Tifa had made good on her promise to take the pup home with her. Standing outside the apartment building Tifa hadn't realized the unmanned front door would be crawling with people that day. From across the street, she could see bright baby blue balloons and gift bags. Sighing, Tifa smiled at the optimistic face of the husky," That's right, Scarlet is having a baby shower tonight." The puppy whimpered, ears falling back as he took in a large number of people gathered at the ground level of the complex. Shifting her weight to one leg, Tifa moved the dog to cradle him against her like a baby. The only other way up, Tifa groaned as she looked up at the looming tower-was the fire escape. Kneeling, Tifa picked up the canvas grocery bag slinging it over her shoulder. As she darted crossed the street and into the alleyway, the looked down at the pup, his bright blue eyes looking back at her.
"I hope your house trained." At this, the pup's eyes widened.
Todd was a lucky man tonight. Scarlets' baby shower had hooked him quiet the catch. The young woman with blue eyes and red hair pulled back in a ponytail wasn't his ideal woman. She wasn't Tifa, but she was a beauty if you liked Tomboys.
"So, Jessie, coding, and firewalls are amazing. Really, is there anything you don't do at Shinra?" Jessie smiled, flattered at Todd's suggestion. "You must be the Director of the IT department."
A soft giggle rose from her chest, hair swaying as she shook her head no. "I'm just a developer. Wedge is the Manager and Biggs is the assistant. I do have a team of specialist that I manage, but its nothing big."
Todd leaned over, moving closer as he draped his arm out behind her. "I heard you where one of the best designers that company had ever seen." Jessie's face flushed red, subconsciously she brushed a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.
"The marketing campaign for Costa Del Sol was small. Just a commercial about the new line of sedans." For the first time in the last ten minutes, Todd's face fell, eyes wide in shock. The Costa Del Sol was a new line of Shinra manufactured convertibles. Simply termed the Sol, the commercial had garnered enough recognition to be nominated for an award.
For a few moments, he fumbled with his words, completely dropping any attempt to communicate as a loud pounding resounded through his living room. Jessie turned around, shock registering on her face as she saw Tifa outside, shivering in the cold air. Red-nosed and rosy-cheeked, Tifa waved lamely at the couple then wiped at her running nose.
"Can you let me in?" She shouted from the opposite side, Todd's face skewed into irritation. Jessie nodded, stood and walked over to the window opening it fully. A cold breeze flooded the living room as Tifa climbed through the small opening, requiring some assistance from Jessie. As she brought her leg in, knocking a carved wooden ship to the floor, Tifa readjusted her jacket, ensuring her bundle was well secured in the rapidly made pouch.
Jessie smiled picking the ship off the floor and held it close. "You must be freezing."
Tifa nodded as she stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Thank you so much."
Jessie shook her head as she walked around Tifa to place the ship back on the ledge and pulled the window down. "Oh no dear, it's not right for a pregnant woman to be outside in this weather." Todd gagged at this, sputtering as he looked over at the two women. Sure enough, Tifa sported a large belly under her button up peacoat. At the sight, Todd jumped to his feet glaring at the bump.
"Is this his?" He squeaked, a most high-pitched sound either woman had ever heard. "And he left you locked out of your own apartment?" Tifa squinted at the man as he became excited. As Todd stomped towards his front door, anger growing Jessie and Tifa followed him. Jessie wanting to meet this abusive boyfriend and Tifa trying to de-escalate while cradling the pup in her coat, hoping her weak grasp would keep him tucked and well hidden. Finally, at her door, Todd blocked the hallway, Jessie holding her back.
"I'm sure they will talk civilly," Jessie reassured Tifa as Todd pounded on the door.
Tifa rolled her eyes, "I'm not worried about my 'boyfriend.'"
Jessie smiled then, "Todd said you were a nice girl. He talks about you a lot. He'll protect you."
"Mmmhmm…honestly he doesn't have to do this." Todd pounded on the door again, hands clenching. "Let me just go unlock my door, he might not even be home." As the last syllable fell the door opened, Sephiroth glaring down at Todd. Todd's ferocity evaporated the instant the cool gaze landed on him and he darted his own gaze away. Without much else to look at Todd stared into the massive expanse of skin.
"Tifa got locked out of her apartment." Todd muttered weakly, "I walked her home." A mercury brow rose, the fridge gaze lifting from Todd's submissive form, down to the large potted fern that sat along the wall outside of a person's door. Behind the fern Jessie tried to press Tifa back, her own breath rapid in fear.
"Thank you for your help Jessie, but I don't need it. At least not right now." Tifa smiled, patting the woman's shoulder and waddled away towards the imposing, confused Sephiroth. Bidding Todd a good night, Tifa shoved the genie back into the apartment, turning to lock the door behind her, keys in hand.
Dropping her keys into the bowl by the door, Tifa stormed away pulling her gloves, hat and scarf off leaving a trail from the door to the living room. For a moment Sephiroth floated half formed by the bowl looking down at the keys that lay within it and the Chocobo keychain attached to them.
"Why did the weak one say you didn't have your keys?" Sephiroth stilled by the stairs leading into the living room. Tifa pulled her jacket off over the couch, a curled-up mass of black landing on the cushions.
Turning around, slim and taut as ever, Tifa shrugged. "I think he's scared of you." She turned back around kneeling before the couch. "Isn't that right boy, that mean ole genie is scary. Yes, he is, he's so scare-wee. Oh, but not you, no no no. You are just so sweet." A strangled excited whimper came from the couch, Sephiroth's eyes following as a flash of black darted from one end of the couch to the other before jumping off to run around the apartment. Sephiroth followed the pup as it zoomed around, excited to be in the warm and loving arms of his savior.
As Tifa stood she lifted the bag from the floor. "I hope you don't mind dogs." She smiled at him, brown eyes filled with warm welcoming. He quickly turned to look at the pup as it sniffed at the chair before journeying to a statue of Dai Chao. In the kitchen, Tifa unloaded her bag pulling a small bag of dog food free along with two bowls. "Hey, I got you something. I know magical beings, you can make your own clothes, but I figured your kind of like him." Sephiroth glared at the dog as it stopped its inspection watching the two, at least to him, humans. "You deserve a place too." The pup sat down, ears back head cocking to the side. Tifa frowned but said nothing else as Sephiroth refused to turn to her. "I'll leave them on the counter."
Tense minutes passed as the pup began moving around the apartment, finding his food, his water bowl, a nice wooden Chocobo that Yuffie insisted on having in the half bathroom. In the kitchen, Tifa quickly scarfed down a sandwich, cheeks still rosy red from the cold air. Tossing the crust into the trash she turned to the djinn one last time, "just be nice to the dog. Don't kick him." From his perch on the stairs, Sephiroth frowned, glaring out into the distant city of lights. As Tifa shut her door, the pup bounded over rubbing its head on the being's knee.
The frown instantly dissipated, "I would kick you, your far too clingy. Never learned the lesson the first time." The pup snorted, "did you, Zack?" The pup turned his head away, ears back, eyes slid to look at Sephiroth from the side. With a growl, Zack darted off and sprang onto the couch tunneling into the pillows, only his nose poking out. "You're not allowed up there."
The pup sighed, not giving a care in the world.
I don't know why this took so long for me to get back too. I want to go into Seph's background, maybe next chapter.