Disclaimer. I don't own the song bury the difference. Or any other musical reference in here they are the property of multiple different bands and used from a purely fictional standpoint so no flaming or suing.
Ahh. More lemons. Well that was fun. Now for the mushy parts. Well as mushy as it gets for a bunch of evil killing misfits. Yeah well this is gona go over real well. The reunion is up and now we see what happens when the group gets together for a party to end all parties. As noted things have been kindly peaceful like for the last two years. Now however all hells about to break loose and you'll never even guess who comes to save the day. Now now oh greedy readers I can't tell you it would ruin the surprise.
Reunion. 'Nothing shall forestall my return':
"Everybody's set. Got the letters from reeve and cid. They're collecting everyone. That leaves us with time to kill. So what should we do?" Shelke voiced an honest opinion on her state of boredom as she let out an exasperated sigh. "We can always close up shop for the week and wait for reeve. He should be here in the morning. But cid… well not so much… you know how Yuffie is about air travel."
"Well I guess since we've made the deliveries a short process we could shut down for a while… I've got something I've got to attend to…" cloud falsely studied the maps on the table attempting to avoid Shelke's rare talkative mood.
"did you take my advice?" she leaned forward on the counter revealing what little cleavage she could to cloud as a tease to him. "Or do I need to step in for Tifa?"
"Shelke not funny… we've been through this before… so stop" he was being too serious for even himself to take with any amount of seriousness.
"Relax cloud… I'm just teasing… my eyes are elsewhere." She turned around to prop her back against the wall while lazily studying her fingernails. "They say they've found him…" she lowered her eyes and glanced at the swordsman from beneath her fiery hair.
"Where?" he seemed overly enthusiastic considering that it was the same man what had brought his troubles from the last two years to life. "Where is he? Is he alive?"
"My you're excited… but yes he's alive. In the badlands… reeve said one of his operatives found him studying the outskirts of edge. It's become dangerously over populated by monsters and strange creatures that are new to the area."
"What kina monsters…"
"Mechanized beasts… the WRO are nervous. These creatures don't tend to take humans as much of a threat and tend to attack small posts and camps around the area."
"I heard about that… but why are they calling it the badlands."
"It's become home to raiders and monsters of all kinds. And has become too hostile to inhabit by any civilians. So they call it the badlands."
"Why the hell would he be out there?"
"because… where better a place for a god of war than in the middle of a battlefield?"
"so he's a raider now."
"Actually he's taken up quite a decent business as a mercenary… a body guard… that's probably how he met your friend… I wouldn't know really… I never need a bodyguard myself."
"I guess business is booming."
"The badlands though uninhabited is still an expansive area of travel. Without it there is no way to get to midgar which is now well on its way to recovery. Providing nothing happens to it."
"So the whole area is that way?"
"Yes the monsters are rampant and violent beyond control. Along with the inhabitants being aggressive that makes it simply too dangerous for civilians to travel. Even with armaments they would still have problems with the new robotic threat coming from the fallout point."
"I can imagine… but… what if he…"
"He's alive. He wouldn't allow some bandit to kill him I'm sure."
"I have to know… I'm gona look for him…"
"No… Tifa won't let me hear the end of it if I let you go."
"Try and stop me…" he was cut short by Shelke dangling a small mechanical item teasingly in front of him.
"I don't think finrir works without this… such a shame without it you wouldn't be able to make it very far from kalm at all…"
"What? Why did you…"
"I knew you'd leave when I told you they found him. So I took the liberty to do some tweaking on your bike while you were sleeping last night."
"Ill just put it back in then."
"I don't think so. I'm holding on to this until after the wedding. Wouldn't want the groom to get cold feet would we?" She threw an evil glare at him beneath her monotone exterior. "You'll be okay… if not I'm sure Tifa can fix that."
"Damit Shelke." He stood agitatedly only to find the girl walking pride fully out the door to the kitchen. "Damn… next time she offers to help with anything I'm not listening. This has got to be the most annoying partnership ever. Short of course Yuffie's. I think I'd take this over the ninja any day." He mumbled out loud for a moment before following the girl into the other room. "Shelke I'm serious…" he stopped dead in his tracks as he noticed a dark clad figure holding the girl up by her wrist in an analyzing manner. 'What the hell'
It stood six feet high and looked like a man but with the shadows of the room and the pale blue orbs piercing the blackness around the creatures head cloud couldn't make out who it was. The added fact that it wore what appeared to be a cape or perhaps long wings also added to the mystery behind its look.
"Let her go!" cloud allowed a worried tone to escape his lips before he panicked. The creature it seemed spoke English and complied with clouds request before he heard the tapping of metal on his shoulder. "What the" the creature had vanished from in front of him and appeared dangerously close to his six.
With a sharp elbow cloud caught the figure in the torso to realize it wore some kind of armor. 'Damit guess head shots are needed for this.' He swung his arm around violently only to be hoisted aloft himself by the creature.
"My my strife… such hostility… I had hoped our reunion would be a more happy thing… brother." The voice was soft and calm with a twinge of humor hidden behind a strained sense of fatigue.
"ghaa… Koty?" cloud gasped as he looked into the vibrant blue orbs that watched him in amusement. "is that you?"
"I'm not sure… I think so." The man chuckled as he dropped the swordsman. "it is apparent the last two years haven't changed either of you very much…"
"Shelke hit the lights." Cloud issued the command as he clung to his doubts. When Shelke finally flipped the switch cloud lost his composure. "it is you… you haven't aged a day… where the hell have you been…"
"yikes. Still so hostile. I suppose I should spill as to my actions. Cloud I thought I would come and see you…"
"I didn't ask why you were here…" he was cut short.
"here me out… I wanted to tell you before Yuffie arrived… I've found a way to bring him back…"
"what?"
"Vincent… I can revive him…"
"I know that… but why didn't you just do it sooner?"
"pardon?"
"you brought zack back… and Aerith too… why didn't you just do the same with Vincent?"
"its not that simple… zack and Aerith were bound to this world as spirits. Vincent on the other hand I had absorbed… his soul is in me…"
"what?"
"his soul… souls… are bound to my arm… but I've found a way to bring him back…"
"and why don't you tell Yuffie…?"
"she believes my methods are… evil… she doesn't see what I do as right."
"right… forgot about that… so why haven't you?"
"it's… complicated…"
"how so?"
"you would need to understand algorithms and theories to comprehend it cloud… it's too complex to explain in layman's terms"
"but you're gona do it aren't you?"
"yes… but it will take some time… on a happier note how is Tifa… I had heard that you two are to be wed…"
"yeah… sorry bout the invitations… couldn't send one to someone we couldn't find…"
"I deduced as much… but it doesn't bother me… I would have shown as a guest for the bride if I truly wished to attend."
"you're not coming?"
"but of course… who else could give the bride away…?"
"I think we could've managed." Shelke interrupted as she crossed her arms over her chest in a 'left out' manner.
"ahh… I do believe I've neglected my prior introduction cloud… forgive me… Shelke."
"what is it…?" she was still agitated.
"I have missed you…"
"really?" she sounded disbelieving.
"yes… my thoughts have been upon you constantly."
"ill take your apology." She smirked as she unfolded her arms to wrap around him "but next time make sure that no one's going to miss you when you leave."
"certainly" he returned her embrace which lingered longer than cloud though comfortable for simply a friendly reunion.
"um… guys… save it for the bouquet." He scratched the back of his head as he intervened on their touching moment.
"looks like someone's jealous." Shelke blinked at him teasingly.
"am not"
"my apologies I forgot yours." Koty released Shelke temporarily to embrace the slightly confused and mortified cloud.
"what the hell… let me go… Koty!"
"what's going on in here I'm trying to take a nap?" a groggy Tifa bumbled into the kitchen to find cloud being held aloft in the embrace of a slightly larger male figure. "hey!"
"Tifa calm down it's not what it looks… oh shit… Tifa!" cloud tightly closed his eyes and braced for imminent impact.
Tifa had jumped to conclusions at the sight before her and lunged at what she thought was an attacker. Swinging a mighty fist like a hammer she struck the man in the back and watched as cloud was dropped to the floor before rising to deliver a devastating kick to the oppositions face.
"Tifa! Cool it…" cloud spoke to late to save Koty from his untimely demise and ducked hoping to avoid the flying man.
It came with no surprise that he was shocked when he heard Tifa screaming. "put me down… cloud… Shelke … get outa here… come on you freak let's dance…"
"Tifa… big sister compose yourself…" Koty struggled to hold the fighter by her leg as she thrashed about.
Upon hearing her name and the mention of big sister Tifa froze. "Koty?" she looked up in pure awe at the man she had assumed dead. "is that… really?"
"this look… I'm sure cloud disproves of it in my presence." He hinted to the fact that Tifa was wearing an over sized loose t-shirt that had fallen from her upon being capsized. "I'm going to assume that it is late…"
Tifa immediately scrambled to collect her only article of clothing but found herself unable to be freed manually of Koty's iron grasp.
"put me down now…" she snapped as she attempted to cover her bosom with dignity from an upside-down vantage point.
"as you wish." Koty wasted no time with courtesy or safety as he dropped the woman unceremoniously on the floor below.
"oww… ya know I do have sensitive areas my head being one of them…" she hurriedly slipped back into her top and mustered what few coherent words she could to speak through the swimming feeling that filled her skull.
"I would imagine cloud enjoys the luxury of knowing where the rest are." He teased the woman as he winked at a blushing cloud.
"its really you…" ignoring the dry humor coming from her friend she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as if she were afraid he would soon leave again.
"I've missed you too… big sister…"
"I thought I told you not to call me that."
"but that was two years ago. I'm sure the name fits better now."
"oh I don't care… Koty… it's been so long… how've you been."
"I've seen happier days if that's what you mean… but… I'm fine." He sighed with content as she backed away from him. "sister… I see you now… a beautiful bride to be… and it… makes me happy…"
"you don't sound so happy…"
"I am tired…"
"I imagine… how long has it been since you slept…"
"hmmm… three… seven… twenty six… ah thirty four days… if memory serves correct… my fatigue has begun to take from my memory…"
"you need to sleep."
"true…" the man immediately closed his eyes and became irresponsive.
"Koty? Koty!KOTY!!" she shook him gently.
"mm… is something the matter?"
"what are you doing?"
"sleeping." He moaned as he again closed his eyes.
"look I actually have be… crap… cloud could you help me here… I don't know how this lunk does it but he's already asleep" she palmed her forehead before moving to carry him upstairs.
"ill get'em babe you just go get some rest… your gona need it for tomorrow." Cloud pushed her aside before easily lifting the man over one shoulder.
"what's so big about tomorrow…?"
"well… more like in the morning" he let a constrained and tired smirk cross his face.
"cloud!" she playfully scolded him for innuendoes before pushing him.
"couldn't help it… when your shirt came off I…"
"cloud strife go to bed."
"suit yourself."
As he hurried up the stairs to place the sleeping man on a guest bed he winked back at Tifa and she couldn't help but laugh.
"gosh… he's nothing like he was back when geostigma was rampant… he's so… alive… I wonder what's changed." Tifa sighed as she adjusted her shirt.
"perhaps it's just you…" Shelke propped on the woman's shoulder. "mark it off as an unusual good mood?"
"yeah… and Koty… he's back… I thought I'd never see him again… but now… I'm just glad he seems okay… but how in the world does he sleep standing…"
"a default of character I suppose. It's not so unusual for him… consider who it is."
"even for him that's weird."
"I'm not so sure…" the young girl twirled a stray strand of fire between her fingers before moving to the door.
"Shelke… are you… having issues." Tifa stopped her momentarily nervous.
"excuse me?"
"you know… ahem." She wriggled her eyebrows in a hint at her subject.
"nothing I can't handle…" she smiled shyly as she blushed.
"okay… just… keep it down… Koty and Denzel are sleeping… don't want them thinking you're in trouble…"
"why would they?"
"remind me to tell you about that later… long story and I'm not awake enough to tell the full thing so just quietly… Kay."
"I…"
"what is it…?"
"I… I just…"
"don't tell me you need help."
"maybe some other time." She blushed profusely before nodding to Tifa and climbing the stairs.
"oh boy… this is gona go over well."
Tifa sauntered around the kitchen and decided that sleep after being upside down was impossible. In accordance to this she also decided that some well placed liquor was necessary. Pouring herself a small glass of amber liquid she slumped on the bar stool and imagined how many times Koty may have come in and she hadn't noticed. He had looked roughly different though not necessarily older. If he had left the odd attire down or used his warp or even so much as wore a hood hat or other head ware she would never have known him. 'this is gona be one heluva week. But at least maybe things won't go over too badly. Lithium's gone and the Turks haven't made a disturbance lately… wonder if rude will come' she remembered how kind the somber man had been to her when cloud was nowhere to be found. He would often come by the bar on his day off to converse drink and even help with the children if Tifa was particularly in need of it, all the while keeping a lid on Reno's brash moves and bold comments towards her. 'he's a real sweetie when he wants to be and he was so nice… I guess that's just something he does though… he's like cloud… so quiet yet on the inside he's a big softy.'
She meandered on the thought a while longer before her body's protest to activity finally won the argument. 'damn… as if things weren't hard enough… alright I guess I'll get some shuteye too.' She lifted herself from her stool and tossed the glass in the sink before walking back upstairs with a lazy pace.
"and where do you think you're goin." Clouds voice purred as he snuck up behind her as she topped the stairs.
"back to bed" she was short and almost hostile with lack of sleep evident on her tone. "why?"
"well isn't it my job to take care of you now?" he sounded serious.
"cloud? Baby what's wrong?"
"come'er." He grabbed the fighter's waist and tugged her to himself with a desperate but intentional motion. "Tifa… have I ever told you…"
"told me what?"
"how much…"
"how much what?"
"I love you…"
"oh cloud." 'like I said a big sweetie' "you don't have to tell me that… I already know you do."
"but do you know how much…"
"cloud… something's up… what aren't you telling me."
"I…" cloud now retained his unique sense of personal emotion that everyone knew full well meant he was bottling something. "its nothing."
"no… tell me." She cupped his face in her hands and forced him to look her in the eye. "no more secrets…"
"just I thought… you'd never forgive me back then…"
"what… cloud… that was years ago."
"I know… I just…"
"dilly dally…" she lowered her eyes and pressed her forehead to his. "shilly shally."
"I… I know… don't live in the past. But… its… just so…"
"surreal?"
"yeah… I want to believe that this is real… but… I don't know anymore."
"you know they say ignorance is bliss…" Koty's voice called from across the hall as cloud instantly looked up to see blue orbs floating towards him.
"they also say its rude to eavesdrop. You know that?" he was irritated by Koty's interference with his heart touching one on one with Tifa.
"I felt a disturbance… in you… and."
"you decided to check it out… well we're good so go back to sleep" he hastily tried to shoo him away but to no avail.
"sleep is irrelevant… it is merely a falsification of life without a soul... a waste of time. And time to me is very precious."
"you know even after all these years you're still so strange. And why the hell does time matter to you. You spent two years playing around in hell on earth and to what avail?"
"good question" Tifa was confused as to clouds sudden hostility towards the man but followed his questioning.
"to many a good one I assure you. Have you so easily forgotten about Vincent…? I haven't…But I digress… I am aware that you and sister have much to discuss. So I will wait patiently for kohai."
"kohai? What the hell is that?" cloud raised his brow and he and Tifa shared a puzzled look.
"Denzel… he is kohai… pupil… and I am his elder… sempai… a term used in my world… never mind its usage…"
"Koty… remember… simple stuff" Tifa scolded him for his technical vocabulary again for the first time in ages.
"ah… as I said before I digress… but first cloud?"
"what is it" he grunted at the man with an irritated air.
"though the morrow is barren of promises."
It took cloud by surprise at first but then his thoughts drifted to the piece of paper he had received earlier that week. "nothing shall forestall my return."
"loveless… act V… I believe…" he smiled pride fully under the shroud of black that came with the night. "a lovely poem… you should take the time to enjoy its grandeur if the opportunity presents itself…" without a second word he walked downstairs and left the two to their moment of happiness. "to become the dew that quenches the land…" he trailed off as he descended.
"as I said before…" he mocked Koty's tone "weird as hell."
"aw well…" Tifa sighed exasperatedly 'I take back what I said about being a sweetie… he can be an ass when he wants to…' "cloud its late… let's get some sleep… we'll talk more in the morning."
"okay… Tifa… I love you…" he responded with a gentle purr.
"I know… that just means you won't mind cuddling tonight… isn't that so… now come with me… my little knight."
"yes ma'am."
The two quickly headed for her bedroom before tucking in for the night. It was going to be a long week indeed.
intermission.
I think we all know where we are at now… so said… well I know the time span has certainly threw a few of you off. But the two year gap will have a lot of filler mentioning's and make more sense at the end… if you can call it the end.
Now onward with the tale.
resume
Reunion 'gathering of heroes.'
The morning came too quickly for Tifa's liking. She wasn't ready to wake up. she wasn't ready to open her eyes to the morning light or leave the comfort of her lover's arms. Cloud had made sleep more peaceful than she could have imagined. She didn't like to admit it but she enjoyed the security he gave her. She felt safe and warm. She felt, content.
She wasn't ready at all. But without her consent fate, as it were, woke her with dispassionate hands. Wrapping the fingers of daylight around her face and kissing her with the lips of a cool Kalm morning. It heightened her senses to the point that she was almost hurting at the embrace clouds strong arms had locked her in. 'where… oww my head…' she looked up to see cloud's face contorted in fury. 'is he having a nightmare?' she watched as his lips murmured unconsciously. He was having a nightmare and she felt it in full force as he pulled her head to his chest in a protective manner.
"mm… Tifa… no…" he whispered her name as if talking to someone else as he tightened his embrace not enough to hurt her but enough to surprise her.
'oh… cloud…' she hesitated until she felt his pulse. It was racing like he had been running. Fast and fluid, it was proof that something was scaring him.
"cloud… sweetie… wake up. baby wake up." she moved her head up and pressed her lips gently to his own before noticing his eyes darting open.
"TIFA!" he was awake and terrified.
"baby… shhh… it's okay. I'm here… it was just a bad dream."
"Tifa…" he was almost in tears as he embraced her with relief evident in his actions.
"shh… it's okay.'
"I'm sorry… it was just… just a nightmare."
"wana talk about it?" she ran her stray hand through his hair as he began to calm down.
"I'm fine… are you… okay?"
"I'm alright… cloud… what happened…?"
"it was just a nightmare… promise…"
"no… no secrets… remember we're together… how can I trust you if you don't trust me."
"ignorance is bliss."
"now 'KOTY' I don't want to be ignorant of the one I love… please… tell me…"
"Tifa… I can't… its…"
"please." She cupped his face with her hand before giving him a pleading kiss.
He drew in a deep breath and began to speak. "it was dark… really dark… and we were in nibelhiem again… and… and… he… he was there…"
"sephiroth?" she lowered her eyes and felt a small pang in her chest.
"yeah… and he… he… tried to…"
"its okay… I understand… you don't have to say it if you don't want to…"
"oh Tifa!" he broke down and embraced her with tears in his eyes as he turned his fears over to the barmaid.
"shh… baby… it's just a bad dream… he's gone… he won't hurt me… I'm okay."
He didn't respond as he allowed her to run loving hands through his hair. He couldn't resist after his traumatic sleep. 'I wish there was something I could do… but… poor cloud…' she kissed his cheek as she pulled his head to the crook of her neck.
"excuse me… lovebirds I hate to interrupt but I do believe its noon and reeve is already in kalm with miss Gainsborough and mister fair… cloud Tifa!" Shelke's monotone voice broke the silence that had settled over them. "is he alright…?" she moved forward with a curious look plastered to her face.
"he'll be okay… Shelke… could you be a dear and go greet them for us… cloud and I need a moment…please." She responded to the girl while still tending to the mortified cloud.
"alright… what happened though?"
"he just had a bad dream… I think…"
"…ill… go get the others…" the girl left with the still curious but also cautious look portrayed as she gently closed the door.
'poor cloud… please… don't cry anymore… I can't stand seeing him like this… how long has he hurt?' she cooed him until he was again unconscious. 'oh cloud' she began to cry 'how can I make it stop if you won't let me in?' she pulled him to her tightly and felt his grip loosen as he slipped into sleep again. 'I'm right here… you don't need to cry yourself to sleep to kill the pain… let me take it… let me take it away…'
A few hours passed and Tifa assumed that cloud would be alright but without fail she stayed until he woke.
"t…Tifa…" he groaned as he looked up at her with apology written on his features.
"I'm right here… are you okay now…"
"ermm… how long was I out?" he wiped his eyes free of the sleep prior.
"a few hours… look… this… it'll be between us okay… no one else needs to know… I won't tell."
"thanks… Tifa… I…"
"what?"
"I love you…"
"I can tell… but I'm not sure I deserve it."
"trust me you deserve it… more than I deserve to…"
"oh no… no moping… not now… zack and Aerith are here… we need to go say hi… and get them a room for the week. Now mister strife… we need to get out of bed…"
"alright…" he whined. "but first… I have something to do."
"and what's that?"
"th… this…" he pulled her lips to his with a swift gentle motion as if he were magnetically attracted to them.
"mmm… cloud... you taste so good…" she smiled childishly as she returned his kiss. "but we really need to go."
"okay. I'll get Koty and Denzel together and we'll grab a few things for the party."
"good. Shelke and Aerith will help me out with the prepping I'm sure… now get up we gota move."
The sound of something like a loud radio playing a metal tune caught their attention before they stood to hear zack's voice echoing with satisfaction.
"sounds good … you sure you can play?" zack's comic laughter received a scoff from what sounded to be Koty.
"I've learned a lot on my travels… listen and learn." Koty's voice seemed to smirk from below as the notes began again.
"what are they doing?" Tifa asked absently.
"no idea… guess we'll find out." Cloud commented before zack's voice again rose with a surprised tone.
"damn." He was almost as loud as the music itself.
That's when they decided to descend, curiosity finally getting the better of them. The further they went the louder it got until at the apex of the bar they saw zack and Koty having a moment of musical 'play time.' Koty held a guitar in hand and despite the fact that he still wore Vincent's metal claw he played well. Zack had taken the mic and waited for a tune as the man beside him started hammering the strings with an almost angry motion from his right hand.
"we all we just bottle ourselves… we just bottle ourselves again… we all we just bottle ourselves we just bottle ourselves again…" zack actually to clouds surprise and Tifa's awe held a decent pitch. "bury all the differences between us that same mechanic sound that keeps on ringing for days and days" the music almost sounded happy but the lyrics spelled otherwise. They continued until finally they noticed the couple watching with interest in their music. "ah… Tifa… cloud… so you heard that?"
"yeah we did… wasn't bad though I think I could have used some coffee first…" Tifa rubbed her temples attempting to rid herself of the migraine that had taken over her morning and most of the time that cloud had been sleeping.
"well. I went out and bought this in hopes to impress aer but I never did take the time to play it… however it seems smartass over there learned a new trick in his spare time." He hinted grudgingly at Koty.
"one of many things I've learned… perhaps it would be a good thing to bring in customers for the bar… if you don't mind Tifa." Koty lowered his head in embarrassment at his suggestion.
"that sounds like a good idea… but don't expect me to pay you… you already get a room here… so tips are your payment… just don't try to cook anything" she laughed.
As the banter continued cloud observed the keyboard sitting neglected in the corner as if it had been brought without a purpose.
"oh spikes… I meant to tell you that's a kina wedding present from aer… she said Tifa use to play… so yeah… there ya guys go…" zack added noting clouds curiosity.
Without even listening to zack's words cloud sauntered over to the instrument and looked at the keys with almost a sense of longing.
"you play?" zack stated disbelievingly. "cause I think aer forgot to mention that…" he chuckled at the look he received from clouds face. A confused and yet insulted look to be sure.
He turned it on and flipped the rhythm switch. It started a soft almost ambient percussion and cloud's fingers came alive with the notes to accompany it. It was melodic and almost sad to hear but it struck a dumbfounded cord in zack as he watched on in amazement.
It wasn't long before Koty noted the turn of events and followed clouds sound with a flick of a switch and a bit of melancholy stringing from his left hand. It was like playing in front of a wall and cloud didn't notice anything but the tunes.
He was almost thrown off balance when Koty stepped up to the mic and began to vocalize "something you once told me no regrets no wasted efforts I'm left in the wake of your returning glory. You look so confident in your decision or the light of your indifference… so pure in your deception so right in your mind. This is just my luck. It's always been my luck." He changed his vocals from a soft tenor to a loud almost angry guttural scream in moments "come closer so I can see you. You cold to the touch. Hasn't anyone ever told you this is just my luck?" The duo left zack and Tifa to wonder at their mysteriously unseen talent and Koty's vocals again returned to their original state "say what you will. You're no longer the death of me. This whole shipwreck has been sent to sea. So go ahead take what you will from me it doesn't matter…" with almost the most powerful emotion he had mustered in the eyes of the others Koty's vocals again shifted dramatically to a powerful scream "I've been set free."
The music began to fade and cloud found himself sharing a shocked look with Koty at the event.
"well… I think we may have underestimated our spiky hero a little too much." Reeve who had been unknown to the rest of the group spoke as he applauded the two.
"jeez man… you could've told us you knew how to play like that…"zack walked over to pat cloud on the back.
"I didn't know I could…" cloud blushed as he scratched the back of his head.
"have you ever tried?" Koty interrupted him briefly.
"come to think of it no… but…"
"mark it off as a blessed talent then."
"well how the hell did you just come up with that riff man? I mean cloud was good but where the hell did that come from?" zack shot a questioning glare to him.
"the notes matched a song I had heard in my world and I improvised so that I could use the lyrics. It's very easy to do… it just takes a moment and some well placed musicians… cloud one of which I wasn't aware of."
"well that settles the how… now why that song?"
"it simply fit clouds unusual mood… I felt it appropriate."
"here that spiky… you got yourself a mind reading troubadour… ha-ha." Zack slapped his knee as he began to explode in laughter.
Cloud now curious struck up a cord on the keyboard again. It was the tune that had been playing in his head for now two years. Tifa's song. The melancholy notes made the group silent and cloud played again as if they weren't there. Koty hesitated at this slightly before beginning his own string of notes while he pushed the mic towards clouds position.
Cloud stared at the item still playing unconsciously before his mind began to make lyrics.
"when all is said and done. Will we see what we've become… sky coming closer and burned down by the sun. when all is said and done." His voice was soft but clear as he vocalized his thoughts. "we've come so far… only to see where we are… ashes of promises… burn it down… as I lay it all to rest." He wasn't subtle but it felt like he was more or less calm. "come with me." Koty began to echo his word. "follow me to where we'll rest. Come with me. And here my sins that I confess." At this he sang the notes that had haunted his dreams again "when all is said and done. Will we see what we've become… sky coming closer and burned down by the sun. when all is said and done." Koty followed with a dark electric solo that left zack in awe and Tifa in tears.
"where did he learn that…?" Tifa sobbed as memories flooded back to her of niblehiem and the events that took place before she joined AVALANCHE.
"he learned it from you…" Koty silenced the guitar and placed it in the stand behind him before noticing clouds displaced look. "didn't you strife?"
"cloud…" Tifa walked over to him "you remembered… but…"
"I listened… even when you didn't notice it…" he walked out of the bar almost indignant.
"man that was emotional… Tifa… are you okay babe… maybe you should sit down." Zack placed a hand on the fighter's shoulder. "want me to go get'em."
"no… it's okay… I just… I thought he forgot… it's been so long… I didn't even remember all of it myself… it was something I played when we were kids… I never played it until you and sephiroth came by… and that's…"
"that was the last time you played it…"
"yeah… I thought I was alone… so I made the lyrics… he must've…"
"yeah spikes snuck off on his own a few times… always wondered where he got off to." He joked as he put his hands in his pockets. "
A knock at the door tore the ensuing silence.
"ill get it." Koty stepped forward as he ghosted past the fighter and the soldier with a strange slowness.
"hey stranger…" barret's hearty laugh accosted everybody's ears as he entered. "where's my girl… Tifa… where you at."
He pushed past the man and into the bar. He shared a long laugh with zack after a quick fake jabbing match before looking in the direction of Tifa. When he noticed she looked like she had been crying he immediately took a serious air.
"hey… Tifa… what happened… did cloud run again." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"no… I'm fine." She feigned a laugh as she returned the large mans embrace. "just a lot on my mind. I'm glad you could make it. It's been so long. Where's Marlene?"
"ahh she's out makin nice with Denzel… poor boy… I think he's a little shy…"
"can you blame him…? Marlene's growing up… she's a pretty girl now… he's probably just noticing."
"aw hell no…"
"barret… calm down" she laughed at his reaction "its Denzel. He wouldn't hurt a fly."
"yeah right. Have you seen him lately? That kid could take a malboro by himself." zack who now had moved to the bar and stared pouring drinks scoffed at Tifa's defense. "wouldn't hurt a fly my ass."
"shut up." she pouted as she returned to barret. "him and Marlene have been friends for years I'm sure he won't do a thing and if he does Marlene would probably hurt him." laughter spread until Yuffie came in the room.
"hey everyone… when's this place open… I'm doin shots tonight…" she struck a pose as she tossed her bags aside.
"Yuffie!" Tifa ran to the small girl with a high powered smile and a full fledged sprint.
"I didn't do it I swear… ahhh!" she braced herself for impact before being wrapped in a death grip hug. "Tifa… teef… cant breath… choking the ninja!"
"as little as I drink I would like to know the same thing." Koty followed by red entered the room again "I could use some spirits myself."
Tifa dropped Yuffie and stepped back as the death glare locked onto Koty.
"hello Yuffie." His voice was gruff and regretful as he looked at her.
"hey there murderer." She placed her hands on her hips.
"Yuffie." Tifa scorned her choice of words.
"but aren't we all?" Koty scoffed at the insult before Tifa had a chance to defend him.
"is that all you can say…? Hmm…" Yuffie pushed the subject.
"I didn't do it for your amusement." Something was different with Koty. Tifa noticed his unusual blunt and sarcastic tone when he spoke. "he willed it."
"willed it my ass." She spat his words at him for juvenile comfort. "no one wants to die."
"I agree… but when you love someone giving your life is sometimes the least you can do…"
"you don't even regret killing him do you?!"
"my only regret is that I was the one to survive."
She was speechless for a moment before Koty made an advance. "whoa back up sicko."
"he… loved you enough… enough to die… for my sin… on my honor Yuffie… I swear… I will find him… for you."
"what…" she hesitated to back away from a clawed hand approaching her cheek.
"give me time… that is all I ask."
"Koty… Yuffie… can you two please try to get along… its suppose to be a happy occasion." Red spoke up as he intercepted the two. "Yuffie… understand that without Vincent's sacrifice we would all have perished. Including you."
"I know…" Yuffie lowered her head as if ashamed. "Koty… I'm… I'm sorry… it's just."
"its alright." He silenced her "it is easier to blame than to except… it doesn't mean you're in the wrong."
"no I shouldn't have…"
"silence… I know… it's your nature to be offensive to that which has hurt you."
"no I…"
"Vincent's death was hard on you… and I quite literally was its instrument. Your anger is justified."
"wow… you don't take apologies do you?"
"as you said I am a murderer… I need no apologies… or sympathy… but… your forgiveness… would be appreciated." He held out his hand.
"ugn…"she froze for a moment. "alright. Just… ahh screw it." She shook the man's hand and turned a violent shade of red. "so we're even… alright… now how bout those shots… I could really use one."
"comin up whatcha want tiny" zack laughed as he leaned on the bar and eyed the two from across the room.
"a stiff shot of tequila would be nice." She sauntered over to a stool and flopped down.
"tequila… alrighty what bout you big fella…"
Koty pinched the bridge of his nose before looking up. "whiskey…"
"whoa… so early… wow hope you got a strong stomach."
"ill be the judge just hit me with your best shot." Something was definitely different about him and even zack noticed his sudden change in context.
"what's eatin him." zack leaned over to reeve before grabbing a glass and mixing Yuffie's drink.
"I think he's just having a bad day" he sighed as he watched Yuffie take the drink without so much as glancing up at zack.
"no he's right something's up with Koty… he generally talks in riddles and tech tongue… but today…" Tifa took a seat next to the man "he's been so blunt today… I wonder if he's just finally breaking the habit."
"wouldn't know… well you wana shot or a tall, man…" zack shouted to the man across the bar.
"just give me the bottle."
The groups eyes went wide at this comment and zack looked to Tifa for a moment as if asking if it were a safe idea. Uncertain eyes met with the soldier and she nodded with acceptance.
"here ya go man… don't overdo it." He tossed the liquor. "hope he's not fond of getting plastered…"
"thanks." He caught it and took the cap off with an irritated air and found a chair next to the far wall.
"is he seriously okay?" reeve looked at Tifa questioningly.
"ill find out." Tifa rose and walked over to the man's chair. She watched for a moment as he turned the bottle upside down and took a rather large swig. He might have drank the whole bottle if Tifa hadn't intervened.
"that's enough… take it slowly." She placed a gentle hand over the wrist that held the bottle and lowered the substance from him. as she did this he gradually relented and looked at the floor with disdain. "what's on your mind… come on little brother… tell me."
"Kara… she would disapprove… of my actions?" he looked at Tifa pleadingly.
"I don't think she would like to see you like this..."
"wouldn't things have been better if I hadn't… existed?"
"Koty… don't talk like that."
"Tifa… I have… I've… done terrible things… I've killed… many people… I see… I see their faces… they wanted to live… but… I stole that freedom from them…"
"Koty…"
"I took from them their dreams. I took their love and hatred… I took their souls. I promised them I would… I would live… for them… do what they could not do… and now…" he snatched the bottle from its resting place and nervously pulled it to his lips again continuing to down its contents at an alarming rate.
"no…" she pulled his arm down again and watched as he desperately tried to fight the urge to resist her. "this isn't the way…" she watched as he started to sway. He had drunk too fast and as a result he was adversely affected and Tifa was stuck between letting him kill the pain by drowning it or torturing him by denying him his medication. "Koty… why haven't you talked to me…"
"you don't need my problems… you have your own."
"Tifa… you need some help baby girl?" barret offered a hand as he knelt beside the two.
"no… its nothing… ill handle it." She nodded to the man with a smile before returning to Koty.
"all right. Well you need something just holla."
"I will. Thanks barret."
intermission a short pause here. Now we've got it almost down to the core the next chap is gona be the almost end. Like seriously. Give it about two more and I won't have a story to tell. Anyway now it's time to see what they all think. Well at least a few of
Reunion "inauguration"
Upstairs cloud was busy trying to cool his embarrassment. His face for the last several minutes had glowed a bright pinkish color in contrast to his usual pallor. 'that… was weird… I have no idea how I managed to play that or how Koty managed to follow along but it made Tifa cry… I'm gona avoid doin that again… man… where did this come from?'
He paced the floor over and over again before a knock came at the door followed by a flash of pink pastel brown and alabaster. Before he had time to respond Aerith and Marlene had him pinned.
"cloud…" Marlene hugged the man as if she hadn't seen him in a millennia "cloud! I came to see you."
"so I see" he wrenched himself from the death grip of the little girl only to be caught by the flower girl who took an immediate interest in playing with his hair.
"wow… how do you keep it like this?" she pulled on a particularly long spike. "still as spiky as ever. Poor cloud… you'll never get away from that trademark." She giggled and hugged him as she released his spikes.
"hey guys…" he was slightly shy as he tried to escape them "mind letting me move?"
"of course not… move all you want." Aerith joked as she remained stuck to him.
"uhh…"
"what's wrong?"
"please let go… I kina can't move with you hanging off of me."
"cloud you won't believe what daddy and I did." Marlene interjected as Aerith departed from the man.
"what is it?" he tried to remain composed and seem interested.
"we found a big oil field. it's the biggest on record. Daddy's got a ton of money invested in it. But you'll never guess where he found it."
"where?"
"in midgar. It's on the outskirts of midgar to the far side of the badlands. But there's a small problem."
"and that is?"
"well we've had to hire this really expensive guard unit that keeps the bandits out. They've been trying to take over the rig for days and still won't leave even though they've had their butts kicked over and over again."
"and my involvement in this is?" he knew where it was going but asked anyway.
"well daddy won't say it but he really needs some muscle and you seem to be the only one strong enough to do it…"
"Marlene… I appreciate your enthusiasm. But I have to look out for Tifa now."
"Tifa can come… she's pretty tough you know."
"Marlene."
"I know I know… not interested." She huffed. "I just thought I'd ask."
"well… I'm sorry … but I've got things I need to take care of now."
"at any rate I'm sure cloud appreciates that you're so confident in his ability." Aerith patted the young girls head in approval. "now why don't you go find Denzel I'm sure he's around here somewhere?"
"I tried" she sighed as she tapped her foot. "he isn't outside."
"try his room… he keeps to himself a lot so he's probably in there." Cloud pointed at the door with his eyes as if trying to shoo the strange pair away.
"thanks captain obvious…" Marlene had developed a sarcastic sense of humor from her father that was quite prevalent. "never would have thought of that." She hugged the swordsman again before leaving the room in a hopping fashion.
"now what about you?" cloud shot a short glance at Aerith before realizing where his eyes had landed. He was inadvertently and almost unwillingly staring at her breasts.
"see anything you like?" she chuckled as she covered what little cleavage she had. "I'm aware of your eyes cloud. I'm not stupid." She shoved him playfully as he scratched the back of his head in attempts to shake the feeling of guilt.
"sorry"
"its fine… zack stares too… and what Tifa doesn't know won't hurt her." She giggled as she poked him in the side.
"Aerith… don't do that" he shied away from the flower girl with his sense of guilt now ever-increasing. "you know how I am about that."
"yeah and I also noticed that you mope a lot… do I have to remind you?"
"no… I know already… just don't… don't rub it in…"
"oh like this?" she grabbed his head and immediately began rubbing her knuckles over his scalp.
"Aerith! knock it off… that hurts oww." He finally managed to shake her in time to see cid walk forward with his trademark cigarette hung loosely between his lips.
"well well… if it isn't the choccobo's ass himself." he laughed as he cracked his knuckles as if he had caught cloud in the act of something heinous.
"now cid go easy on him" Aerith giggled as she backed away.
"cid… what's up?" he was caught off guard by a swift right hook from the gruff pilot. "damn… what was that for?" he plucked himself from the floor and rubbed his jaw for relief.
"that's for any ideas you might have about cheatin on Tifa." He raised his hand and quickly knocked cloud for a loop a second time.
"what the hell? What was that for?" he stood again now ready for a third strike.
"that was for takin so damn long… do you know how long Tifa's been waitin for your ass… too long you moron… if you think it wasn't hard on her you're a retard… now." He stared cloud down as he cracked his knuckles.
"cid…" clouds tone was filled with warning but before he knew it cid had landed another rough hit to the other side of his face.
"that'en was fer me kid… just wana make sure ya aint chickenin out… we've been waitin for way too damn long just to watch you puss out like that." He picked cloud up and dusted him off.
"I swear to leviathan cid if you…"
"spare me cloud I've heard every death threat you could possibly think of. Ya don't spook me none. Now get yaself cleaned up. me and shera got a surprise for ya."
"hopefully not another beating."
"ahh spiky shera aint the fighter. You know that. Na we got ya somthin special… trust me."
"do I have a choice?" he rubbed his jaw some more as he felt the sting of cids fist's fresh on his face.
"nope" the man answered as he pulled out his lighter and sparked the smoke. "now get hoppin. You're on my time right now."
"come on cloud… cheer up… you know it was for your own good." Aerith laughed again as she bounded out of the room with a wide grin plastered to her facial features like macaroni to a paper plate.
"don't waste too much daylight or shera may come in swingin and trust me that aint what you want bud…" cid laughed until he was wheezing from lack of oxygen and cloud almost felt a smirk come to his face. Not that he was sad; he just couldn't feel his face at the moment so smiling was rather difficult.
"damit guys. I swear I'm so tired of getting the crap beaten out of me." Cloud looked around the room for a moment before leaving.
Across the hall from clouds surprise beating Marlene had found her target, Denzel. He had been studying his alchemy again and like Tifa before her Marlene made the mistake of piddling around with the chalk drawings.
"Marlene!" Denzel wasted no time in tackling the girl to the ground as a large sword shot up from the floor. "are you alright?" he looked the girl over as if checking her for wounds.
"oww… why did you do that? That hurt… you butthole." She pushed him from atop of her as she looked at the large blade now mere inches from where her face had once been. "whe… where did that come from?"
"Kohai…" Koty's voice was alarmed as he threw the door open.
"Denzel… Marlene?" Tifa was right behind him with a worried look. "Denzel… I thought I told you."
"I'm sorry…" Denzel hung his head low. "I forgot."
"its okay kohai… no one was hurt… ahh… I see your work is improving from last I saw you." Koty walked over to the blade and lifted it with a prideful air. "however I think you've used the wrong formula for his mineral." As he stated this the sword fell apart at the hilt and turned into nails.
"sorry…" he hung his head again "I just don't know how to fix it."
"the formula isn't as simple as mathematics and blatant science. It is an art form you must feel it hold the blade together. Without the source of your spirit the formula has no ground. Without a ground the blade is but what made it. You must feel the formula become a part of you. A part of you is your weapon. Observe." He waved his hand over the pile of metal spikes and they melded together to craft a blade. "this is much stronger I'm sure… however… it still will not be as durable as a well forged weapon should be. It is how I can say practice…"
"thanks…" Denzel grabbed the rather large sword and placed it on the makeshift rack in the corner before falling victim to one of Marlene's impulsive hugs.
"I think we'll leave you two alone." Tifa giggled as she pulled Koty back to the hallway.
"I missed you" the young girl continued to squeeze the unresponsive boy.
"I missed you too…" the boy wheezed as he returned a complementive pat to her back. "Marlene… I can't breathe…"
"oh sorry…" she straightened herself up before allowing Denzel to return a slightly more gentle embrace. "so what's with the chalk?" She pointed to the diagram on the floor.
"it's a meta circle… it's how you shift things using alchemy." He walked over to the rack again and relinquished the sword. "like this."
"its just a sword." She was slightly unamused as he tossed it back to the rack. "not really that big a deal."
"is too…" he almost felt like a little kid again until Marlene closed the distance between them.
"silly boy you know girls are always right." She grinned as she hugged him again.
intermission. well this is the part where I set up one final squad of lovers. I think most of us saw this coming but those who didn't won't be far from the blind. Yeah before you say it they've aged quite a bit. This story starts four years after DoC so its now two years hence that. So they're a little older now. Get ready for the chaps ahead like or not here they come. resume.
Reunion "cold much?"
Time was far from being short for Yuffie. She had to deal with the ever-present fact that she was in the same city as 'him'. she had a round of luck that didn't want to quit as well. And to top it all off she was constantly dodging pickup lines from zack which came at the cost of him getting pummeled by Aerith for insinuating cheating.
"honest babe it's just good fun. Right yuffs?" zack whined pleadingly as he backed away from the approaching pink angel of death.
"yeah I'm sure trying to cop a feel of me was good fun too huh… go ahead Aerith tear his head off I don't care." She grinned as she shot the soldier a dirty look.
"what?!" Aerith was angry at the thought of zack's hands where they didn't belong. "alright mister fair… you sleep on the couch."
"aww… aer… babe… don't be like that… I didn't touch a thing I promise… yuffs is playin… right…?" his glance passed from one girl to the other. "I swear… I didn't… now babe let's not be rash" he tried to run as Aerith lunged at him from a few feet away and smacked him with a small plate she had gotten a hold of previously.
"ah lovers' quarrel… aint it special?" cid took a long drag from his cigarette before laughing at zack's current predicament. "Aerith. Babe… take it easy on him… we may need him later…"
The group was for most intents happy. Short of Koty who took on Vincent's former role of the tall dark and quiet one. It wasn't an unexpected role. They just hadn't quite healed from the parting of their crimson guardian.
So to cope with the night they drank. Even cloud studded some shots as Tifa ran rampant making sure everyone had a full glass and a happy disposition.
Some drank to celebrate the union of their leader and their sister. Some drank to remember old times. Some drank to ease the tension and others to forget the past. However they didn't seem to notice who had had too much.
By the end of the night cid had already drunken himself into a nice coma. Tifa had been run to the point of exhaustion and had stopped to take a rest only to fall asleep in clouds arms. Yuffie had been doing exactly what she had said she would. She had drank more than cid and barret combined and now lay huddled in a drunken stupor of incapacitation on the floor. Zack though buzzed had before getting too sauced managed to grab Aerith who also now had far too much for her own good and carried her sloppily to a room upstairs and true to his beloved slept on the couch in the den. Cloud had drunk enough to be comfortable and though still alert he had fallen asleep holding Tifa. Nanaki even had a few shots. But he had retired long before the others in hopes to avoid the drinking songs. Shelke had been drinking far too many just like Yuffie and had at some point fallen from her perch on the bar stool to the floor below. Barret ever the vigilant father had tried to conserve himself in front of Marlene but ultimately failed as his honor forced him into a contest between him cid and Yuffie.
Now that the entire group including Koty and reeve lay either drunk on the floor or sleeping in nice booze induced slumber. Marlene and Denzel took the grand opportunity to venture outside by themselves.
Noting that it was far too dangerous alone or unarmed at night Denzel hoisted the giant sword from its rack and snuck down stairs to where Marlene sat giddily at the door.
"shhh… they all had a rough day" Marlene hushed Denzel even though the boys footsteps were so closed to silent that shadows could have made more noise.
"yeah… come on… let's not wake them up… remember the key." He tossed Marlene a small coat from the hanger near the door and quietly himself exited.
Soon Marlene followed suit and shut the door leaving the much hung over group to rest. However not everyone completely slept.
"Koty… Koty awaken strange one." Nanaki's voice caught the sleeping mans attention. "ahh… you're awake… good now wake Tifa and barret… the children are up to something."
"kohai? What has he done? What has you so frazzled old one?" he groaned as he opened one eye.
"I'm not frazzled… I merely meant that the children should not be left alone in the world outside… get Tifa ill wake barret myself. He may need some coaxing."
"as you will." The man rose and walked over to clouds side where sure enough Tifa lay. Her head was rested between his shoulder and his chest, nestled in what seemed to be a comfortable position. This made him regret actually having to wake the woman. "Tifa… Tifa… big sister… Tifa wake up…"
It took her a few moments to respond and when she did she noticed Koty standing there staring at her with a troubled look. "Koty… what's wrong."
"nanaki said there is something amiss with the children."
"what… are they safe."
"I don't know. Let us follow him and find out."
"okay… shouldn't we get cloud up?"
"I don't think it's quite that dire… besides he hasn't slept in a long time as he is now."
She looked up at the blonde swordsman to notice a look of contentment on his face. "yeah… well lets go." She stood reluctantly leaving her sanctuary.
After a moment of shaking and some random choice words from the large oaf barret was standing and though not entirely sober he was level enough to acknowledge that silence was a necessity.
"Denzel… why did you want to fight." Marlene was slower than her usual bubbly pace. Probably due to a lack of sleep but it still made Denzel nervous. It gave him time to watch her movements and due to his now slightly heightened reflexes he could easily catch the tiniest little alteration of body movement. From the newly developed sway in her hips to the cheeky smile that lingered from her early childhood he could observe it all very closely at this pace. He had to admit it made him very nervous. "Denzel… what's wrong… hello… I'm talking to you."
"oh sorry…. just thinking… what was it?" he stammered as he averted his attention to the claymore on his back.
"why did you want to fight?" she stopped in front of him as if blocking his movement. "you can tell me."
"its stupid."
"no its not."
"trust me you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"I might you never know."
"I… I wanted…" he stammered on his confession. "I wanted to protect you…"
"oh silly…"
"see I told you…" he blushed as she giggled at him. "its stupid."
"no its not… its sweet… Denzel… what's wrong?"
"nothing" he swallowed hard as he watched her near him. her hips swayed with a distinct yet very new air. Her eyes were like voids that swallowed any thought or hope thereof. The way her lips pursed made his skin warm and yet for lack of a description intangible. He was numb from excitement and nervous apprehension.
"then why are you looking at me like that?" she lowered her eyes and pivoted her body on her left leg "you've been at it all night… what's bothering you?"
"I uhh… it's just…"
"Denzel…"
"yeah"
"can I… hug you… again?"
"yeah why" a puzzled glance fell from him.
"no reason I just want to… besides its cold and you're not so…" she pulled the boy over to her position and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Only mere yards away the guardians of the two immerged from the house followed by Koty and nanaki.
"oh hell na…" barret let out an exasperated grunt before Tifa grabbed his arm.
"no barret… shh… don't get in the way." She pulled him back trying to hide him behind the hedges that had grown in front of the shop.
"its my Marlene out there teefs. My baby girl…"
"and we both know Denzel wouldn't do a thing to hurt her. So relax. What would they possibly do?"
"she's fifteen and I'm sure I can think of a few things."
"wow she's that old? Now I feel like a grandmother…"
"well what did you expect she can't be a littl'en foreva."
"exactly you big lunk. Now leave them alone…"
"kohai?" Koty stared in awe at the scene playing before him.
"shh… just watch… we can't get in the way." Tifa whispered as she observed the scene.
"oh yes we can!" barret attempted to move and found himself in a headlock and bound to Tifa's side with great force.
"shhh… be quiet you idiot… if we get in the way they may never try…"
"he betta not try anything with my baby girl… I pity the fool…" he was choked exasperatedly by Tifa until he silenced his tongue.
"look… I've seen the two of them every day since Marlene was just old enough to know what materia were for… I've seen the way they are… alone they're as normal as can be… but together its like watching the way the world was meant to be… there is no hatred."
"only joy for you are beloved by the goddess." Koty interrupted. "watch closely."
Marlene wasted no time in quickly altering her position. She had spun around in his arms and wrapped his coat around both of them.
"look up… oooh its so pretty." she darted an arm out from the confines of the jacket before snuggling closer to him.
"Marlene…" he blushed profusely at the amount of contact.
"what… I'm cold." She lied to him by hiding the blush on her face and putting on a false sense of ignorance. She too had now the tint of crimson in her cheeks. "den…?"
"yeah…" he almost choked at her unusual nickname. "what is it?"
"do you think… that…" she was stalling.
"think what?"
"that I'm… pretty."
His face immediately grew hot and he felt himself tighten his grip on her. Despite his embarrassment however he couldn't lie. "yeah…"
"really… how pretty…"
"I don't know."
"you don't know If I am…"
"no…"
"you just lied… you said you thought I was."
"but…"
"oh den… it's so fun to mess with you."
"oh" he blushed as he felt her turn in his arms again to face him. "Marlene…"
"did you mean it?"
"mean what."
"wow you're thick… did you mean it when you said you thought that…?"
"well… yeah… I mean…"
"that's all I needed to know."
She closed what little distance there now was between them. Her face inching ever closer to his and her warmth melting away all the months of physical training he had done and turning him into a weakling in the wake of her beauty. She hesitated and in that moment it sparked an almost reflexive movement in Denzel to close the distance. And when their lips met for the first time, it was like a reunion of the soul.
Blades of wind wafted through her hair and stars danced across her eyes. Eyes that could melt his hardened soul. Eyes that had captured him.
"bravo kohai… no… Denzel… my student you are no longer… for you have nothing more to learn." Koty spoke into the night and Tifa though having trouble with the fuming barret managed to quell the man and followed the large cat back inside.
"come on… let's leave them alone." She ushered Koty while still dragging barret.
"agreed."
