[Back home after two years, surrounded by an entourage of Shinra infantrymen, even Sephiroth himself is there, but... this isn't how it was supposed to happen. Cloud should be the one fighting side-by-side with him, with all the heroic might of a 1st Class SOLDIER. It's not a SOLDIER's fatigues he wears, but the uniform of an ordinary Shinra trooper.
Ordinary. That's a painfully accurate way to describe it. Even though this trip to the Mt. Nibel reactor may be anything but ordinary. Zack had told him what he was able to. Sounded like there had been monster sightings up top. Cloud had offered to guide them along the treacherous mountain passage, given that this was where he'd grown up, but apparently Sephiroth had already hired a guide.
He hadn't expected it to be her.
Seeing Tifa in that cute outfit, that floppy brown hat perched neatly atop her wavy black hair, just... well, it makes Cloud more grateful than ever that he's got that bulky visor to hide behind. That mint-green scarf to burrow his chin into in order to try and conceal how unexpectedly flustered all this is making him. It's what he should do, really. Keep silent, keep his head down. Let Zack and Sephiroth do all the talking. But while Tifa and her dad are busy making nice with Sephiroth, Cloud's so focused on keeping his head down that he nearly loses his balance when Zack nudges him in the back.
"Go on," the eager SOLDIER encourages his friend, smiley as ever. "Say hi!" Cloud grits his teeth a little. Telling Zack about life back home was a big mistake. He shouldn't have said anything about Tifa. The promise he'd made to her before leaving Nibelheim two years ago...
He ponders for a beat before stepping forward, trying to ignore the feeling of Zack's eyes on his back. The sweltering heat crawling up along his neck. As Tifa's father leaves the conversation to rejoin the mayor, Zack suddenly pushes past Cloud, calling for Sephiroth and asking if he's got a second. Something he wants to go over with him before they hit the road. A helpful distraction, Cloud has to admit as Sephiroth disengages from Tifa, but come on, man. He was already headed over there!
Focus, Cloud. You can do this.
A deep breath in, and out, and he's off once more. Now that Tifa's on her own, he clears his throat.]
[ It’s hard not to feel disappointed by the way the day has shaken out.
It’s not anyone’s fault, not really, but… well. In the end, that doesn’t change the fact that the two SOLDIERs Shinra sent them aren’t who Tifa was hoping to see today. It first creeps up on her as she’s watching them step off the truck, her heart in her throat as she looks for a glimpse of familiar spiky, blond hair. It doesn’t really hit her, though, until she’s speaking with Sephiroth and Zack.
Cloud, despite her previous certainty that he’d take this as an opportunity to come home, isn’t going to be joining them for this mission.
For all it doesn’t bleed into the way she navigates the situation—she’s all smiles and confidence as she offers her assurance that she’s the best guide in Nibelheim, brushing off her father’s concern as she goes—it does hang in the back of Tifa’s mind, needling at her. Should she ask after him, or should she leave well enough alone? It’s a tough call to make, honestly, complicated even further by how much time has passed since she last spoke to Cloud. Maybe, she thinks, that’s intentional. Maybe it means he wants to put his past in Nibelheim behind him. At the same time, though… would it really hurt if she probed around a little?
It’s something she’s steeling herself for as her dad exits the conversation, giving her an opening. Except—
Except, before she can even begin to figure out how to potentially broach the subject, Zack’s voice cuts through the air, and then he and Sephiroth are stepping away, taking what could be her only opportunity to question them about Cloud along with them.
With a little sigh, her shoulders drop. Tifa, now on her own, readies herself to return home. It’s the sound of someone speaking to her—a voice that almost, almost feels familiar, in a distant sort of way—that has her stopping short, though, her attention turning instead toward the source. One of the two troopers that were sent alongside the SOLDIERs, she realizes, as she flashes him a sheepish smile, gives a brief wave of her hand. ]
Just Tifa is fine. [ None of that Miss stuff, please! ] … guess I didn’t really get the chance to properly introduce myself to you guys, though, did I?
[Nice going, genius. Should've just led with her name from the start, instead of trying to put up another barrier between the two of them. Pretending like he's someone else because right now he'd rather be anyone else. What he wouldn't give to be a SOLDIER, like he'd always dreamed of. Someone as chipper and carefree as Zack, or as undeniably powerful as Sephiroth. Could some nameless grunt like him ever hope to step out of their shadow someday...?]
It's okay. You're fine. I, uh...
[He's only a nameless grunt for as long as he chooses to be. Straightening up his posture, the young trooper reaches for his visor with both hands.]
...should prob'ly do the same, though.
[No turning back now. Sighing gently, he pulls the bulky covering off his head and holds it off to the side, revealing the wild blonde mane of one Cloud Strife. So unmistakable is that spiky head of hair that it likely doesn't warrant a full introduction. Not that it'll stop him from greeting her properly.
With a little incline of his head and a soft twitch in the corner of his mouth, he gives her an embarrassed little smile.]
[ That creeping sense of familiarity gets stronger and stronger with each word the trooper speaks. It’s impossible for Tifa to put her finger on who, exactly, his voice reminds her of—it’s on the very tip of her tongue, it feels like—but she’s certainly trying, right up until he moves to lift his helmet, revealing his face and knocking the wind from her lungs in one single motion.
He looks older than she remembers, obviously, but there’s no mistaking those eyes, that hair, that face for anyone but— ]
Cloud!
[ —the one person she wanted to see today.
His name escapes her in a rush, and… she probably shouldn’t, but Tifa is moving on pure reflex as she closes the distance between them, letting herself into his space so she can throw her arms around him. It’s the first time they’ve ever been this close, the first time she’s ever hugged him, but that hardly seems to matter right now.
Instead, all there really is—as far as she’s concerned, at least—is Cloud, warm and solid and real where her arms are folded around him.
There’s a beat where Tifa lingers, breathing him in, before she finally offers a soft, ]
I was starting to think you weren’t gonna show. [ Her next exhale trembles, just slightly, as she gives him a little squeeze. Soon, she’ll let him go. For now, though, she wants to soak up this moment. To bottle it up and keep it close to her heart, alongside all of her other memories of Cloud. ] I was waiting, you know. When I heard they were sending SOLDIERs our way, I figured… you might be one of them.
[ And now, here he is. A tiny bit different from how she pictured, but present nonetheless. ]
[Tifa's quick to return the favor, knocking the wind right out of him the moment she surges forward and pulls him into a full-blown hug. In that first moment in her arms, Cloud's body goes rigid. He's so thrown off by the unexpected gesture that he even winds up dropping his helmet with a clatter beside their boots. Tifa's never hugged him like this before. No one's ever held him like this besides his own mother. Tifa's so soft... and warm, too.
Give him a moment. A moment's all he needs to soak up this warmth, to commit this to memory. To wrap his own arms around Tifa in return, squeezing back after she gives one to him. Later on, he might reflect on how perfectly she seems to fit against his frame.
For now, he can't stop thinking about whether or not he actually deserves this.
A short distance behind him, the sound of hard plastic hitting gravel seems to have caught Sephiroth's attention. Feline eyes narrowing, the vaunted war hero takes a step towards the young pair. Lucky for both of them, Zack comes to their rescue, tossing an arm out in front of Sephiroth to stop the older man in his tracks.
"Let 'em have this," he tells his friend, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "They're childhood friends, y'know? Come on... How long do you think they've been waiting for a moment like this?" The words leave him before he's really stopped to think about them. Sephiroth sure does, his intense gaze lingering on Cloud's back for a moment longer.
"...I wouldn't know."]
That's on me. [Cloud murmurs after Tifa lets him go.] I should've written you before I got here, I just...
[His fallen helmet makes for a good distraction, allowing Cloud a beat to collect himself as he hunches over to retrieve it. But when he rises back to his full height and locks eyes with Tifa again... guilt twists at his stomach.]
I didn't know how to break it to you. [Deep breaths. Better late than never.] I didn't make the cut.
[ The clatter of Cloud's helmet might register, but for now, Tifa is too swept up to try to pinpoint where the sound might've come from. It feels small and insignificant compared to the warmth of his arms wrapping around her, the way it feels when he gives her a little squeeze in return.
She knows, though, that she needs to pull back. They're in the middle of town, after all, accompanied by other villagers, and her dad, and Cloud’s colleagues. The Sephiroth is only a handful of feet away, even. So, after just one more selfish moment, that’s precisely what she does, her arms falling away, her hands linking together behind her back for lack of anything better to do with them.
As she watches him move to retrieve his helmet—the source of the noise, she realizes, just a touch belatedly—Tifa tilts her head, her expression equal parts attentive and curious. Her expectation is that he was too busy to find the time to write, or that being so far from home made it so that she slipped right out of his mind, temporarily forgotten as his new life in the big city opened up before him. What she isn’t anticipating is where Cloud takes his admission. I didn't know how to break it to you. I didn't make the cut.
It’s why there’s a beat of hesitation before— ]
… for SOLDIER, right?
[ It’d explain a thing or two, wouldn’t it? The uniform he’s wearing, the lack of fanfare surrounding his arrival. ]
You… could’ve said it just like that, [ she offers, after a brief moment of hesitation, her eyes lingering on his. For all her words are matter-of-fact, though, there’s something soft in her tone. Something gentle. ] I would’ve been happy to hear from you either way.
[If Tifa blinks, she might just miss the way Cloud's fingertips tense and squeeze against the hard shell of his helmet. Even if she does, it's obvious just how much of an impact her words have on him. He takes a moment to find his voice again, but when he finally manages it, he's unexpectedly honest.]
...I guess I didn't.
[He knows now. That Tifa would be happy to hear from him regardless. SOLDIER or no, it doesn't make any difference to her. All that matters is that it's him. His face must be burning, but even if he shoves that helmet back down over his wild, spiky hair, it won't do much to hide it.
Even if it wasn't what he'd planned on, there was once a time where Cloud felt a sense of pride when he'd first donned his Shinra fatigues. Now, more than ever, he feels every bit like a rookie. Like he's still got a lot of growing up to do. It can wait, though. Tifa wanted to hear from him. She's right here in front of him.
An awkward silence lingers in the air before Cloud pipes up. Partially to take some of the pressure off himself, but mostly because he wants to offer Tifa a compliment.]
Nice hat. [If any of the other local boys heard him say it, they might call him a smartass. And hey, maybe his tone does make him sound like one, a little. It's the softness in his eyes that confirms he genuinely means it.] Looks good on you.
[ It is clear that her words have hit their mark, and for that, she’s grateful. Relieved, too, honestly. It’s impossible for her to know what’s been going on in Cloud’s head for the past two years, but—the last thing she wants is for him to feel like her wanting to connect with him is conditional.
With that seemingly handled, though, Tifa finds herself fishing for her next move, wondering how she ought to move forward. But, before she can pick a direction—
Nice hat.
—Cloud’s voice cuts through her thoughts, pulling a quiet, almost-shy laugh from the back of her throat. ]
You really think so?
[ Unable to keep herself from smiling, even as the tips of her ears begin to warm and flush, Tifa brings a hand up to the brim of her hat, adjusting it slightly. ]
It’s not my usual style, but I figured it might be nice to dress up a little. I mean, this is kind of a special occasion, right?
[ Especially now that she knows he really is here. That her hope that he might come back to the village wasn’t totally off-base.
That’s a sentiment she doesn’t linger on for very long, though, as her gaze flits down to Cloud’s helmet, and then back to his uniform, taking it in. Then, as her eyes find their way back to his face: ]
… you look good, too, by the way. [ Now that she can actually see him. ] The uniform is cute.
[If it was anyone other than Tifa Lockhart hitting him with a comment like that, Cloud would undoubtedly bristle. Even if it's his own mother. Especially if it's his mother. The day before, when he'd swung by his childhood home, Claudia had peppered him with praise and adoration. She'd admired how handsome that uniform made him look. It had taken all his energy not to die of embarrassment. Here, now... it's a different kind of bashfulness that takes hold of him, seizes the breath in his chest as he tries to fight the warm tingliness in his ears.]
Y-You think I—
["Are you finished?"
Cloud's eyes shoot wide. From behind Tifa, practically towering over her, is none other than Sephiroth himself. He sounds more playful than pissed here, but even so... the man's a living legend. It's hard not to feel intimidated when he's staring you down like this. The SOLDIER's lip curls in a feline sort of grin.
"Clock's ticking," he murmurs softly, tapping his index finger twice against his own temple. Doesn't take much of a genius to figure out what the older man's trying to signal to him. Rather than shrink under his commanding officer's gaze, Cloud immediately straightens up, arms flat against his side as he stands at attention.]
Sir!
[Seemingly satisfied, Sephiroth makes a soft "hmm" sort of noise. Though he doesn't completely disengage until Cloud shoves that bulky helmet over his unkempt blonde hair. The moment the war hero's back is turned is when Cloud offers Tifa a hasty apology, mouthing the word, "Sorry." Sorry for not being honest with her from the start, but mostly sorry that their conversation got cut short like this. Maybe, if time permits, they can pick up from where they left off later on...?
Even if he can't give a voice to everything he wants to say, Zack's got no issue with making a little noise. Not long after Sephiroth pulls back, the younger SOLDIER's suddenly in their periphery, murmuring something about how bad the guy is at reading the room.
"Anyhoo," he segues, fixing Tifa with a wide grin, "guess you and Cloud go way back, right? So you prob'ly don't need me to tell you just how reliable he is!" Seriously, he can't even begin to tell her how many times this kid's managed to save his bacon out in the field!]
Zack...
[Cloud mutters through clenched teeth. Don't help him. Please, god, don't help him.]
[ Cloud starts to speak and Tifa, for all she might want to play it cool, finds herself hanging off of his every stammered word.
It’s likely why she doesn’t register Sephiroth’s presence until he’s right there behind her, too, her own spine going straight before she tilts her head to look back at him. Watching as he gestures, her heart does a series of nervous, little somersaults, right up until he’s turning away—at which point, finally, she lets herself turn her attention back to Cloud.
His apology is met with a brief shake of her head, as if to say it’s all right. Anything further she might’ve wanted to put out there—for example, asking after that half-spoken question of his—is swallowed down when Zack makes his approach, though. Affable as he might seem, Tifa is… well, she’s shy, at least about this one, specific thing. It makes it harder than she’d like to pursue a proper conversation with Cloud, even if this is every bit the moment she’s been waiting two years for.
Still, after just a beat of hesitation: ]
Mm. You know… he’s always been like that, ever since we were little.
[ Reliable, she probably means. She remembers, years ago, her dad telling her about Cloud coaxing her up Mt. Nibel, but—beyond that, she could always count on him, couldn’t she? He was steady fixture in her life before he left for Midgar, always tracking down Fluffy whenever she ran away from home without even needing to be asked, always hovering in the periphery of her thoughts.
That little detail, though, Tifa keeps to herself, even if she’d struggle to explain why if pressed. ]
Right, Cloud?
[ That said, her gaze flits in his direction again, and Tifa shifts her weight from foot to foot, almost like she wants to sidle closer, to give him a playful, gentle elbow. It’s the presence of a third party—and a touch of uncertainty—that keeps her rooted in place, though, unable to close the distance between them after the hug they’d shared, like her self-consciousness has finally managed to catch up with her. ]
Is Tifa messing with him? She's gotta be, right? After all, he's the one who failed her on their trek up Mt. Nibel. That's why he'd made a point to tell her he was gonna join SOLDIER. Hell, that's why he wanted to be a hero so badly in the first place. But since he revealed himself to Tifa, it feels like all this has been turned on its head. She never needed him to become a SOLDIER. She thinks he's always been reliable.
He sputters a bit, but can't string together even a single word. His mouth snaps shut, jaw tightening as he tries to regain some composure.
"Sounds about right!" Zack readily agrees. "Glad you see it, too!"]
Y-Yeah... [Cloud finally manages, thankful at least that his visor obscures how wide his eyes have grown.] Thanks, Tifa.
["Real chatterbox, isn't he?" teases Zack, looping to Cloud's side and hooking a muscular arm around his shoulder. Sheepishly, the younger cadet grins, still unsure of how to handle all this praise but not exactly hating it, either. "But man, you've been holding out on me, Cloud! You told me she was cute and all, but your friend here is downright gorgeous!"
All at once, every last drop of color drains from Cloud's face before erupting in a warm flush of red.]
T-That's— I was just—!
[Cloud's gonna die. No, better yet, he's gonna take Zack down with him, if he can swing it. None of this embarrassed trooper's behavior up til this point has scared Tifa off, but there's nothing he can do to walk this back. Crap. Shit. What the heck's he supposed to do with that out in the open!?
"Zack."
The country boys glance past Tifa and see Sephiroth waiting for him by the stairs, his expression twisted by equal parts boredom and exasperation. Uh-oh. Zack disengages, offering a carefree shrug, and figures they'd better not keep him waiting for too much longer. "Duty calls," he says, before trotting over to rejoin his comrade-in-arms, leaving an incredibly flustered Cloud on his own with Tifa once again.]
Sorry. He's always sorta been like this... [He glances down for a moment before impulsively blurting out:] He's got a girlfriend, though. Back in Midgar. So, he's— he's not gonna try anything. Don't worry.
[Right, because that's what Tifa's sure to be most worried about right now. Whether or not Zack's about to hit on her, not the fact that he just admitted flat-out that Cloud thought she was cute. Like it was no big deal.]
[ It’s a little funny, the moment that’s unfurling before her. It’s not just being able to talk to Cloud, though. Rather, it’s seeing all the ways he’s changed—and all the things about him that have remained the same. Case in point: how quiet he is, even in the presence of someone she can only assume he’s on good terms with.
Lips parting to make a little joke about that—or maybe just to agree with Zack’s observation—Tifa winds up stopping short as he continues, her brows creeping further up her forehead with each word he says. It isn’t until Cloud stammers out his response, though, that the full weight of what he’s said really hits her. Cloud told him, at some point, that she’s cute. And, of course, it’s that specific revelation that leaves her face feeling warm, her heart fluttering wildly as Sephiroth interrupts them once again.
This time, Tifa doesn’t look his way. Instead, she finds herself stealing sneaky, little glances in Cloud’s direction, wondering what kind of face he might be making under his helmet, not to mention the context under which he might’ve told Zack about her.
(Maybe that’s a mystery she’ll be able to solve before he leaves Nibelheim again, though.)
Lifting her hand in an absent sort of wave as the SOLDIER in question moves to leave them alone, her attention is quick to snap back to Cloud when he cuts through the silence stretching between them. Now, her gaze is unwavering, focused on his face as he speaks, right up until—
He's not gonna try anything. Don't worry.
At that, Tifa can’t help the laugh that escapes her, the tiny smile that quirks her lips. ]
Yeah? That’s a relief.
[ And, really, it kind of is. ]
I mean— nothing against him, it’s just…
[ Just…? The truth is that she has her eye on someone else, and has for a little while now—two years and counting, at least. Actually admitting to that feels pretty daunting, however. Especially here and now, when Cloud has only just gotten home. ]
… he’s not my type, you know?
[ Subtle. As if realizing that this might not be the time for that, though, Tifa is quick to reroute them. ]
Guess you didn’t come all this way to talk about stuff like that, though. [ With another laugh, she scuffs the toe of her boot against the ground, maybe feeling a touch self-conscious. ] Should I let you get back to work?
[Not her type? But... Zack's a hero. A little chatty (sometimes too chatty), but almost always the kind of guy you can rely on to bail you out of trouble. The kind of guy he always imagined Tifa might be sweet on.
He'd be lying if her comment didn't give him just the slightest bit of relief... As much as he'd love to keep talking, she's probably got a point.]
Prob'ly. [He presses a palm against the back of his helmet to straighten it out. Now that he thinks of it:] ...Should let you get back to it, too.
[Their small squad is raring to go, but they won't be getting far without their guide. A local guide who knows what she's doing. Sephiroth's made that perfectly clear. As he starts walking back to rejoin his fellow trooper and their commanding officers, he offers Tifa a sidelong glance... and a wry little smirk. He's not sure where this sudden burst of confidence is coming from, but he's not about to question it just now.]
I wanna see what "the best there is" can do.
[Turns out someone's been paying attention, even if he'd been a bit preoccupied with keeping his face covered up.]
… yeah. We both have pretty busy days ahead of us, huh?
[ Cloud, with backing up Sephiroth and Zack, and herself with getting them up Mt. Nibel in one piece.
A strange thing to think about, when she considers the last time she and Cloud found themselves scaling it, but… this time, she thinks, things are different. They’re both older, and she’s learned her way around its heights.
So, with that said, she moves to follow after him, making her way toward the rest of the group, presumably ready to do the job she was given. That little smirk Cloud shoots her, though, combined with what he says, has her pace faltering, if only for a moment. He heard that? It’s something that probably ought to be obvious—just because she didn’t know he was there doesn’t mean he wasn’t tuned in, himself—but somehow, some way, it hadn’t quite occurred to her.
Still, her voice comes out even, right on the border of teasing, when she responds: ]
Better make sure you keep a close eye on me, then.
[ Nevermind that something about that prospect—Cloud watching her on their way up the mountain—makes her heart feel all fluttery, the back of her neck warm. For now, that’s something she can’t let herself focus on overmuch. It’s not the time or the place, probably.
Instead, what matters is— ]
Are we all ready to move out?
[ —that, a question she directs toward the crew as a whole, even if her eyes keep finding their way to Cloud. ]
[Stupefied, Cloud nearly finds himself sputtering at that teasing response, his breath suddenly trapped in his throat. Did... she just...?
Hold up. Are he and Tifa flirting? Is that what's happening right now?
Man, day's barely started and already it's full of countless surprises. Cloud doesn't have any kind of witty comeback or snappy follow-up to Tifa's challenge, but if she sneaks a peek at him, she might catch sight of a goofy little smile. One he's unable to tuck into his scarf and hide from view in time.
He moves to fall in line with his fellow trooper, silent until addressed. Which isn't long, once Tifa directs a question to the party at large. He and his squadmate both stand at attention, yet Cloud's the one who pipes up.]
Yes, ma'am!
[Something about this... enthusiastic response seems to tickle Zack pink. As he glances first to Sephiroth, he's got a grin from ear to ear. The older man doesn't seem so amused, though he does look pleased, all the same. Most likely relieved that they'll finally be moving out without further ado. With a staccato chuckle, Zack looks back to Tifa.
"Sounds pretty unanimous to me. Let's get a move on!"]
[ She does steal a look in Cloud’s direction, and just like it’s hard for her to miss that goofy, little smile of his, Tifa can’t quite help her own grin. Unprofessional of her, probably, given what she was called on to do today, but… to her credit, she’s quick to school her features into something just a touch more neutral once Zack confirms that it’s time for them to get going.
From there, it takes nothing at all for her to slip into her role as their guide, making her way along the path that’ll take them up to the reactor. It isn’t the most familiar thing in the world—there’s no real reason for Tifa to go up there, most of the time—but she knows Mt. Nibel like the back of her own hand, it feels like. It’s why it’s easy to lead the way, more or less, up to a point. It’s also why, when the bridge gives beneath their little crew and sends them careening into the river below, the sudden upset is such a surprise.
Still, Tifa is quick to relent when Sephiroth suggests that she stays with them in the aftermath, that they can’t send her back to the village on her own. He’s probably got a point, she thinks. And, besides—there’s a small, reckless, selfish part of her that wants to see this through, in part because of Cloud’s presence. She’s not ready to call their time together quits, even if they’ve both got other responsibilities to attend to for the time being.
So, she soldiers on with the group, does her best to continue to direct them up the mountain. Stomps her foot, just a tiny bit, after Sephiroth informs her that civilians aren’t allowed into the reactor. Not even for the peek that she’d like to steal of its interior.
And then, with his parting words—keep the young lady safe—it’s just her and Cloud, alone at long, long last.
Scuffing her boot against the pavement, she turns her attention toward her childhood friend, and then cants her head to one side. All at once, the struggle that it was to climb the mountain, her disappointment over being barred from the inside of the reactor… all of it melts away. Not into nothing, but into something markedly less pressing. ]
So, [ is where she starts, one of the first things she’s really been able to say to him since they set off. That thought brings with it the way she’d flirted with him, before—because that’s definitely what was happening there, even if considering it too deeply is a recipe for her to wind up flustering herself. She can’t keep herself away from it completely, though. ] … what’d you think?
[The second they have some breathing room from Zack and Sephiroth, Cloud moves to pull his helmet off. It's against protocol to do so while on duty, he knows, but the thing really is bulky and cumbersome at times. Not to mention Tifa really seemed more at ease when she could see his true face back in town.
He hopes she's okay now. This trek up the mountain has been nothing if not eventful. Monsters left and right, spewing from the reactor up above. Not to mention the bridge giving out right from under them. Zack and Sephiroth had both come to his and Tifa's respective rescues. He's grateful for that. Still, they lost one of their own.
Cloud wasn't especially close with him. In truth, the boy from Nibelheim hasn't really made much of an effort to befriend any of his peers since joining the infantry. The only other soldier he feels he's truly bonded with is an honest-to-goodness SOLDIER: Zack Fair himself. Still, even if they weren't as tight-knit, the man was still his squadmate. Still a loss that could've been avoided. It weighs on him, but it must be weighing on Sephiroth even more.
He's grateful for Tifa piping up, drawing him out of those negative thoughts. Draping an arm over his helmet and holding it off to the side, Cloud glances back at her. Allows himself an almost playful sort of smile.]
[ If the way Tifa’s features soften is anything to go by, taking off his helmet was a good move. There’s something comforting about it, honestly. Being able to see Cloud’s face, to affirm yet again that he really is here.
… that it gives her a glimpse of that smile of his doesn’t hurt, either. It’s not something she got to see very often when they were growing up, now that she’s really thinking about it, but that might just make this moment that they’re sharing that much more special. Or, that’s how she’s choosing to look at it, at least.
Huffing out a fluttery little laugh in response, Tifa gives a shake of her head, as if his agreement with her earlier claim has left her bashful. Nevermind that she sought it out in the first place; it’s not a feeling she minds all that much, anyway. ]
Yeah? Glad to hear it. [ A pause, and, after just a heartbeat of deliberation: ] You did a good job, too.
[ As she says that, she lets herself drift a touch closer. Not quite encroaching on his personal space, but blotting out the distance between them nonetheless. ]
I really felt like you had my back, you know? Like you were looking out for me.
[ Which, of course, can only really bring one thing to mind. ]
… guess you got to make good on that promise we made after all, huh?
[ Not in the way she imagined when they were just kids, but… sticking close to her when fiends cropped up, making sure she didn’t get hurt, is close enough, she thinks. ]
[Is it, though? Can Cloud really say he was able to make good on his promise to Tifa after all? Honestly, he's not so sure.
When the bridge collapsed and they both nearly plummeted over that treacherous waterfall, it was Sephiroth who saved Tifa. Not Cloud. If it wasn't for Zack, Cloud might've gone over as well. Apart from that, though... he did do his best to watch her six. Even came to her rescue once or twice when more monsters creeped up.
May not be exactly what either of them had in mind, but...]
Yeah. [He bashfully has to agree with her.] Guess so.
[He hesitates, his next words getting stuck somewhere along the way up his throat. But when his eyes lock on hers, he finds the courage to speak back up again.]
When I decided to try and join SOLDIER... it wasn't just because of Sephiroth, y'know. Honestly... a lot of it was 'cause of you.
[ Just like it felt good to see Cloud’s face, the way he agrees with her—bashful though it may be—is nice, too. It has Tifa’s heart giving a little flutter, her smile growing by a fraction as their eyes meet.
There’s more to be said, here, if only because it feels like they have a lot of time to make up for, but—before she can find the words, Cloud beats her to the punch. A lot of it was 'cause of you. That leaves her lagging even further behind, honestly. Not in a bad way, of course, just…
It’s not something she had anticipated, is all.
Brows lifting with surprise, Tifa’s head cants to one side. And— ]
Me? Really?
[ Not her smoothest attempt at broaching the subject, but she has to ask, doesn’t she? ]
I mean— you never… [ … said that she had anything to do with it? That’s probably where she was going with that, even if she cuts herself short, letting her hand brush against Cloud’s lightly. Her gaze falls away from his, too, like something about this exchange has left her feeling shy. It’s a far cry from her bravado earlier, the way she’d boasted about being the best. ] I never would’ve guessed, you know?
[Suddenly—oh. It's like a stream of sparklers just shot up the side of his arm. And all Tifa did was just gently brush her hand against his. Her shift in demeanor doesn't go unnoticed, either. All that energy and excitement he's always known her for when they were kids has given way to something more modest. Shy, even.
It's kinda cute, if he's being honest with himself.
Cloud shifts his weight from one foot to the other, unable to keep his lip from curling.]
You really that surprised? I mean... [Maybe it's that sudden shyness in her that drives him to be a bit more bold.
Inching closer, Cloud seeks out her hand. Only this time, he's not looking for a single bolt of lightning. When his fingers curl around her hand, that sizzling rush of electricity travels the length of his arm again 'til the current manages to cycle through his chest, his stomach, the back of his neck, everywhere.
What a rush this gives him, holding Tifa's hand. Being this close to her. Being seen by her in a way that differs from that night at the water tower two years prior. In a lot of ways, it almost feels like she's seeing the real him for the first time, period.] You always...
[No, no. Don't lock up now. You're so close. Closer than ever before. You've got this.
That tension spills out of Cloud with a soft huff as he squeezes her hand to keep himself grounded.]
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"So that's what they've got you wearing, huh?"
Ordinary. That's a painfully accurate way to describe it. Even though this trip to the Mt. Nibel reactor may be anything but ordinary. Zack had told him what he was able to. Sounded like there had been monster sightings up top. Cloud had offered to guide them along the treacherous mountain passage, given that this was where he'd grown up, but apparently Sephiroth had already hired a guide.
He hadn't expected it to be her.
Seeing Tifa in that cute outfit, that floppy brown hat perched neatly atop her wavy black hair, just... well, it makes Cloud more grateful than ever that he's got that bulky visor to hide behind. That mint-green scarf to burrow his chin into in order to try and conceal how unexpectedly flustered all this is making him. It's what he should do, really. Keep silent, keep his head down. Let Zack and Sephiroth do all the talking. But while Tifa and her dad are busy making nice with Sephiroth, Cloud's so focused on keeping his head down that he nearly loses his balance when Zack nudges him in the back.
"Go on," the eager SOLDIER encourages his friend, smiley as ever. "Say hi!" Cloud grits his teeth a little. Telling Zack about life back home was a big mistake. He shouldn't have said anything about Tifa. The promise he'd made to her before leaving Nibelheim two years ago...
He ponders for a beat before stepping forward, trying to ignore the feeling of Zack's eyes on his back. The sweltering heat crawling up along his neck. As Tifa's father leaves the conversation to rejoin the mayor, Zack suddenly pushes past Cloud, calling for Sephiroth and asking if he's got a second. Something he wants to go over with him before they hit the road. A helpful distraction, Cloud has to admit as Sephiroth disengages from Tifa, but come on, man. He was already headed over there!
Focus, Cloud. You can do this.
A deep breath in, and out, and he's off once more. Now that Tifa's on her own, he clears his throat.]
'Scuse me, uh... Miss?
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It’s not anyone’s fault, not really, but… well. In the end, that doesn’t change the fact that the two SOLDIERs Shinra sent them aren’t who Tifa was hoping to see today. It first creeps up on her as she’s watching them step off the truck, her heart in her throat as she looks for a glimpse of familiar spiky, blond hair. It doesn’t really hit her, though, until she’s speaking with Sephiroth and Zack.
Cloud, despite her previous certainty that he’d take this as an opportunity to come home, isn’t going to be joining them for this mission.
For all it doesn’t bleed into the way she navigates the situation—she’s all smiles and confidence as she offers her assurance that she’s the best guide in Nibelheim, brushing off her father’s concern as she goes—it does hang in the back of Tifa’s mind, needling at her. Should she ask after him, or should she leave well enough alone? It’s a tough call to make, honestly, complicated even further by how much time has passed since she last spoke to Cloud. Maybe, she thinks, that’s intentional. Maybe it means he wants to put his past in Nibelheim behind him. At the same time, though… would it really hurt if she probed around a little?
It’s something she’s steeling herself for as her dad exits the conversation, giving her an opening. Except—
Except, before she can even begin to figure out how to potentially broach the subject, Zack’s voice cuts through the air, and then he and Sephiroth are stepping away, taking what could be her only opportunity to question them about Cloud along with them.
With a little sigh, her shoulders drop. Tifa, now on her own, readies herself to return home. It’s the sound of someone speaking to her—a voice that almost, almost feels familiar, in a distant sort of way—that has her stopping short, though, her attention turning instead toward the source. One of the two troopers that were sent alongside the SOLDIERs, she realizes, as she flashes him a sheepish smile, gives a brief wave of her hand. ]
Just Tifa is fine. [ None of that Miss stuff, please! ] … guess I didn’t really get the chance to properly introduce myself to you guys, though, did I?
[ So. That’s probably her bad, actually. ]
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[Nice going, genius. Should've just led with her name from the start, instead of trying to put up another barrier between the two of them. Pretending like he's someone else because right now he'd rather be anyone else. What he wouldn't give to be a SOLDIER, like he'd always dreamed of. Someone as chipper and carefree as Zack, or as undeniably powerful as Sephiroth. Could some nameless grunt like him ever hope to step out of their shadow someday...?]
It's okay. You're fine. I, uh...
[He's only a nameless grunt for as long as he chooses to be. Straightening up his posture, the young trooper reaches for his visor with both hands.]
...should prob'ly do the same, though.
[No turning back now. Sighing gently, he pulls the bulky covering off his head and holds it off to the side, revealing the wild blonde mane of one Cloud Strife. So unmistakable is that spiky head of hair that it likely doesn't warrant a full introduction. Not that it'll stop him from greeting her properly.
With a little incline of his head and a soft twitch in the corner of his mouth, he gives her an embarrassed little smile.]
Hi, Tifa.
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He looks older than she remembers, obviously, but there’s no mistaking those eyes, that hair, that face for anyone but— ]
Cloud!
[ —the one person she wanted to see today.
His name escapes her in a rush, and… she probably shouldn’t, but Tifa is moving on pure reflex as she closes the distance between them, letting herself into his space so she can throw her arms around him. It’s the first time they’ve ever been this close, the first time she’s ever hugged him, but that hardly seems to matter right now.
Instead, all there really is—as far as she’s concerned, at least—is Cloud, warm and solid and real where her arms are folded around him.
There’s a beat where Tifa lingers, breathing him in, before she finally offers a soft, ]
I was starting to think you weren’t gonna show. [ Her next exhale trembles, just slightly, as she gives him a little squeeze. Soon, she’ll let him go. For now, though, she wants to soak up this moment. To bottle it up and keep it close to her heart, alongside all of her other memories of Cloud. ] I was waiting, you know. When I heard they were sending SOLDIERs our way, I figured… you might be one of them.
[ And now, here he is. A tiny bit different from how she pictured, but present nonetheless. ]
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Give him a moment. A moment's all he needs to soak up this warmth, to commit this to memory. To wrap his own arms around Tifa in return, squeezing back after she gives one to him. Later on, he might reflect on how perfectly she seems to fit against his frame.
For now, he can't stop thinking about whether or not he actually deserves this.
A short distance behind him, the sound of hard plastic hitting gravel seems to have caught Sephiroth's attention. Feline eyes narrowing, the vaunted war hero takes a step towards the young pair. Lucky for both of them, Zack comes to their rescue, tossing an arm out in front of Sephiroth to stop the older man in his tracks.
"Let 'em have this," he tells his friend, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "They're childhood friends, y'know? Come on... How long do you think they've been waiting for a moment like this?" The words leave him before he's really stopped to think about them. Sephiroth sure does, his intense gaze lingering on Cloud's back for a moment longer.
"...I wouldn't know."]
That's on me. [Cloud murmurs after Tifa lets him go.] I should've written you before I got here, I just...
[His fallen helmet makes for a good distraction, allowing Cloud a beat to collect himself as he hunches over to retrieve it. But when he rises back to his full height and locks eyes with Tifa again... guilt twists at his stomach.]
I didn't know how to break it to you. [Deep breaths. Better late than never.] I didn't make the cut.
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She knows, though, that she needs to pull back. They're in the middle of town, after all, accompanied by other villagers, and her dad, and Cloud’s colleagues. The Sephiroth is only a handful of feet away, even. So, after just one more selfish moment, that’s precisely what she does, her arms falling away, her hands linking together behind her back for lack of anything better to do with them.
As she watches him move to retrieve his helmet—the source of the noise, she realizes, just a touch belatedly—Tifa tilts her head, her expression equal parts attentive and curious. Her expectation is that he was too busy to find the time to write, or that being so far from home made it so that she slipped right out of his mind, temporarily forgotten as his new life in the big city opened up before him. What she isn’t anticipating is where Cloud takes his admission. I didn't know how to break it to you. I didn't make the cut.
It’s why there’s a beat of hesitation before— ]
… for SOLDIER, right?
[ It’d explain a thing or two, wouldn’t it? The uniform he’s wearing, the lack of fanfare surrounding his arrival. ]
You… could’ve said it just like that, [ she offers, after a brief moment of hesitation, her eyes lingering on his. For all her words are matter-of-fact, though, there’s something soft in her tone. Something gentle. ] I would’ve been happy to hear from you either way.
[ Good news or bad, SOLDIER or not. ]
You know that, don’t you?
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...I guess I didn't.
[He knows now. That Tifa would be happy to hear from him regardless. SOLDIER or no, it doesn't make any difference to her. All that matters is that it's him. His face must be burning, but even if he shoves that helmet back down over his wild, spiky hair, it won't do much to hide it.
Even if it wasn't what he'd planned on, there was once a time where Cloud felt a sense of pride when he'd first donned his Shinra fatigues. Now, more than ever, he feels every bit like a rookie. Like he's still got a lot of growing up to do. It can wait, though. Tifa wanted to hear from him. She's right here in front of him.
An awkward silence lingers in the air before Cloud pipes up. Partially to take some of the pressure off himself, but mostly because he wants to offer Tifa a compliment.]
Nice hat. [If any of the other local boys heard him say it, they might call him a smartass. And hey, maybe his tone does make him sound like one, a little. It's the softness in his eyes that confirms he genuinely means it.] Looks good on you.
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With that seemingly handled, though, Tifa finds herself fishing for her next move, wondering how she ought to move forward. But, before she can pick a direction—
Nice hat.
—Cloud’s voice cuts through her thoughts, pulling a quiet, almost-shy laugh from the back of her throat. ]
You really think so?
[ Unable to keep herself from smiling, even as the tips of her ears begin to warm and flush, Tifa brings a hand up to the brim of her hat, adjusting it slightly. ]
It’s not my usual style, but I figured it might be nice to dress up a little. I mean, this is kind of a special occasion, right?
[ Especially now that she knows he really is here. That her hope that he might come back to the village wasn’t totally off-base.
That’s a sentiment she doesn’t linger on for very long, though, as her gaze flits down to Cloud’s helmet, and then back to his uniform, taking it in. Then, as her eyes find their way back to his face: ]
… you look good, too, by the way. [ Now that she can actually see him. ] The uniform is cute.
[ He’s pretty cute. ]
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[If it was anyone other than Tifa Lockhart hitting him with a comment like that, Cloud would undoubtedly bristle. Even if it's his own mother. Especially if it's his mother. The day before, when he'd swung by his childhood home, Claudia had peppered him with praise and adoration. She'd admired how handsome that uniform made him look. It had taken all his energy not to die of embarrassment. Here, now... it's a different kind of bashfulness that takes hold of him, seizes the breath in his chest as he tries to fight the warm tingliness in his ears.]
Y-You think I—
["Are you finished?"
Cloud's eyes shoot wide. From behind Tifa, practically towering over her, is none other than Sephiroth himself. He sounds more playful than pissed here, but even so... the man's a living legend. It's hard not to feel intimidated when he's staring you down like this. The SOLDIER's lip curls in a feline sort of grin.
"Clock's ticking," he murmurs softly, tapping his index finger twice against his own temple. Doesn't take much of a genius to figure out what the older man's trying to signal to him. Rather than shrink under his commanding officer's gaze, Cloud immediately straightens up, arms flat against his side as he stands at attention.]
Sir!
[Seemingly satisfied, Sephiroth makes a soft "hmm" sort of noise. Though he doesn't completely disengage until Cloud shoves that bulky helmet over his unkempt blonde hair. The moment the war hero's back is turned is when Cloud offers Tifa a hasty apology, mouthing the word, "Sorry." Sorry for not being honest with her from the start, but mostly sorry that their conversation got cut short like this. Maybe, if time permits, they can pick up from where they left off later on...?
Even if he can't give a voice to everything he wants to say, Zack's got no issue with making a little noise. Not long after Sephiroth pulls back, the younger SOLDIER's suddenly in their periphery, murmuring something about how bad the guy is at reading the room.
"Anyhoo," he segues, fixing Tifa with a wide grin, "guess you and Cloud go way back, right? So you prob'ly don't need me to tell you just how reliable he is!" Seriously, he can't even begin to tell her how many times this kid's managed to save his bacon out in the field!]
Zack...
[Cloud mutters through clenched teeth. Don't help him. Please, god, don't help him.]
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It’s likely why she doesn’t register Sephiroth’s presence until he’s right there behind her, too, her own spine going straight before she tilts her head to look back at him. Watching as he gestures, her heart does a series of nervous, little somersaults, right up until he’s turning away—at which point, finally, she lets herself turn her attention back to Cloud.
His apology is met with a brief shake of her head, as if to say it’s all right. Anything further she might’ve wanted to put out there—for example, asking after that half-spoken question of his—is swallowed down when Zack makes his approach, though. Affable as he might seem, Tifa is… well, she’s shy, at least about this one, specific thing. It makes it harder than she’d like to pursue a proper conversation with Cloud, even if this is every bit the moment she’s been waiting two years for.
Still, after just a beat of hesitation: ]
Mm. You know… he’s always been like that, ever since we were little.
[ Reliable, she probably means. She remembers, years ago, her dad telling her about Cloud coaxing her up Mt. Nibel, but—beyond that, she could always count on him, couldn’t she? He was steady fixture in her life before he left for Midgar, always tracking down Fluffy whenever she ran away from home without even needing to be asked, always hovering in the periphery of her thoughts.
That little detail, though, Tifa keeps to herself, even if she’d struggle to explain why if pressed. ]
Right, Cloud?
[ That said, her gaze flits in his direction again, and Tifa shifts her weight from foot to foot, almost like she wants to sidle closer, to give him a playful, gentle elbow. It’s the presence of a third party—and a touch of uncertainty—that keeps her rooted in place, though, unable to close the distance between them after the hug they’d shared, like her self-consciousness has finally managed to catch up with her. ]
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Is Tifa messing with him? She's gotta be, right? After all, he's the one who failed her on their trek up Mt. Nibel. That's why he'd made a point to tell her he was gonna join SOLDIER. Hell, that's why he wanted to be a hero so badly in the first place. But since he revealed himself to Tifa, it feels like all this has been turned on its head. She never needed him to become a SOLDIER. She thinks he's always been reliable.
He sputters a bit, but can't string together even a single word. His mouth snaps shut, jaw tightening as he tries to regain some composure.
"Sounds about right!" Zack readily agrees. "Glad you see it, too!"]
Y-Yeah... [Cloud finally manages, thankful at least that his visor obscures how wide his eyes have grown.] Thanks, Tifa.
["Real chatterbox, isn't he?" teases Zack, looping to Cloud's side and hooking a muscular arm around his shoulder. Sheepishly, the younger cadet grins, still unsure of how to handle all this praise but not exactly hating it, either. "But man, you've been holding out on me, Cloud! You told me she was cute and all, but your friend here is downright gorgeous!"
All at once, every last drop of color drains from Cloud's face before erupting in a warm flush of red.]
T-That's— I was just—!
[Cloud's gonna die. No, better yet, he's gonna take Zack down with him, if he can swing it. None of this embarrassed trooper's behavior up til this point has scared Tifa off, but there's nothing he can do to walk this back. Crap. Shit. What the heck's he supposed to do with that out in the open!?
"Zack."
The country boys glance past Tifa and see Sephiroth waiting for him by the stairs, his expression twisted by equal parts boredom and exasperation. Uh-oh. Zack disengages, offering a carefree shrug, and figures they'd better not keep him waiting for too much longer. "Duty calls," he says, before trotting over to rejoin his comrade-in-arms, leaving an incredibly flustered Cloud on his own with Tifa once again.]
Sorry. He's always sorta been like this... [He glances down for a moment before impulsively blurting out:] He's got a girlfriend, though. Back in Midgar. So, he's— he's not gonna try anything. Don't worry.
[Right, because that's what Tifa's sure to be most worried about right now. Whether or not Zack's about to hit on her, not the fact that he just admitted flat-out that Cloud thought she was cute. Like it was no big deal.]
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Lips parting to make a little joke about that—or maybe just to agree with Zack’s observation—Tifa winds up stopping short as he continues, her brows creeping further up her forehead with each word he says. It isn’t until Cloud stammers out his response, though, that the full weight of what he’s said really hits her. Cloud told him, at some point, that she’s cute. And, of course, it’s that specific revelation that leaves her face feeling warm, her heart fluttering wildly as Sephiroth interrupts them once again.
This time, Tifa doesn’t look his way. Instead, she finds herself stealing sneaky, little glances in Cloud’s direction, wondering what kind of face he might be making under his helmet, not to mention the context under which he might’ve told Zack about her.
(Maybe that’s a mystery she’ll be able to solve before he leaves Nibelheim again, though.)
Lifting her hand in an absent sort of wave as the SOLDIER in question moves to leave them alone, her attention is quick to snap back to Cloud when he cuts through the silence stretching between them. Now, her gaze is unwavering, focused on his face as he speaks, right up until—
He's not gonna try anything. Don't worry.
At that, Tifa can’t help the laugh that escapes her, the tiny smile that quirks her lips. ]
Yeah? That’s a relief.
[ And, really, it kind of is. ]
I mean— nothing against him, it’s just…
[ Just…? The truth is that she has her eye on someone else, and has for a little while now—two years and counting, at least. Actually admitting to that feels pretty daunting, however. Especially here and now, when Cloud has only just gotten home. ]
… he’s not my type, you know?
[ Subtle. As if realizing that this might not be the time for that, though, Tifa is quick to reroute them. ]
Guess you didn’t come all this way to talk about stuff like that, though. [ With another laugh, she scuffs the toe of her boot against the ground, maybe feeling a touch self-conscious. ] Should I let you get back to work?
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He'd be lying if her comment didn't give him just the slightest bit of relief... As much as he'd love to keep talking, she's probably got a point.]
Prob'ly. [He presses a palm against the back of his helmet to straighten it out. Now that he thinks of it:] ...Should let you get back to it, too.
[Their small squad is raring to go, but they won't be getting far without their guide. A local guide who knows what she's doing. Sephiroth's made that perfectly clear. As he starts walking back to rejoin his fellow trooper and their commanding officers, he offers Tifa a sidelong glance... and a wry little smirk. He's not sure where this sudden burst of confidence is coming from, but he's not about to question it just now.]
I wanna see what "the best there is" can do.
[Turns out someone's been paying attention, even if he'd been a bit preoccupied with keeping his face covered up.]
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[ Cloud, with backing up Sephiroth and Zack, and herself with getting them up Mt. Nibel in one piece.
A strange thing to think about, when she considers the last time she and Cloud found themselves scaling it, but… this time, she thinks, things are different. They’re both older, and she’s learned her way around its heights.
So, with that said, she moves to follow after him, making her way toward the rest of the group, presumably ready to do the job she was given. That little smirk Cloud shoots her, though, combined with what he says, has her pace faltering, if only for a moment. He heard that? It’s something that probably ought to be obvious—just because she didn’t know he was there doesn’t mean he wasn’t tuned in, himself—but somehow, some way, it hadn’t quite occurred to her.
Still, her voice comes out even, right on the border of teasing, when she responds: ]
Better make sure you keep a close eye on me, then.
[ Nevermind that something about that prospect—Cloud watching her on their way up the mountain—makes her heart feel all fluttery, the back of her neck warm. For now, that’s something she can’t let herself focus on overmuch. It’s not the time or the place, probably.
Instead, what matters is— ]
Are we all ready to move out?
[ —that, a question she directs toward the crew as a whole, even if her eyes keep finding their way to Cloud. ]
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Hold up. Are he and Tifa flirting? Is that what's happening right now?
Man, day's barely started and already it's full of countless surprises. Cloud doesn't have any kind of witty comeback or snappy follow-up to Tifa's challenge, but if she sneaks a peek at him, she might catch sight of a goofy little smile. One he's unable to tuck into his scarf and hide from view in time.
He moves to fall in line with his fellow trooper, silent until addressed. Which isn't long, once Tifa directs a question to the party at large. He and his squadmate both stand at attention, yet Cloud's the one who pipes up.]
Yes, ma'am!
[Something about this... enthusiastic response seems to tickle Zack pink. As he glances first to Sephiroth, he's got a grin from ear to ear. The older man doesn't seem so amused, though he does look pleased, all the same. Most likely relieved that they'll finally be moving out without further ado. With a staccato chuckle, Zack looks back to Tifa.
"Sounds pretty unanimous to me. Let's get a move on!"]
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From there, it takes nothing at all for her to slip into her role as their guide, making her way along the path that’ll take them up to the reactor. It isn’t the most familiar thing in the world—there’s no real reason for Tifa to go up there, most of the time—but she knows Mt. Nibel like the back of her own hand, it feels like. It’s why it’s easy to lead the way, more or less, up to a point. It’s also why, when the bridge gives beneath their little crew and sends them careening into the river below, the sudden upset is such a surprise.
Still, Tifa is quick to relent when Sephiroth suggests that she stays with them in the aftermath, that they can’t send her back to the village on her own. He’s probably got a point, she thinks. And, besides—there’s a small, reckless, selfish part of her that wants to see this through, in part because of Cloud’s presence. She’s not ready to call their time together quits, even if they’ve both got other responsibilities to attend to for the time being.
So, she soldiers on with the group, does her best to continue to direct them up the mountain. Stomps her foot, just a tiny bit, after Sephiroth informs her that civilians aren’t allowed into the reactor. Not even for the peek that she’d like to steal of its interior.
And then, with his parting words—keep the young lady safe—it’s just her and Cloud, alone at long, long last.
Scuffing her boot against the pavement, she turns her attention toward her childhood friend, and then cants her head to one side. All at once, the struggle that it was to climb the mountain, her disappointment over being barred from the inside of the reactor… all of it melts away. Not into nothing, but into something markedly less pressing. ]
So, [ is where she starts, one of the first things she’s really been able to say to him since they set off. That thought brings with it the way she’d flirted with him, before—because that’s definitely what was happening there, even if considering it too deeply is a recipe for her to wind up flustering herself. She can’t keep herself away from it completely, though. ] … what’d you think?
[ Was she, in fact, the best there is? ]
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He hopes she's okay now. This trek up the mountain has been nothing if not eventful. Monsters left and right, spewing from the reactor up above. Not to mention the bridge giving out right from under them. Zack and Sephiroth had both come to his and Tifa's respective rescues. He's grateful for that. Still, they lost one of their own.
Cloud wasn't especially close with him. In truth, the boy from Nibelheim hasn't really made much of an effort to befriend any of his peers since joining the infantry. The only other soldier he feels he's truly bonded with is an honest-to-goodness SOLDIER: Zack Fair himself. Still, even if they weren't as tight-knit, the man was still his squadmate. Still a loss that could've been avoided. It weighs on him, but it must be weighing on Sephiroth even more.
He's grateful for Tifa piping up, drawing him out of those negative thoughts. Draping an arm over his helmet and holding it off to the side, Cloud glances back at her. Allows himself an almost playful sort of smile.]
All in all... I'd say you lived up to the title.
[She really is the best there is.]
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… that it gives her a glimpse of that smile of his doesn’t hurt, either. It’s not something she got to see very often when they were growing up, now that she’s really thinking about it, but that might just make this moment that they’re sharing that much more special. Or, that’s how she’s choosing to look at it, at least.
Huffing out a fluttery little laugh in response, Tifa gives a shake of her head, as if his agreement with her earlier claim has left her bashful. Nevermind that she sought it out in the first place; it’s not a feeling she minds all that much, anyway. ]
Yeah? Glad to hear it. [ A pause, and, after just a heartbeat of deliberation: ] You did a good job, too.
[ As she says that, she lets herself drift a touch closer. Not quite encroaching on his personal space, but blotting out the distance between them nonetheless. ]
I really felt like you had my back, you know? Like you were looking out for me.
[ Which, of course, can only really bring one thing to mind. ]
… guess you got to make good on that promise we made after all, huh?
[ Not in the way she imagined when they were just kids, but… sticking close to her when fiends cropped up, making sure she didn’t get hurt, is close enough, she thinks. ]
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When the bridge collapsed and they both nearly plummeted over that treacherous waterfall, it was Sephiroth who saved Tifa. Not Cloud. If it wasn't for Zack, Cloud might've gone over as well. Apart from that, though... he did do his best to watch her six. Even came to her rescue once or twice when more monsters creeped up.
May not be exactly what either of them had in mind, but...]
Yeah. [He bashfully has to agree with her.] Guess so.
[He hesitates, his next words getting stuck somewhere along the way up his throat. But when his eyes lock on hers, he finds the courage to speak back up again.]
When I decided to try and join SOLDIER... it wasn't just because of Sephiroth, y'know. Honestly... a lot of it was 'cause of you.
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There’s more to be said, here, if only because it feels like they have a lot of time to make up for, but—before she can find the words, Cloud beats her to the punch. A lot of it was 'cause of you. That leaves her lagging even further behind, honestly. Not in a bad way, of course, just…
It’s not something she had anticipated, is all.
Brows lifting with surprise, Tifa’s head cants to one side. And— ]
Me? Really?
[ Not her smoothest attempt at broaching the subject, but she has to ask, doesn’t she? ]
I mean— you never… [ … said that she had anything to do with it? That’s probably where she was going with that, even if she cuts herself short, letting her hand brush against Cloud’s lightly. Her gaze falls away from his, too, like something about this exchange has left her feeling shy. It’s a far cry from her bravado earlier, the way she’d boasted about being the best. ] I never would’ve guessed, you know?
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It's kinda cute, if he's being honest with himself.
Cloud shifts his weight from one foot to the other, unable to keep his lip from curling.]
You really that surprised? I mean... [Maybe it's that sudden shyness in her that drives him to be a bit more bold.
Inching closer, Cloud seeks out her hand. Only this time, he's not looking for a single bolt of lightning. When his fingers curl around her hand, that sizzling rush of electricity travels the length of his arm again 'til the current manages to cycle through his chest, his stomach, the back of his neck, everywhere.
What a rush this gives him, holding Tifa's hand. Being this close to her. Being seen by her in a way that differs from that night at the water tower two years prior. In a lot of ways, it almost feels like she's seeing the real him for the first time, period.] You always...
[No, no. Don't lock up now. You're so close. Closer than ever before. You've got this.
That tension spills out of Cloud with a soft huff as he squeezes her hand to keep himself grounded.]
You made me want to be better.
[For himself. And for her.]