Disclaimer: I still own nothing.
A/N: I know my Cloud and Tifa scenes are sparse, that is all about to change before I see the bud of their story blossom I need to plant the seeds. Thanks again for all the favs, follows and reviews.
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She is young, tall for her age her thin arms are wrapped tightly around herself she watches him intently her amethyst eyes sharp and calculating. He realizes she is assessing him he looks into her eyes, eyes that should hold some light of innocence. The eyes that look into his own are eyes too old to be on that face, she is pale with full cheeks a light dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose. At first glance she resembles a doll a fragile beauty, though he knows this is far from the truth.
She is filthy clothes hanging off of her in pieces pale blonde hair matted in clumps bruising her shoulders her shoulders, his gaze falls to the prone figure behind her half hidden behind a wall of garbage all he can see from this angle if the pool of blood surrounding the darkly clothes legs and well worn boots. Silver glistens in the light of the moon reflecting off the hilt of a unsheathed sword, she follows his gaze to it stepping back.
She bends down on her knees blood soaking into what's left of her pants staining her a bright crimson it is a harsh contrast on her too pale skin. She picks up the sword a slender rapier still dripping with fresh blood, "He never got to use it" her voice is raspy as if she hasn't spoken in a long time. She stands holding it blade down with both hands, standing there in the moonlight she is a tragedy. Something deep within him responds to this as he takes a step forward.
He offers her a single black gloved hand she hesitates momentarily looking from his hand to his face back down to the sword in her hands "I want to learn how to use this" she speaks with honesty as she pushes it towards his offered hand. He reaches with his other hand taking both of hers and the sword into his firm grip, she looks at his large hands covering her own holding the sword.
"Then I'll teach you" the conviction in his voice surprises him as in this dark damp alley he makes a choice that will alter not only the course of this young girls life but his own. "SOILDER" She whispers grip tightening underneath his he nods a simple gesture that has his silver falling into his face. she watches it catch the moonlight. "I have no where else to go" she muses head turned eyes searching the partially hidden body with silent longing. When she turns to look at him it is a look that with stay with him for the rest of his life, there swimming in her amethyst gaze is a force of conviction so vivid he feels it resonate within his own soul.
He is pulled out of his musings as Tifa spins again arching and throwing her leg out she is going through a series of marital art movements she prefers the art over the sword something he does not personally mind, she will with time come to handle a sword. He watches her as he has been for the last hour his mind falling back into memories as he decides what he should do. The girl is naturally gifted that much is obvious she has an unrefined gracefulness to her that he knows would be work out well should she choose to handle a sword.
Martial artist were not common among soldiers it was more of a fighting style benefiting a Turk, he knows she will excel with the right mentor he however does not know if that will be himself. He had has as student his mind argues with himself, her recent promotion moved her to First Class and into a unit all her own. The doors to the training room suddenly hiss open his attention turns from Tifa to Tseng as the Turk approaches him, "General a word" Tifa stops her movements turning to watch them as he stands he raises his hand to her signaling her to return to what she was doing.
He steps aside with Tseng "There's a situation that has moved beyond our control" his eyes narrowed as he regarded the Wutaian "What situation" Tseng adjusted his tie speaking low as not to alert the other occupants of the training room. "Four days ago the President ordered director Lazard to send Unit Thirteen down into the underground to neutralize at rebel fraction they went dark so Commander Rhapsodos was sent in we lost contact with him a little over eighteen hours ago" anger flared to life within him "Why was I not briefed on any of this" Tseng expression remained clam.
"There were concerns your personal judgment would affect the mission" he shut his eyes turning away from the Turk opening them he found himself looking out over the skyline of Midgar "My judgment is final I'm handling this personally from here out" turning with haste leather coat flaring behind him the General headed for the office of the Director of Solider. Tifa watched as he walked out the door the dark haired man in the suit remained, she paused then decided to walk over to him.
Tseng watched the girl approach him the same eyes she looked like her Mother the same natural beauty six years that was the first time he had ever seen her she had been barley eight years old. His mouth pulled into what could be considered a fraction of a frown, as he thought back to the day her Mother passed. What was considered an accident far up in the Nible Mountains was a cover up hiding so much more, this girl would never know the truth or would she he turned his attention to her as she finished her approach to him.
"You were there" she stated softly "The day Mom had her accident" so she remembers he nodded no point in avoiding the truth. "I'm sorry for your loss" he kept his tone neutral she, she shifted her weight resting a hand on her hip. "Thanks it was a long time ago" Her expressions sparked something within him, "They said it was a Monster mutated from exposure to the reactor" he turned facing the wall of windows no longer able to look her in the eye.
"Teef" he head snapped around at the sound of her nickname he watched from the corner of his eye as a smile spread across her face. "Cloud" her posture relaxed in an instant as the young cadet with wild blonde spikes and sky blue eyes approached her. Tseng choose this moment to excuse himself with a nod towards Tifa he headed out of the training room leaving the two cadets alone.
Tifa's eyes brightened the instant she saw cloud excitement bubbled in her chest "You just missed him" Cloud tiled his head one wayward spike falling over his right eye "Sephiroth was here watching me train" Clouds eyes widened at this admission "How long did he stay" Tifa grabbed his hand in her's "For about an hour" she squeezed his hand he glanced down at their entwined fingers looking back up to her face "That's great news Teef" she nodded smiling even wider.
"I was supposed to meet Commander Rhapsodos here for a training lesson, it got canceled so I've been re assigned to another First" Cloud looked around the room "It's really quiet in here" as soon as those words left his mouth the doors slid open reveling two solders "Spiky" Cloud internally cringed he turned wearily eyeing the black blur bounding over to him.
Holding his breathe he braced himself as Zack attacked him throwing an arm his neck pulling his head down ruffling his hair with his fist. "Za..ack" he groaned pushing at the older boys arm "Play nice Pup" Zack grinned throwing his hands up behind his head. Cloud took a breathe as he looked up to Zack's mentor.
Angeal stood there watching the two a smirk on his face due to Zack's antics "I wanted to apologize on behalf of Genesis for him missing your first training session" Cloud nodded. "He was called in for a mission last minuet" Cloud shrugged "Okay with me long as I still get to spar" Angeal's smirk grew as he regarded Cloud "Well I may just take you up on that offer" Zack bounced on the balls of his feet "Go for it Spike" Cloud smiled taking a wooden sword from the rack walking to the center of the room.
Angeal put up his Buster Sword taking a wooden sword up as well "Today were going to work on your defense your only goal when I come at you stop me" Angeal left it at that as he advanced on the young cadet, coming at him with a downward swing. Cloud moved bringing his sword up to block, Angeal turned fast slashing upwards. Cloud stumbled, but managed to hold his ground at the sudden change in direction.
He brought up his sword Angeal parried against it the force of the blow pushing Cloud back strong the difference in power clearly showed and he knew Angeal was greatly holding back. Solider Firsts were the most powerfully enhanced solders in the Shinra Military and he was currently sparing with one of the original Trinity one on one.
Zack stood watching Tifa so intently watch Cloud he smiled as he followed her eyes glued to his every move, she had no idea she was even doing it. He decided to walk over to her "Hey" she looks at him wine eyes shinning she is happy because she is in the presence of Cloud. "Hi" her smile is warm and infectious and it makes Zack's own grin widen ever more. "You never did tell me about that promise you two made" a faint blush flushes Tifa's cheeks at the mention of the promise.
Zack reminds himself he must talk to Cloud later, Tifa points to the benches across the room as she turns walking to them Zack follows "Well" she says "It started like this"…
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It reeks of blood the walls and the floors are covered in it she is wandering down through a lab that is most definitely not abandoned a strange ebony armored helmet lays on one of the metal counters. She sighs at least I was able to heal myself this building has low lighting that still worked and with the supplies she found in the lab it was enough for her to sterilize and cast cure on her wound. There are still no signs of the rest of her unit, this worries her endlessly. She may of not of known them long, but they had accepted her and she would do whatever it took to bring them all home.
She stops abruptly eyes narrowing at the sight across the room, there submerged in a mako tank is none other than Genesis. He is wounded his chest is covered with blood that slowly flows within the tank creating a murky effect against the bright green of the mako. She approaches with caution on high alert looking for a release the mechanism of the containment tank are displayed before her, she doesn't bother with them. Raising her hand she splays her fingers against the thick glass closing her eyes she channels her materia casting a low level quake it does what she has hopped as she braces herself against the tank.
The ground shakes things rattle and fall around her the glass of the tank splinters and cracks a webbing effect etching its was quickly across the glass she casts guard as the glass shatters going everywhere as Genesis falls she is there to catch him. She has decided caution is to the wind whoever is behind all of this already knows she is there she is aware of this sick game that they play. She kneels to the floor the weight of Genesis solid against her, he is stirring the movement under his lids the fluttering of lashes. She is greeted by eyes that rival the most flawless sapphire so clear and bright they quickly focus locking on to her.
He brings his fist up to his chest curling it as he breaks into a coughing fit, she pushes him up supporting him. He inhales sharply "Rika" his voice is laced with pain "Don't speak" she sits him down already taking off his shoulder guards and crimson coat. She unbuckles the amour across his torso pulling up the thick sleeveless top there two bullet holes greet her. They appear to be clean through she gingerly touches the skin near them and he hisses, leaving him there she goes to gather supplies. He watches her with intensity those eyes never leaving her form, she returns to his side moments later.
"Hold still, this will sting" she goes about sterilizing his wounds pausing momentarily to watch his reaction, no change except for the heavier quality of his breathe. Casting a mastered cure she watched as the skin of his chest knitted itself back together. He stands re dressing himself he is wet, but this does not bother him.
"Fancy meeting you here Kitten" his voice is laced with an banoran accent she rolls her eyes his humor is apparently still intact. She looks at him over her shoulder her eyes trailing over his lean form, he appears fine. She turns her attention to the helmet she passed earlier it is familiar and this bothers her, she can not place where she has seen it.
She is tense he reads the language of her body the way she stands weight more centered on her right side her sword hand. She is unconsciously reading herself her light blond hair is falling away from her braid coming to curl in wisps about her face. She is bruised and bloodied a large tear in right side of her uniform where it appears she was once wounded, he watches her eyes as they stare at the strange piece of ebony armor.
"We need a plan" his voice is deep breaking her out of her thoughts. She turns her attention to him "There are two surviving members of my team still out there" He nods ideas already forming in his mind. "We proceed together, scout out our surroundings" he turns looking about the room "I'll need a weapon" she grins already pulling at the bangle on her arm "Here your favorite" he takes the mastered fire materia from her.
"As soon as we find your team, we need to get out of here" he is on edge the unknown does not do him well. "Were not in a position to handle this ourselves" she agrees they are outnumbered and she is the only one full equipped. Suddenly he moves to stand before her she turns sharply stumbling slightly in surprise he catches her by the arm balancing her.
Her breathe catches as he brings a hand up to cup her face staring into her eyes, he is searching for something. His gaze does not falter as it burns into her own "I see now" he nearly whispers his breathe is warm against her face he is close too close. He pulls back apparently please with something as he lets her go, she pulls her arm to herself backing up slowly.
In the distance a guttural scream is heard he head snaps around Johansson she looks to him once before she takes off at sprinting in the direction of the screams, he is right behind her as they disappear into the dark.