„How to explain what a hero is?" Marlene asked suddenly, rising her head from above her note book where she would practice her writing skills.
Tifa looked up from the book she was reading. They were both enjoying the quiet afternoon, with Zack and Denzel going out to the market, the older man insisting it was them to take care of daily shopping. The boy happily complied to that, a face splitting grin appearing on his head and making Tifa wonder if they were going to do the grocieries or were they just planning on buying all they could from the candy store. And that left her and Marlene to enjoy the free time, and the silence that filled the vast rooms of the "Seventh Heaven".
Which apparently led to the six yeard old girl asking one of the msot surprising questions EVER.
"Why would you want to know that…?" Tifa finally asked back, as the girl bit the end of her pencil deep in thought.
"You know Refia?"
"Isn't she the one living the down the block? The nice girl with hazelnut pigtails?"
"Same one. Well…" Marlene curled her legs up as she fixed her big eyes on her guardian "We were drawing a couple of days ago… she's can draw such pretty rainbow castles… And she said that every girl has her hero…"
Promise me… If whenever I'm in a bind, my hero will come and rescue me…
Tifa smiled to herself, almost hearing her own childish voice ringing in her head. And she still could remember that azure blue dress she wore as a child, in the same pretty hue as Cloud's eyes wer eback then... . Oh yes, she thought. Every girl had her own hero at one point of her life. She sure did…
"I know people call Cloud and you, and Papa heroes… even Uncle Val" the girl noticed the amused look on Tifa's face "He agreed to that!" she added quickly.
"I'm sure of that…"
"So I'm … inter… int…" she thought about the word she was looking for "Intrigued…? What makes someone a hero? What makes you a hero?"
Tifa set her book aside, looking at the ceiling for a longer moment, gentle brows furrowing. What made someone a hero indeed…?
"I would want one myself" Marlene continued, a dreamy expression on her face "It would be nice. He would come ans save me, and he'd twirl me around... Heroes save people right…?"
"They do much more than that" Tifa sighed heavily, the hidden sense of the topic shadowing over her heart "They represent all the good that's out there. They make people like you and me believe that there are some men in the world that can make a change"
"But you are a hero too, aren't you?" big brown eyes sparkled gently "You all fought during the Meteor fall, and not once you gave up. That's what Papa told me"
"Being a hero isn't all about fighting, you know?" Tifa stood up and walked to the window, her eyes watching the rain fall outside.
It's been raining for the past few days, a sure sign that the season's change was near. The wintery days were nearly over it seemed, but due to the constant rainfalls the children were staying inside, and gods, the ideas they had…
"It's all the little things Marlene… Yes it is fighting, I think that's the biggest part of it. But it also is being there in the exact moment, not too early, not too late" one finger traced the trail of one random raindrop "It's lending a hand even in the smallest of issues, not expecting anything in return. It's saving not only from physical injuries. It's being courageous despite everything anyone ever told you, fighitng for the better cause... And while some people think that it's about pride, glory and fame… that's all wrong"
"Why wrong…?" Marlene thought about her words for a longer moment "When you do something good, you should get something back, right?"
"Yes, but true heroes … they don't care about things like that. Being a hero… it's always about the person next you"
"Were you born a hero, Tifa?" big brown eyes were too serious to belong to that childish face.
"No one is born a hero, Marlene, nobody asks to be one… it just… sometimes…turns out that way" she swallowed hard, her throat tight and burning up.
"How about Uncle Zack? I know Papa doesn't like him too much, since we never knew him before…Cloud once said that he..."
"He probably was the hero that started it all…" a fleeting memory of fire and pain and dazzling blue eyes shimmered somewhere deep in her mind.
Gods, this was hard. Tifa knew how mature Marlene was for being just six years old, but this … she wasn't sure she was ready to discuss this topic right now. A lot of things happened because … because there were people wanted to become heroes. To become strong and be admired. Minds delusional, thinking that true heroes had it all – fame, attention and respect.
And in reality, true heroes died… alone, unknown, with only few keeping them deep in their hearts.
The door downstairs opened and Marlene gave out a happy yelp, scrambling out of her seat. Obviously Denzel and Zack were back, and the girl was running out of their room, calling out the younger boy's name. Tifa blinked slowly, feeling her heart slow down. She should go down, and get the groceries, and start preparing food for dinner. But the rain outside kept falling, washing away the dirty snow from the pavements and she found herself entranced by it, her eyes gaining a dull hue. It seemed so easy… to rinse the dirt from the streets. If it only were that easy in life…
"Hey you… " Zack's soft call made her turn slightly, and he was there, leaning onto the oor frame running a towel over his wet hair.
"Hey… you're back earlier than I thought you will be"
"Yeah well, you get things done quicker when you run" he laughed lightly "Apparently Denzel dislikes the rain as much as I do"
Mindlessly, she picked on her lower lip, her eyes once again returning to the view outside the window. He died in the rain, his las breath was moist with it, and still he could talk about it...
"Tifa…"
The wet soles of his boots squeaked on the polished floor as he took each step towards her. He leaned then onto the window frame, the damp towel thrown carelessly over his shoulder as he folded his arms.
"Did you know what Marlene just said…?" he asked after a while.
"What..?"
"She asked Denzel to be her hero"
Tifa took a sharp intake of air. So much alike…
"And he happily complied to that…" Zack continued "Sounds awfully familiar, don't you think?" he tilted his head, lips spreading in a soft smile.
"Awfully…" she nodded and pressed her forehead to the cool glass "She asked, what it takes to be a hero..."
"Did you tell her?"
"No... well, not everything… She's a strange child, I know, but she's still only six. It's better for her to believe for now it's all about the good sides, and a pristine personality. And to believe the hero always gets his girl in the end" she smiled again.
Zack sighed lightly, knowing all too well what she meant by that. Illusions of a child were too sacred to be broken easily.
They were heroes at some point. Valiant and courageous, always pushing forward, fighting despite all the blood and tears. Even if they were all broken inside and out, they still broke every limit and barrier. Even if he died… someone else lived and made a change.
It wasn't all gold and admiring looks. It was walking for miles to no end, wondering whether you would wake up if you fell asleep. It was ripped tendons that never got to heal perfectly. It was skin scraped to such an extent that only scars were left behind. It was hunger and pain, it was despair in the darkest hours of night when a lone fire would burn out.
"Did you .. ever regret it?" she looked at him suddenly, eyes all serious and wide, focused on a certain spot in his chest.
Zack shivered at the memory of one evening when she walked into his room asking a question, when he was freshly out of the shower, the towel neatly wrapped around his hips. Her words died halfway and her eyes snapped to his chest back then, small circular scars still present there. And he still could the hesitant, butterfly touch of her fingertips against the broken tissue.
He didn't get much sleep that night.
"No… as strange as it sounds. I always wanted to be a hero, and when Cloud left my side there… I felt like one. And I was proud of that. Of me, and of him. Even if he was so messed up later on" he scratched the back of his head lightly and smiled "I think I had a part in that, didn't I?"
"You did" there was a small sigh again "You have.. no idea how terrified I was when he spoke of Nibelheim, when all he could remember was seeing it with your eyes"
"I know… she told me all about it"
"But Cloud, he … he had your smile" she said flatly, but there was a soft uprising of the corners of her mouth.
"Ah… too bad I couldn't give him my charm with the ladies, right?" he winked at her "But then again, maybe it's for the better… one me is enough for the planet and hey, even the Stream got rid of me! I truly have to be a blessing!"
"How do you do it, Zack?" the warm air of her breath steamed up the window's glass.
"I was born with it, honey!"
"Oh for gods sake…" despite her attempts she began to laugh "You're just plain impossible!" she sold him a soft punch on the shoulder.
"But I make you smile"
"You make my hands wring, that's for sure"
"Tifa!" Marlene ran into the room "Do you know where my yellow special dress is? The one Papa bought me in Aunt Yuffie's city?"
"Of course I know" Tifa raised one brow "But that's your summer dress."
"Pleaaase, can I have it?? We want to play and I soooo need it!"
"Marlene, you can't play around in one of your best dresses"
"But princesses have to look pretty when the knights rescue them! Right?" she turned her eyes to the tall man, all wide and pleading.
"Come on Tifa, let her have the dress" Zack picked up the girl and swirled her around "Every girl needs to have her knight in shining armor, right?"
Tifa only shook her head with silent amusement and went to the wardrobe, pulling out the requested piece of clothing. Marlene giggled when Zack placed her down to the floor finally and she grabbed the dress, making her way hurriedly to the bathroom, yelling downstairs for Denzel to get ready.
"She's so cute" Zack grinned "That big block of her father surely must love her, huh?"
"Oh she's his little princess all right. And gods protect anyone who will try and win her heart when she's older…"
"What about you?"
She frowned lightly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
"What about me? Cute isn't the first word I'd use to describe myself, you know"
"It would be a big understatement to say the least…" with a small kick, he pushed the door closed with his foot "I was referring to the hero topic"
"Had a hunch it was that…" she pushed her hands down her trousers' pockets and chewed on her lower lip "I think… I'm too grown up for that now"
"Too grown up to make wishes?"
"To be naïve" she shot him a bitter look and Zack didn't like to see that in her eyes "Too much has happened, and too many dreams were broken. I had a hero, I've been one. I think that's enough…"
"I still would like to be one…" he mused aloud, tapping one finger against his chin "And I don't care if you call me naïve, but you know what? Now, after I got another chance? I really would like to be the fairytale kind"
"Well then, whoever you end up rescuing Mister Hero, will sure have a load to deal with"
A racket came down from downstairs, followed by high pitched giggles of the children.
"I better get down there before the wreck the place…" she sighed.
Tifa walked up to the door and as she reached toward the knob, their shoulders brushed. Looking at each other for the shortest of moments. Red clashing with blue over their shoulders, and Tifa briefly wondered if the air was really as tense between them as it seemed to her.
"Excuse me" she said, her throat tight all of the sudden, pushing pass him and almsot running out of the room.
Damn, this was getting harder and harder with each every day. It was bad at Costa, with heated looks and all those lingering touches. Then it was bloody festival day… Tifa almost slipped on the stairs as she remembered the feel of being pressed against him.
"Shit, shit…" she cursed under her nose as she also managed to hit her toe on the doorstep as she entered the bar.
Marlene was standing on top of the counter, both hands on the decorative chrome pipe that connected the bar with the glass rack. Denzel was rolling around on the floor, wrestling with their oversized Chocobo plush toy.
A wide grin formed on her lips at the sight. Those kids were sure special… She heard Zack come down, and he stopped a step away from her.
"Gods they're cute…" there was a smile in his voice.
Denzel obviously won his little fight, giving out a triumphant yell and suddenly Marlene was climbing down, first her legs down, then her little torso. She planted a wet, sloppy kiss on his cheek and raised her arms slightly. Giggling happily, her foster brother tried to pick her up, but she kept slipping from his small arms, and it looked more like a kiddy wrestle then a romantic meeting of long lost souls.
"You're doing it all wrong" she pouted finally, straightening her dress and pushing some bangs out of her eyes.
"Well I never carried a princess before!" Denzel defended himself.
The soft chuckle coming from the door made both children turn, their smiles turning into embarrassed ones as they saw their guardian hush Zack.
"I'll show you how it's done!" Zack grinned as he pushed by the bartender and made his way towards the counter, then he threw her a look "Well??"
"Well what?" red eyes blinked.
"Come over here" he puffed with slight irritation, pointing to where he and the kids were standing "I takes two to play this game" he winked at her when she walked up, one of slender brows raised up.
"Oh no… you're are NOT getting me into this"
"Yes I am, now hop on princess" a strong hand patted the surface of the bar gently.
"Are you going to play princess and knights too?" Marlene grinned, happy to have both adults joining in the fun.
Red clashed with blue, before Tifa finally gave up. It was for the kids' benefit anyway, she told herself as she pushed herself up to sit at the counter. She never considered herself too tall, somewhere around five feet and four, but she had to bend her back a little as she finally stood on her own bar, to avoid hitting her precious glasses with her head. She glared down at Zack, seeing how both kids settled themselves on the one of the nearby tables.
"That's one pissed princess up there" he told her, eyes twinkling "Come on now…"
"I can't believe I let myself be talked into this" she sighed and ran one hand through her hair before putting on the best 'damsel in distress' look she could.
Zack grabbed the plushie with one hand, it's artificial feathers dangling in the air, as he shook it slightly and smacked it lightly with one hand, pretending to fight it. He looked so silly, all grown up and tall with a bright plush toy, and actually putting all of his heart into the play.
"Alas!" he then threw the toy away, a victorious smile on his face "The beast is long gone, and will never terrorize these enchanted lands again! Now, to rescue the princess from her magical tower of despair!"
Tifa rolled her eyes at the name of her 'tower', but she still couldn't help but chuckle as she heard both children literally squeak with delight. She should talk with him later on about him doing plays for them, since obviously it wasn't all that hard for him…
"Ah fair princess, worry no more!" Zack's outstretched arms made her brows go up again and her laugh to fade lightly "The monstrosity is gone and I've come to free you!"
"Ah…" she coughed lightly, feeling both kids watching her with intent "My knight, you have set me free!"
"Let me help you down, so you can finally breath freely!"
What?
She gave him an incredulous look upon hearing that. What kind of a fairytale this was supposed to be? She was in a ' tower', not a gas chamber! With an audible sigh, she crouched, allowing Zack to help her down from the counter. But she didn't even have a chance to let her feet down to the floor, as he suddenly picked her up bridal style, her arms reaching to his neck in an instant. With an enormous grin on his face, Zack turned to face the children and made a bow, the bartender still held firmly in his arms.
"And they lived happily ever after" Tifa finally said, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"You make it look so easy!" Denzel pouted "And with Tifa being much heavier than Marlene too…"
"Why thank you so much Denz… I think you can let me go now" she poked Zack's shoulder with one finger.
"I know"
But still he didn't release her, and that feeling of discomfort started to slowly claw at her stomach. Strangely enough, that uneasy feeling was caused by the sheer fact that she felt like melting, being held so close. She shifted slightly, her hands nervously coming to rest at her stomach.
"You didn't kiss him" Marlene then stated ,almost giving her guardian a heart-attack.
"What?!"
"Marlene… kissing stuff isn't all that fun when adults do it" Denzel rolled his eyes, jumping of the table "it's all … eating and such, I don't think I'd like to see Tifa like that … " Tifa paled at his words and made a mental note to pay more attention to where exactly they were playing outside.
And here she actually though she couldn't feel any sillier than just a second before.
"Let's go hunting" the girl suggested, knights and princesses forgotten in an instant "You'll be Death Bear and I'll be Fluffy Hare"
Before Tifa could blink the children were already running up the stairs, their yells taking on a more of a battling character. She sure hoped it will stop raining soon, as their amount of energy could prove dangerous to the house.
Tifa then felt Zack adjust her weight and she looked at him again, with a slight frown and a sickening feeling down in her stomach.
"You really can let me down now"
"I heard you the first time…" he saw the flash of panic in her eyes "The thing is, I really like how this feels"
"Zack…"
"Even if you are a bit skinny for a princess, you know... " he joked, feeling the unease in her build up "But… you still didn't kiss me for rescuing you"
"Oh for fucks sake…"
Tifa cursing was an amusing sight, he thought as he looked down at her knitted brows. Very unusual, but still very amusing.
"Well…?" he wiggled his brows at her.
Her irritated sigh made the one stray strand of his hair move gently, as she leaned in to plant a small peck on his cheek, one hand holding his chin lightly. It appeared she had no other way out of this situation, except trying to fight her way out of his hold, but she really didn't want to do that…
Her eyes widened as he tilted his head just the tiniest bit, her lips falling upon the soft corner of his mouth. The vibrant violet and blue haze filled her vision, her fingers gently resting on the defined jaw. And it was the briefest of touches, when she finally pulled away, her eyes wide and glassy. His lips fell into a satisfied smile as he let her down gently, her hands immediately returning to her sides and she took a step back.
"See?" he grinned at her "I told you I want to be the fairytale kind and I got to rescue you! Now you have to deal with me!"
Tifa felt like just falling to her feet all of the sudden. Or slamming something into that grinning face.
This guys was downright impossible!