Just Keep Smiling
An Ally's Resolve
"There is so much I wish to tell you."
"I blame myself Vincent for everything."
His eyes were only on her it was not possible that she was here and yet the woman he loved was standing in front of him eyes on no one but him. Everyone else was too busy with their own conversations and thoughts leaving himself and Lucrecia to speak privately no one interfering. He reached up to brush her bangs aside savouring every inch of her face- how long did they have?
"I should have been the one to save you, but you have saved me."
"If subjecting you to misery is saving you then ShinRa was a saint."
It was hard for Lucrecia to not reach up and touch him; to pull him against her. Those years in the crystal had given her the time to asses the damage she had done... the child that was her own bringing death and destruction; he said Sephiroth was dead, but she knew his death was at the hands of justice. Lucrecia blamed herself, hated herself for turning to Hojo as comfort, and wished she could go back so she could have held Vincent and not push him away. Perhaps, her child would have lived a normal life with a good father someone like Vincent.
"Will you stay when this is all over?"
His voice ripped at her heart there was no expression on his face of worry, or frustration, or even fear that she would leave, but Lucrecia could see it in his bright red eyes. Lucrecia moved closer placing a hand on his cheek. Despite how cold he looked; his skin was warm.
"I haven't decided. I never wanted to return, but..."
"I do not require an answer; not yet."
Lucrecia placed her other hand on the opposite cheek holding his face in her hands. Leaning up she used her thumbs to push the red cloth away from his lips only to consume them with her own; their lips pressed it was soft and tender a rush of emotions flowing between them. He had so many questions, but considering they may not have much time he allowed himself the pleasure of her kiss all questions moved to the back of his mind as he pulled her frame to his.
They all needed to rest especially if it would come down to a confrontation weighing the fate of the planet. Tifa could not sleep and after waking up many times through the night she pushed herself up and exited to the front of the ship flying on autopilot. At least now she could be left to watch the view without a single sound to disturb her. That night her mind was on the blond companion she had always loved; so many opportunities passed her by and not once did she take it to admit how she felt. Tifa's arms were resting on the metal bars overlooking the ocean as they flew by. Cid's ship was beautiful the open concept of glass all around made her feel like she was flying suspending over the grouand had it not been for their current situation she may have felt serene.
"So what no beauty sleep princess?"
It was the last voice she wanted to hear; as much as she wanted to be rid of him she knew that no matter where she went he would follow- talk about annoying. There was no laughter in his voice not even a hint of a joke; red-brown eyes met with the red-head Turks blue-green one and had it not been for her self control she'd have been standing over him pummeling his face into the glass wall.
"I'm not here ta make moves on ya- tits."
The nickname earned him an eye-roll; still she said nothing just continued to eye him warily. Was this another part of Shinra's plans?
"Listen you don't have to talk. I just wanted to say I'm sorry alright. It's wrong ta take advantage..."
"No Reno you listen; I don't care what happened and I don't need your apology."
She knew he was just following orders, but did the Turks never look at situations objectively? Question their boss? She supposed not or else they wouldn't really be Turks; it was part of their training... part of who they were. She sighed and turned fully to him crossing her arms over her chest and never breaking eye contact with him.
"We never did anything so an apology isn't necessary, but the next time the world or my family is in danger a warning would be nice not some screwed up seduction tactic to get what you need."
He raised his hands defensively trying to tell her that he was alright with that, but as he parted his lips to speak he assessed her mood and for a minute he wished he could hit Cloud on the back of the head; dumb blond kid didn't realize what a good women he was missing out on. Tifa wasn't really his type he preferred blonde's and the overly feminine type, but he could appreciate the kind of woman Tifa was- and her large assets weren't so bad to look at.
"And here I thought the fight with Kadaj made us all homies."
"Don't push it Turk, but yeah maybe I can learn to forgive the Turks and even ShinRa."
The both paused and laughed it would take a lot of redeeming on their part for them to earn that forgiveness from anyone in their team, but at least they had come to a mutual understanding. Scratching the back of his neck he lifted two fingers and saluted her walked away with his hands jammed in his pockets. Tifa hadn't realized that bright red eyes watched the whole exchange from the shadows. He wasn't eavesdropping, but Vincent had been there the whole time standing outside the room he knew Lucrecia and the other women were resting Tifa never realized it before.
"We have to be ready."
"I know Vincent."
His voice carried from the shadows on the other side of the ship and hung over the air reminding her of how much she dreaded the next confrontation. Tifa wished they wouldn't have to go through with it; that somehow it could be avoided something goes for the enemy or she was just dreaming, but after all they been through how could she delude herself into thinking this wasn't real.
"Are you willing to fight them? The echo of your friend Aerith? If it comes to having to kill Clou..."
"I'm ready Vincent."
Red eyes met and there was a wordless understanding between them; Tifa was ready to fight Cloud to the death if it came down to it.
"I just have one request."
He said nothing just raised a brow trying to figure out what she wanted before she ever said it.
"Let me do it; let me be the one to put the man I love to peace."
As crazy as it sounded Vincent understood; he knew she had an obligation to Cloud and to free him of any control he was under. Tifa had made it her duty to liberate him from being a puppet once more. A weaker person would have cried, but Tifa only felt stronger she had to be- for the sake of everyone. It dawned on her that she had actually said it; admitted her feeling for him so openly to Vincent, if only she had the courage to admit it to Cloud.
They were now all awake deep in thought silence filling the room; everyone was busy going over their weapons and materia. The Turks had their own shying away from the large crate of materia Avalanche had picked up during their travels. The had all decided against summons; large beasts would only cause more damage which the earth might see as a threat. There was tension in the room silencing even the loud-mouthed ninja who taken a spot to stand beside Tifa head rested on the older sister she never had; all were coming to terms that the planet might end, but if they pulled through before twice then they would pull through again for the third time.
'Cloud... we need you'
Her mind went to the spiky blond haired man would she really do it? Was she ready to kill the one thing that connected her to her past. Never would she have imagined that Cloud would become a puppet again; and to have to fight him... it sickened her to the core. Still, she couldn't let anyone else stain their hands with the blood of their companion- only she would be the one to do it; Tifa just prayed she had enough strength in her heart if it came down to it. Shaking her head and gritted her teeth she needed to get the depressing thought out of her head. It was only a drastic measure and one she hoped would be unnecessary.
"Hey all ya pieces of shit. Look's like we've got them fuckers waitin on us."
Cid's was speaking through the PA system from the front of the ship everyone had been in the back preparing, and judging by Cid's voice Gast had arrived in the city before they had; looks like they had no chance of cutting them off before they got in; they would have to work fast.
Everyone was staring out the front window they weren't sure how many there were, but an estimate of a couple hundred wouldn't be off; it would be impossible to push past them all into the forest.
"Damn it how are we supposed to save the world with those demented things blocking the way?"
Yuffie's question rang through the once silent ship. Tifa turned to look at the rest of her team and she could see the look; it was the same look when they stopped Sephiroth, the same determination when Kadaj endangered the planet with Bahamut SIN- Avalanche was back.
"Last stop let's hope everyone will appreciate our efforts this time- shit I ain't ready to die."
A hatch opened up Cid with his spear in hand jumped down and soon the rest followed. The enemies's numbers were overwhelming, but they had to break though someone had to be able to get by.
"We have to distract them so we can let Tifa and Vincent get through."
Nanaki looked at Tifa her eyes wide, but she knew it had to be done. If anyone could get through to Cloud it was Tifa and Vincent knew the city better than anyone else; he was the only one who fully comprehended the sitation they were in.
"Guess we gonna have to deal with these sonofa bitches without you; get our little girl back ya hear me Teef?"
Barret's human hand grasped her shoulder firmly she didn't want to have to leave her team behind she wanted to fight with them, but now more than ever she had to be strong for all of them.
They all broke into a run Zack and Genesis clones watching them, and waiting for them to attack. Tifa and Vincent leapt above them the latter shooting the head off of one while Tifa jammed the heel of her foot into the back of another's neck effectively snapping it. For a moment they wanted to focus all their attention on the two, but the barrage of attacks from the rest of Avalanche and the Turks guided their attention away from Tifa and Vincent. The two broke into a run Vincent clearing their path while Tifa took out any that came too close. She doubted they killed any, but at that moment the only thing they thought about was stopping Gast. She could hear the sound of grunts someone screaming in pain and bodies falling to the ground, but not once did Tifa turn to look back. Her heart rate quickened and for once she could feel the sting of tears in her eyes. She wanted to stay so bad as the sound of Barret's cursing and gun going off could be heard over the mixture of noises, but the presence of Vincent by her side made her press on.
'Please protect them Aerith.'
Tifa didn't need an answer to know that the flower girl will.
Tifa and Vincent had crossed the forest, but they were being followed. Vincent's arm glow and he slammed it into the ground. A wall of earth emerged from the ground towering above them and effectively cutting them off from the battle outside.
"I'm sorry Tifa, but it had to be done."
"How will we be able to escape?"
"There are other ways."
Tifa looked at the wall it hid her view from battle beyond, but did nothing to stifle the sounds from beyond. Turning her back she and Vincent ran. They knew where they had to go, but with every step she took closer to where her friends' body lay Tifa's heart sank. Unlike Cloud and Vincent she had never once returned here. Not since all those years ago when Sephiroth was a threat to the planet. Tifa wanted to stop; she wanted to turn back and let someone else take her place; Barret, Cid, Nanaki they were all stronger people that she was and yet here she was about to face the hardest thing she ever had in her life.
Cloud stood holding the kids back as Zack and who she presumed was the professor stood over the pool of water in his arms wrapped the bare body of the flower girl which he laid on the ground. Her skin was pale and grey, lips blue and hair in a mess. Tifa couldn't peel her eyes off, but what frightened her the most was the empty body collapsed on the floor. It was Aerith, but it's eyes were empty staring at Tifa with no emotion and no sense of recognition.
"Don't do it!"
The professor laughed daring Tifa with his eyes to stop them. He allowed what Tifa assumed was a clone, to grasp onto the dead body of their friend in it's arms. The professor walked towards what looked like huge materia, but Tifa had never seen it before.
"Tifa we must stop them."
As Tifa's muscles clenched ready for action Cloud and Zack jumped across the pool obstructing their path from the professor and their friend.
"Cloud please..."
She could see him pleading with his eyes almost begging them to stop him. Her heart ached and her muscles grew weak, but his eyes they would always be her strength. Tifa wanted to reach out brush his hair aside and tell him it was alright; it would be a lie as much as she wished it were true.
"Teef... Vin..."
But he couldn't say anymore she could see that it was painful almost like he was choking on his words and now more than ever she wanted to run to him to help him; maybe a good telling off would break him out of their control, but this wasn't Cloud fighting his inner demons this was Cloud as he was all those years ago under the control of someone else.
"Remember what we talked about."
"Yea I remember."
Without a seconds hesitation Vincent extended his clawed arm Tifa leapt up balancing on his arm sheathed in a thick metal claw. Swinging around he propelled her forward following behind her in a flash of red.
Tifa was thrown directly at Cloud if they could somehow break him out of Gasts' control then maybe they would have a fighting chance to stop Omega if it came to it's summoning.
Their eyes met as Cloud brought his sword back Tifa's fist pulled back she wouldn't hold back.
Cid stuck his spear through the skull of the clone it exploded in unnaturally blue coloured blood getting all over his shoes.
"Ay ya piece of shit these were new!"
He heard a blast near his ear and turned around to see a clone too close for comfort collapsing. It's fingers were near his neck about to strangle him. When he looked further in the distance he noticed Barret's arm aimed in his direction.
"Hey ass-wipe; next time warn me ya hear?"
Cid had just noticed his cigarette had fallen to the ground and when he leaned over he saw another blast coming from Barret hitting something behind him.
"I swear one more time ass-hole... one... more... TIME!"
All he got was a smirk from Barret which even he couldn't resist returning; Cid turned back to the battle. Some were bruised, cut, the worst was Elena who jumped in the path of one using ice freezing the skin of her arm, but even then she went on healing the team as she wove through their allies casting cure.
Cid was already feeling tired; judging by everyone's expressions he wasn't the only. As he looked around there were still quite a lot of clones to deal with. Cid cursed under his breath he hoped Tifa and Vincent were alright.
A/N: I know I know it's shorter than usual, but I felt like this was the perfect end to the chapter. Gives you something to look forward to, and all the suspense. Just quick I got a guest review who is under the impression that Tifa and Reno slept together; just wanted to clarify that they didn't she kicked him out before it could go that far. So guest if you're reading this NO Tifa and Reno have not done the dirty deed ;). I know some have been waiting for a CloTi moment... oh it's coming. I'm not really the type to write unnecessary mushy kissing romance, but they'll have their moment pretty soon I hope I do it justice. I'm already working on the next chapter things are getting pretty heated and I'm super excited for everyone to read it so if you like my story so far I would REALLLLYYYY love some reviews and criticism. Fuel for the next chapter. Thanks to everyone who's been reading my story!