Stay
It's the middle of the night, and I've returned from a long day. Tifa's fallen asleep on the couch again, and I carry her upstairs, putting her to bed with a soft kiss on her cheek. She smiles lightly in her sleep, and I leave.
I don't bother eating or changing, I'm not even going to do my maps tonight, I'm just too tired. I strip down to my pants, falling on to my bed face first. It's only a second later I remember to click off my cell phone. I'm taking a day off tomorrow.
When I wake, my vision is blurred, I can't even tell where I am. For some reason, I'm standing. I reach up, rubbing my eyes, blinking as I open them.
I want to close them again, but I can't.
It's her, and she's kneeling like she did all those years ago, kneeling and praying. I feel my voice lock up.
Why do I have to relive this moment? Why?
I already know what happens, so why can't I move? Why can't I stop him?
It's his cue now, dropping from the ceiling, that malicious grin on his face. Then it pierces her stomach.
She's shocked, but I'm not, and I feel guilty for it.
I don't know how many times I've had this nightmare, how many times I could've stopped him but I can't.
And she's falling forward, already dying, and he's gone, and I'm rushing forward, trying to catch her before she hits the floor. I catch her, blood spilling from her stomach, a waterfall onto the steps, and I stare at the back of her head, afraid to lift it up, but knowing I have to at the same time;; I tilt her chin up slowly.
Every fiber in my entire body freezes. Breath will not come to me, and I don't even want to breathe. I don't even want to live.
I call out to him, telling him to come back, to kill me too.
Because for once, it's not Aerith I'm holding...
It's Tifa.
I feel my voice grow, the scream coming out when I realize he's not coming back. It goes, echoing into the night,
And there's hands on my shoulders, and a voice in my ear.
"Cloud! Cloud!"
It's now my eyes fly open, and she's there. Living, breathing, and staring at me with worried eyes. I don't think twice and I wrap my arms around her.
She's alive...oh thank God, she's alive.
"Shh, Cloud, it's okay, it's okay."
She's wrapped her arms around me and is holding me close. My breath steadies, and it's then I hear the door open.
"Cloud?" Denzel asks.
"It's okay Denzel, everything's okay..." Tifa has to leave me for a moment, leading Denzel out.
I'm sitting up now, sorting my thoughts, racking my brain for whatever it was that could've caused that nightmare. She's back soon again, and she closes the door behind her. She walks over, standing by my bed.
"How did you know?" I ask, studying my covers.
"I think it was when you started yelling for him to come and kill you. And that scream Cloud, it could've brought down the house. But luckily Denzel and Marlene are okay now. You really scared me, are you okay?" She asks, pain in her voice.
I nod, swallowing.
"...I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound harsh, you just really had me frightened. What was it that was so bad that you actually wanted to him to kill you, Cloud?"
I can't answer, and I wince.
"I'm sorry to have woken you up." It's all I can say.
"Don't be sorry, and besides, you didn't wake me up."
I look up, surprised.
She smiles sadly, "You're not the only one who has nightmares, Cloud."
I nod, understanding.
"Do you think...we'll ever be able to sleep in peace?"
"I don't think we deserve to."
I nod in agreement.
"But you're okay now? I'm guessing this one was different..."
I can only nod my head again, there's no way I could ever possibly tell her what I had just dreamt about.
"I understand." She says, standing.
"Good night, Cloud."
She's leaving...I can't let her leave, not after that.
"Wait." I say, leaning out, grabbing her wrist.
She turns slightly, and I avert my eyes.
"Stay." I say softly.
"Ok."
The bed dips as she sits down beside me. It's awkward at first, trying to lay down on my bed and get under the covers, but eventually we do, and she's facing me, and I'm facing her. We stare at each other a moment, and she moves her hand out, resting it on the space between us and nods her head once.
I reach out, lacing my fingers with her's, and stare at her.
I don't remember which one of us closed our eyes first.
A/N: I think it's reasonable to assume that these two have nightmares...and while some of this is fluff, some of it needs a serious note in it too...a special thanks to Legendary Phantom Thief Taco for such awesome reviews and space-halo...I was kinda wondering what cloud + Tifa equals! and then there was no answer...heh, so as always, thanks for the awesome reviews! and see ya guys at the end of the weekend!