled "Is that really the best explanation you can give about the reaction of your friend, to whom you owe a great lot and who takes care of you, when you said you're going to move out and live with her only best female friend?"
"That was completely unneeded…" another sigh "She took it great, Zack, what do you want me to say. She was smiling that smile of hers that makes you feel proud to have her as a friend… Supportive and warm and just the way she is…"
"So she just… smiled…" there was a thoughtful note in Zack's voice "Tell me Cloud… just one thing…"
"What is it?"
"Have you ever seen her cry?" blue clashed with blue, their hues so painfully alike… only difference being the gentle violet edge in Zack's eyes.
"Zack…" Cloud looked up, his face serious and eyes clear.
"Just tell me… you've known her for so long" long fingers tightened unwillingly.
The blonde raised his eyes towards the ceiling. It's been a long time, that was true… Since their promise, at that old Nibelheim well. Many things have happened, so much blood has been spilled between them, of their enemies and their own. Tifa always was there, not only for him, she said it herself that she would follow him anywhere. And she did too, even to the poisonous Lifestream… She too saw so much in her short life. Saw comrades die, bodies twisted on the steel railing. Saw a true friend gave out just a surprised gasp as her life was taken away from her…
"Remember Nibelheim…?" he finally said, seeing his friend give a short nod "And before that.. when her mother died…"
"And Aerith's death…?"
"It was terrible…" Cloud sighed, the memory of the broken scream still echoing in his ears "Like it would be her body pierced… nails digging into arms, but .. she didn't cry then…"
"And later?"
"Not once"
Zack nodded, letting his head to fall onto the pillow. It made sense so much he hated it.
"Zack…"
"Hm?"
"Promise me something.. promise me you'll look after her"
"What? Cloud you're moving to Aeriths' house few blocks away, not Wutai…"
"Please Zack" very serious right now.
"Cloud…"
"I know, of all people I know she's strong and can throw out a guy like a used tissue… Still…" Cloud bit his lip, that feeling of sadness back again "I just need to know you'll watch over her… protect her"
Zack only stared at him, that dark light again swimming in his eyes.
"Cloud, she …"
"From her, Zack. Not anyone else… just from her"
Blue clashed with blue again, the younger man's eyes vivid and somewhat desperate. He had a one tough evening tonight, and his nerves felt like burning throughout his whole body. It was too much for him…
He sighed softly when the older man reached out and ruffled his hair lightly, the usually sparking eyes now sharp like freshly cut crystals.
"I promise" and they both knew how much deeper this talk reached.
Even if protecting Tifa meant breaking her in the same time… As Cloud switched off the small light, Zack asked himself if he really could do that.