Chapter 25: The Promise

"Cloud?"

He made a soft noise and Tifa looked over at him. They'd ended up at the playground and she still wasn't sure which of them had brought them to that point. Tifa was sitting on a swing, gloved hands on the chain links, swinging just a little in place. Cloud surprisingly sat on the swing just next to her, long legs stretched out in front of him and arms loosely around the links of the swing's chains. He had his head tipped back and was watching the sky – though it wasn't really the sky. Just the underside of the Plate above them. The lights of its electrics the closest Tifa had ever gotten to seeing stars since above the Plate the generators always gave off a green glow that tainted the night sky.

"What are you doing here?"

For a long moment he stayed the way he was and Tifa gently swung her legs from habit to keep her swing going in a lazy sway. She didn't expect the answer in a rush. And she didn't expect him to dodge the question by telling her why he was at the playground either. She thought he respected her more than that. Finally he lowered his head to look at her. In the dark, his eyes had a faint glow.

"There are things going on. Inside the reactors." For a split moment of time his ocean eyes were ice. "I can't let them keep happening."

"With the mako?" she asked and he nodded, just once, as he watched her. She dragged her heels to stop her swing and rested her cheek against the side of one of her gloved hands that was wrapped around the chain.

"Something with people?"

His eyes, bright with their own blue light, were intense as he watched her. Another single nod. Guarded. But not shutting her out. She pressed her lips together and nodded herself.

"Something that happened to you?" she dared it. His face was expressionless and closed. But, after a moment, he nodded again and his eyes didn't leave hers. Waiting.

Using her feet, Tifa maneuvered her swing sideways so that it bumped up against Cloud's and she wrapped her closest hand around the chain of his swing. It brought them bumping together companionably. His eyes, the strangest mix of young and old she'd ever seen, watched her and she realized – it was trust she saw in his eyes. The kind of absolute and unquestioning trust she only got from her sister and brother. A child's complete trust. But the rest of the things she saw in his eyes weren't childlike at all. She met those eyes with her own.

"Let's make a promise," she told him seriously and his eyes flickered curious as they watched hers. "Let's promise that if one of us ever needs the other one – they'll let them know. Even if it seems silly or embarrassing or little."

"Promise that?" he asked and she nodded. He was barely arrived in her life and from what she could gather, he disappeared regularly. Expecting him to even stay in touch seemed hard. And yet – she wanted to bind him to her. Wanted to know he was still a part of her life even if he wasn't there. Even if it was just with a thread as thin and breakable as a promise.

"Promise that," she stated, sure of it. "That if one of us is ever in a bind they'll let the other know so they can come."

His brows came down and his eyes sank in thought. It was her turn to watch him closely. Finally his blue eyes rose again to meet hers and he nodded. His closest hand reached out to close around the chain of her swing.

"All right, I promise."

She couldn't help her smile or the pleasure that filled her.

"Good. Me too." Giving her swing a nudge she bumped it against his. His lips curved upward in quiet answer and the skin around his eyes relaxed. "So, now that we're oath sworn – what's your last name, Cloud?"

The frivolous shift surprised him and he coughed a laugh, face breaking into a real smile for a moment. He rested the side of his face against her hand on his swing's chain so they were almost nose to nose.

"Strife. I'm Cloud Strife."

She smiled at him and imitated his gesture, resting her cheek against his hand on her swing' chain.

"I'm Tifa Lockhart. Pleased to meet you, Cloud Strife. So, are we old or new friends?"

His soft smile came again and his eyes were young.

"Both?" he guessed and she gave him another bright smile.

"I like that" she agreed. She didn't ask. Didn't ask what had been done to him or who had done it, how, when, or why. Not because she didn't care or want to know but because – not now. He'd tell her, if she asked. Somehow she knew he would and – she didn't want to hurt him. And the events and their memories obviously hurt him. So she would ask, and she would find out, but not now. She could take things a single step at a time. Because, somehow, she was going to find a way to keep Cloud in her life.

She wasn't willing to figure out why she wanted that or even for how long. She wasn't willing to deal with that just yet. But she knew she wanted him in her life. She'd work out the details later.

Walking back home in the cold, the silence was comfortable. There was no rush. Usually Tifa, if she was out this late, walked with a determined, quick stride that warned lurkers not to bother her but walking next to Cloud and his giant sword – that was warning enough really. Sector Seven was mostly working class and while that meant it wasn't as affluent as Wall Street over in Sector Six, it was less full of the more questionable types that were drawn to that kind of thing. It still had its share of questionable types and they passed quite a few of them in the clinging fog and gloom. No one was willing to directly confront the average sized man with the giant sword swung across his back though and so no one bothered Tifa while she was with him either.

It was odd to not have to be her own guard and a little bit nice too, Tifa had to admit.

Cloud stood close against her back while she unlocked the door to Seventh Heaven, sheltering her from the wind that had started to pick up as well as providing warmth. She'd seen the man following behind them in the shadows too but with Cloud watching her back she could fumble with the keys until she got them in the lock. Cloud's arm slipped around her waist as she got the doorknob turning and for just a moment, Tifa forgot everything but how warm, how wonderfully warm, the man behind her was. Then his hand closed over the keys in her hand and gently took them from her.

"I'll let myself back in. Lock up." His voice was against her hair. Tifa raised her eyes to him but he didn't look worried. Dealing with someone that had followed them home. Somehow, she wasn't worried about Cloud handling that. Still protecting the children. Perhaps… protecting her too? His hand on hers gave a light squeeze and he let go, the keys slipping into his jacket pocket without a sound. Then he stepped back from her slightly and she touched his arm with her fingertips. A 'be careful' without actually saying anything that silly. His lips shifted upward at their edges for her and she let herself into the bar. Cloud stayed behind and waited until she locked the door before the sound of his boots left her front step.

Thoughtful Tifa rested a shoulder on the door and crossed her arms loosely over her stomach. Realizing she'd just given Cloud her keys. Even her own father didn't have a set of keys to the bar anymore.

"Everything all right?"

She jumped and spun around. Leon was sitting at the bar on the stool nearest the door and she wished she still had the keys just so she could throw them at him.

"You scared me" she scolded him and he had the grace to look ashamed.

"Sorry."

"Everything's fine" she assured him, walking around to stand on the other side of the bar and lean on her elbows to look at him. "I just went for a walk. What are you still doing up?"

"With Cloud?" he asked and his eyes searched hers. The tone of his voice made her heart constrict.

"With Cloud."

He nodded and looked down at his hands on the counter top. Raised his eyes back to hers after a moment.

"I knew he was going to be trouble."

Tifa reached out and laid her hand over the top of his.

"It would help if you would be a jerk," she told him and his eyes flickered in surprise. And then, despite himself, twisted but there, he smiled.

"Sorry" he told her. She shook her head and gave his hands a gentle squeeze.

"I'm sorry, Leon. I'm not trying to be confusing. I just don't know what's going on myself."

"You're honest. I always knew I didn't have to worry about you lying to me." He lifted his thumbs so he could wrap them over the edges of Tifa's hand. Met her eyes. "You sure you don't want to lie to me?"

Despite the situation it pulled a weak smile out of Tifa and she met his eyes with appreciation. He sighed and stroked the top of her hand with his thumb.

"I'm not giving up, you know" he clarified and she looked at him. He shook his head.

"Don't worry. I won't be a jerk. But – I'm sticking around. If you change your mind, I'm – " he stopped and frowned. "I'm not sure but it will involve you and definitely not him."

Despite herself, a laugh whispered out of Tifa. Again, she squeezed his hand.

"It sounds like a plan," she agreed. She wasn't sure how she felt for Cloud. She wasn't sure she wanted to face it because it felt big and swallowing and life changing. But, above all that, she really had no idea what Cloud was thinking or feeling. He cared for her – there was no doubt about that. But there were a lot of levels of 'caring' and they were all different for everyone. Maybe she should have just clung to Leon. But then she'd have to stop being around Cloud because that wasn't right or fair. And she – she wasn't ready to stop being around Cloud. Not yet. Not now.

"So what are you still doing awake?" she asked Leon as she moved away from him to pour them both a glass of water.

"Waiting for you," he answered and when she looked at him, he shrugged. "I'm allowed to worry. And since I was worry about other things anyway, adding you was no extra trouble."

Coming back to hand him his water and lean on the bar again, she asked:

"Worry about?"

"The reactor in Sector Five. We're ready to go again. But security's tighter than before. I can get us through the reactor to the core once we're inside but I still need to figure out how to get us inside."

"I can get us inside."

Both Tifa and Leon's heads jerked around as Cloud shut the bar door.

"You've got a magic key?" Leon asked in challenge and Cloud shrugged as he locked the door behind him, setting Tifa's keys down on the bar top afterward.

"Something like that."

"No go" Leon shook his head. "I'm not taking my team into a situation that dangerous on a vague answer."

Cloud put his hands in the pockets of his jacket and lowered his chin to his chest for a long minute. Finally he looked back up.

"There – was a scientist. High ranking. Crazy genius. He installed secret codes into the Shinra security systems so that he could get in and out of where his experiments were kept if anyone ever blocked his legal access." Cloud's concentrated blue eyes didn't blink. "I have the codes."

Leon's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"You just happen to have magic codes that will get you in anywhere?"

Cloud just gave him a level, expressionless look in response.

Leon sat back on the stool and cross his arms over his chest.

"Why the hell would I trust you?"

"Because I'm coming on your raid." Tifa spoke up from where she was rinsing out her glass and setting it on the towel to dry. Both Cloud and Leon's heads jerked around to her and the response came from both of them at the same time.

"No."

"Absolutely not."

Tifa looked over at them.

"Yes." She told them calmly. "I am."

Leon turned on the stool to face her and Cloud turned away, making it a point to shrug out of his jacket and carefully hang it on the peg near the door. Tifa put her hands on her hips and looked at Leon expectantly.

"Tifa, you can't come. It's dangerous."

She gave him a look.

"Really?" she asked. "Because I thought you guys picked flowers while you were there."

Cloud made a sound low in his throat and Leon scowled.

"You're not trained, Tifa. Each of us has a part we do and everyone knows they can count on them."

Tifa nodded.

"So train me. You're down one anyway. Shera's not going to be able to go with you the way she is right now. You need an extra hand and I'm here. Besides, if I'm part of this I should know what that means."

Leon frowned at her.

"What about – "

"Don't." She warned it firmly and without flexibility. "They're my family and that's for us to deal with. Leon" she rested a hip against the bar and looked at him. "You need me. You know you do. You need an extra hand and you need to know you can trust what Cloud tells you. He wouldn't do anything that would risk me." She looked at Cloud when she said it and saw the look in his eyes when she said it. Satisfied, she turned back to Leon. "I solve both problems coming with you."

Leon shook his head again.

"I don't like it" he told her and she gave him an apologetic look. With a noisy exhale he stood up and laid his hands on the bar top. "I'll think about it" was all he'd commit to. Tifa looked down to hid her smile. He'd bring her. She knew she'd won the argument.

"I'm going to bed" he announced and left with that. Tifa exhaled and looked at Cloud who was still standing by the door.

"Are you going to tell me I can't go?" she asked calmly and he frowned but shook his head.

"No."

She was just starting to nod in triumph when he added:

"Because I'm coming too."

Tifa walked around the bar to look at him.

"Because of what they're doing with the mako?"

His eyes, blue as the ocean, lifted and met hers. He didn't answer.