Tifa's footsteps are solid, firm in their footing, while her heart flutters uncertainly. She knows exactly where she's taking Cloud, and exactly what they're going to do—and whatever the outcome is, she doesn't care. He might still be weak from his sickness, or he might beat her easily. After all, he says he was a SOLDIER, right? Their power was supposed to be legendary.
It's having him here, by her side, that makes her feel strange. She'd always known he was somewhere out in the world but had no idea how to start looking for him. And then some sort of dull cynicism had set in; he was in Shinra, and everything in Shinra was corrupt. Maybe he'd heard about what had happened to their hometown and left the company (though Shinra's employee retainment policy was as strict as it could get), but… she'd seen no evidence that Cloud was ever looking for her.
But that doubt's wrong. Cloud's come back.
At the same time, he's already tried to leave once. Hadn't even tried to catch up with her.
When she throws the first punch, she knows—something is off. He reacts too slow, takes it on the cheek. Not expecting it? She follows that up with a kick to the head; this time he dodges. He's still sluggish, not fighting as a SOLDIER should.
"Don't hold back," she prompts. "I can take it."
"Mm." He hesitates to go on the offensive, though. She can tell—and she's not sure if that hurts or not, that he's being so sweet but still thinks she's the thirteen-year-old girl he left in Nibelheim.
Fifteen, she realizes suddenly. He was there when Nibelheim burned.
It still doesn't make sense.
Her preoccupation lands her a powerful strike to the side of the head when he does throw a punch, and she takes it, rolls with it, comes up on her knees, legs tensed to spring—she's ready for action, even if her ears are ringing and her vision still has darkness leeching from the edges.
Cloud isn't ready. He looks appalled by the fact that he hit her at all. Which seems strange, since he put so much force into it—unless…he's not used to his own strength…?
He was sick, that's all. You saw how bad it was. Give him some time to readjust. "C'mon, Cloud!" she shouts in encouragement, drawing his attention back to the present moment before she sweeps her leg out to knock him off his feet. He jumps away from her, out of range for an attack. Shakes his head once.
"Another time."
The words leave a sour taste in both mouths. He doesn't want another, and she knows it.
"You're strong."
"I was a SOLDIER." It's not a boast. He says it like it's obvious. "…C'mon, let's not mess around. What's the job?"
Tifa hesitates, sweeping a strand of dark hair behind her ear. Is that what he thinks this is? Messing around? He's still not at 100%, but it seems like he just needs a day or two to readjust to what his body can do. The mission isn't for three. And if she doesn't tell him, he'll look for work elsewhere. She can't let him leave just yet. There's something strange going on. She scans the area before focusing on Cloud.
"The reactor in sector one. AVALANCHE is going to strike there."
"AVALANCHE?" He looks confused before his eyes cloud over and he shakes his head quickly.
"Cloud?"
"—Headache. Yeah, that terrorist group…" And then he pauses, and she can see him putting it together through his eyes. "You joined?"
They are not terrorists, no matter how many times the Shinra PR that passes for news calls them that. This is the only way they can protect the Planet. "Shinra poisons everything it touches," she tells him, fists clenching. "They have to be stopped."
He looks at her in a strange way. Maybe he's evaluating her? It occurs to her that, by stating her feelings, she's indirectly voiced the fearful accusation in her heart.
Are you with me? Or did Shinra ruin you too?
This is the real test.
And he says without heat, without emotion, in that level voice of his, "I'm in."
Author's Note: Haaa so if I say how long this document's been sitting on my computer, it'd just be plain embarrassing. This is kind of a transition as I experiment a little with how I want to do this and how far I should go; next part already has 1,000 words written for it, though, so it shouldn't take so long.
