#speaking of tifa is next/last

[dissidiacloudstrife]

i really wasnt expecting to start and finish this today

Sephiroth | Genesis | Angeal | Zack | Aerith | Tifa

[justauthoring]

against the world [1].

because against all odds, you had found reno and he'd found you.

a/n: THE WAY THIS MAN HAS A CHOKEHOLD ON ME also im a sucker for the trope where two people are supposed to be enemies but love each other and are betraying their friends/work/beliefs etc. to be with one another so this was born :)

pairing: reno sinclair x f!reader

“Where are you off to?”

Feet halting beneath you, every muscle tenses as you hear Tifa step up behind you. You mentally curse her perceptiveness, having been so close to the door and making it out without anyone's knowledge before she called out for you.

With a gentle laugh, you glance at her from over your shoulder, noticing that Biggs, Jessie and Wedge who’d been at their regular table talking were looking your way as well.

“Out,” you start, offering a small smile as you scramble to come up with an explanation. Now that Tifa had asked and gotten their attention, there was no way any single one of them were going to let you slip out with just that. Taking a glance around the rest of the bar, your answer comes to you with a blink of the eye; “it’s late. I’m gonna retire for the night.”

“Oh?” Tifa’s head tilts, a frown of concern falling on her lips. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” you assure with ease, waving your hand at her. “Just tired. Didn’t get a good night's rest last night.”

“I think Y/N’s got a boyfriend she’s not telling us about.”

You like to think your expression is schooled, but even then you can’t help the way your eyes widen slightly at Jessie’s taunt. There’s a teasing smile on her face as she says the words, offering a nudge to Biggs’ arm as the two boys turn to you with wide eyes and Tifa’s concern is quickly replaced with interest.

“Oh!” Tifa calls, clapping her hands in front of her and she turns to you with a twinkle in her gaze. “Really?”

Before you can say anything, Jessie is jumping up from her seat and crossing the short distance over to you and Tifa by the bar door. She’s grinning from wide, ear to ear, moving to stand next to Tifa as she lets her eyes drag across you in thought. “Hasn’t she seemed more happy recently? A sort of… pep in her step?” She asks Tifa, blatantly ignoring the fact that you’re standing right in front of her. “Besides, she’s alway sneaking off early after meets. Especially when she used to stay and play cards with me all night.”

Panicked, you shake your head; “no, I–”

“I guess that is true,” Tifa agrees thoughtfully, nodding her head before her eyes meet yours directly. “You have seemed more distracted recently. Like you’re always lost in your thoughts.”

Feeling your cheeks warm, you stare back and forth between the two of them, suddenly realizing how dangerous they really were.

“But that’s just crazy,” Biggs finally speaks up, him and Wedge moving to stand with you three and your saving grace. “Y/N would’ve told us. Wouldn’t you?”

“Exactly,” Wedge agrees with ease, a joyful smile on his lips like there always is as he grins at you widely. “Y/N tells us everything! We’re her friends!”

You’ve never loved Biggs and Wedge more than you do at that moment.

“Of course,” you agree with ease, ignoring the small tinge of guilt that floods you when you realize that you are in fact lying. That, and you are keeping a secret from them… but if it weren’t for the circumstances, you would’ve told them all right away.

You wish you could tell them.

“I’ve just been tired recently,” you move to explain to Tifa and Jessie, hoping they’ll buy it. “We’ve been ramping up our efforts and it’s just been leaving me a little more exhausted as of late.”

Jessie still looks like she doesn’t quite trust you, a certain edge to her eyes as she glances at you, half expecting you to crack. You will yourself to hold strong, never letting your smile fade from your lips as you take a small step towards the door.

“Okay,” Tifa concedes with a nod, smiling at you. “Well, try to get some rest tonight. You know you can talk to me if it is more, right?”

Swallowing thickly, you nod, hoping it doesn’t come across too stiff as you offer them one last wave before turning and making your way out of the door. Jessie calls out to you to be safe on your way home just before you leave, and that brings a smile to your face, happy that she wasn’t actually upset with you and let the door to Seventh Heaven fall shut behind you.

Then, you take a moment, breathing in sharply before starting on your trip.

When you reach the corner you would’ve turned to head home, you turn the opposite way, and continue on from there, making your way out of Sector Seven and past that. You don’t stop, in fact, until you reach the edge of where you’d head to go up Topside, shrouded by the shadows that the night provided, glancing over your shoulder once more to make sure no one had followed you.

Then, just as you move to step forward, a hand wraps itself around your wrist and you’re tugged to the side, pressed against the wall of a fence as a figure presses itself up against you. There’s a momentary breath of panic, before you recognize the familiar shade of red and the touch of the hand that ghosts across your cheek and you let out a heavy breath.

“Reno,” you call, meeting his gaze as you blink up at him. He’s grinning widely down at you, his other hand falling on your hip as he brushes back a stray hair with the other.

“Hey,” he whispers, biting his lip. 

In the next second, he’s pressing his lips against your own and you instantly return the affection. Your hands move to grip his cheeks, playing with ruly strands of his hair and tugging at them, curling into his hold to press yourself against him. Reno moans against the action, squeezing your hips in his hands, biting your bottom lip gently as he pulls away.

Breathless, you glance up at him.

“You were late,” he whispers a moment later, frowning slightly.

“Sorry,” you sigh, letting your hands fall against his chest. “Tifa caught me on my way out and then Jessie said she thought I was sneaking out to see some guy and that got the guys’ interest and it was just… a lot.”

“Little does she know how right she is,” Reno teases, quirking a brow down at him.

You just shake your head up at him, playing with the edge of his suit. “It sucks lying to them,” you admit quietly, avoiding his gaze as you say the words. “I wish I could tell them. I wanna tell Tifa and Jessie all about you.”

“About how great of a guy I am?”

Scoffing, you lightly slap his chest; “Reno. I’m serious.”

The smirk fades from his lips and is replaced by a gentle frown. “I’m sorry,” he offers softly, tracing a loose pattern on your hip with his thumb. “I wish we could tell people too. Rude’s actually been pretty noisy lately himself and I think he knows something. But… you understand why we can’t yeah?”

“Because Avalanche is actively trying to bring down Shinra… the company you work for?” You snort at Reno, raising a brow at him. “Yeah, I know.”

Licking his lips, Reno huffs; “I wish it was different but… this is how it has to be for now.”

Nodding, you sniffle; “I just know this can’t last is all.”

Frowning, Reno’s brows furrow; “what do you mean?”

“Tifa says an old friend of hers is coming down soon,” you explain, “he’s a merc but he’s apparently an ex-soldier… I think Barret wants to get pretty serious. And I shouldn’t even be telling you this stuff because I’m betraying my friends doing it… let alone just being with you.”

You can’t help it, your emotions catch up with you. The incident from earlier, although mild, had sent you in a frenzy and the sheer possibility of your friends, your family knowing that you were dating one of Shinra’s Turks? It had terrified you. Barret would for sure throw you out and Jessie, Biggs and Wedge would never talk to you again… And Tifa? She’d be so hurt and betrayed and–

“Hey, hey,” Reno calls out, cupping your cheek as he pulls your eyes on him. You bite your lip as he does, trying to stop the tears that refuse to stop, meeting his eyes as he brushes them away with his thumb. “We’ll figure it out, okay? Somehow.”

Nodding, you sigh. Truthfully, it’s hard to believe his words and you hardly think that any of it will end well. If anything, it’s bound to end horribly. Horrifically. But… but you can’t let that ruin the moments you have now because you’re not sure how much longer you’ll have them.

Because Reno might be Turk and work for a company that goes against everything you believe in, and you might be a terrorist in the eyes of Reno’s company… but you love him and he loves you and you’re not even sure how it all happened but he owns your heart completely and wholly.

And you wanted to cherish that for as long as you could while you still could.

“Okay,” you whisper, setting your hand over his own as you lean into his touch. “I trust you.”

[cloudsmateria]

shitty friend. cloud strife x reader

tw: almost smut, forbidden romance

summary: tifa likes cloud, you're pretty sure. and you've been worrying about him ever since you left midgar, until one night in costa del sol you catch him sneaking out, following him on the way in the rain. u might know what happens next.

a/n: guys let me know if you want more of this i might make into a longer thing.

You were stuck sitting at your balcony watching the breeze run through the palm trees, Aerith and Tifa were dead asleep behind you after the long day you had all just had. You should be dead asleep, but your thoughts got the better of you tonight, anytime you laid down your continuous, tangled threads of thoughts came crashing over you. Sector 7, Sephiroth, your parents, Cloud. You were worried about him. He’s been acting off, he’s always been off but now he seemed a lot more lost, frustrated, trying to cover his thoughts up. Even his falling out with TIfa was uncharacteristic of him.

The thought of him was a strange amalgamation of feelings, comforting and fuzzy, or worrying. You don’t know what drew you so much to him, how you felt wasn’t something since you were a kid. You wanted to get to know him as much as possible, to be around him as much as possible, feeling giddier when he gave you a compliment, a look, an anything. Earlier on the beach he came to talk to you, while everyone else agreed to head back, that 10 minute talk felt like an eternity by the sunset, it made you feel warm. 

He worried you beyond what was going on with him. What was going on with you? Why did you like him so much? You had a creeping suspicion it was a crush, but denial didn’t let you acknowledge it. It wouldn’t work. Surely he likes someone else. And you’re pretty sure Tifa’s been in love with him since they were children, that must have gone both ways, especially against you who he’s only known for a month. You groan, leaning your head back against the pillar attached to the balcony fence you were sitting on. The thought of him added to your dizzying thoughts. 

You heard a door quietly creek down the hallway, along with some light noises from the creakier, shitty floorboards, and coincidentally, Cloud walking down the steps of the exit and going for the slim path to the main roads. What was on his mind this time? You silently hop down from your first-floor balcony, quickly walking toward him as you watched him get on the segway, zooming off quite a bit ahead of you. You got on one too, following him to the edge of the touristy bit of Costa Del Sol, getting off when leaving the area. Suspicious? You originally weren’t intending on hiding but that changed, trying to figure out what was going on. 

He ended up walking to the large pond by the cliffside, empty, and quiet, leaning up by one of the boulders and looking the moonlight on the water. You walked out, him looking at you. 

“Hey.”

“Following me?”

“I was worried about you." You said, leaning next to him.

“Why are you still up?”

“A lot to think about.”

“Haven’t got a moment to ourselves since before the reactor.” He said with a sincere look, the buzz was there again. “What’s on your mind?”

“Well, I’m here to talk to you but… Just everything… Sephiroth. Midgar. Shinra. Tifa. Aerith… You.”

“You shouldn’t worry about me.”

“So why are you out here so late? What are you thinking about?”

He shakes his head, it’s sweet how much you care. “Nothing, just needed a breath of air. Wanted to be alone for a bit but clearly the Planet had different plans.”

“Maybe the Planet is giving you a sign… I know you and I can tell something’s wrong, and you’re not alone. You should talk to me.”

It’s quiet for a second, before he decides to speak. “I’ve noticed about you that too, you never talk about what’s going on in your head.”

“If I did then would you talk to me?” 

He hesitates, he can’t remember the last time he really opened up to anyone about what was going on in his head, his thoughts. He opened one suspicion to Tifa, and look where that got him. But something about you makes him think you’ll listen, you won’t think he’s insane, or weak, something about you puts his head to ease. “Yeah. Why not?”

“I was thinking about my parents in Midgar. I’m mostly worried about you. I can tell you’re low, and there’s a lot on your mind.”

“What about your parents?”

You laugh awkwardly, thinking back to them. No one knows about it yet, Tifa and Aerith knows vague bits, but not the whole story. “My mum went missing when I was 15, and my dad has been missing since I was born.” You said, adding the second bit trying to make a joke out of it. “I don’t really know what happened to my mum, she went missing in Wall Market when she used to do underground fighting for money.”

“I’m…” He was lost for words. “Sorry, that’s horrible.”

“It was a long time ago, all of us have lost our parents so it’s not anything special. I just wonder what happened to her sometimes, and my dad, apparently he was a lovely man but she didn’t talk about him much, I have a few photos and a few letters he wrote to me before I was born.” You looked at Cloud. “He was a SOLDIER First Class in Shinra’s All-Star team before your time, so I assume he’s part of the regiment that died, if my mum got a letter she didn’t tell me.” 

He opened his mouth, but no words came out, there was a distinct solemn expression on his face. “You don’t have to say anything.” You said warmly, with a light laugh. 

“I’m sorry, it’s hard.”

“It doesn’t affect me that much. I found Aerith a year later in Sector 5, then Tifa when I eventually moved to Sector 7. So…” 

He stopped leaning against the boulder, beckoning you to come with him, you get up, walking beside him. “I don’t understand how you just open up to people like that.”

“I’ve never told anyone before.”

“What?”

“Tifa and Aerith just know I don’t have parents, they don’t know the details. Telling people about my past freaks me since I’ve never said anything for so long. But I know you feel the same way, I see myself in you, that’s why I can tell you’re off. We trust each other, don’t we? With everything.”

“I trust you, entirely.” You smile broadly, bumping into his shoulder, and in a strange way he felt at peace, being seen for once. 

“So you gonna keep up your end of the promise?”

“I don’t know, it’s a lot.”

“Nothing’s too much, don’t worry.”

“This might sound crazy, but sometimes, I don’t know if my thoughts are my own, it feels like they’re someone elses. I feel like I get memories triggered from a life and I don’t know if they’re mine or not, it’s all jumbled up, and it’s making me feel insane. Some of my memories don’t match up with Tifa’s, inconsistencies when we were in Kalm with Sephiroth. I started to doubt her, and we got into an argument. I feel crazy. I get these headaches and-” His words started to speed up at the end, groaning in annoyance at his own thoughts, wondering why he didn’t feel uncomfortable saying any of this. 

“It’s okay.”

“I get these headaches like my head is collapsing in on itself, ringing in my ears, static and jumping in my eyes, around Geneva, around fires, just randomly, and I see Sephorith and he’s not there, I can’t touch him, but it feels like he’s there talking to me, taunting me. I can barely move, it hurts so bad. Recently, I’ve been feeling like I’m losing touch with myself and thoughts that aren’t me are taking over me, although I’ve been able to keep it under control.”

“That explains so much… Maybe it’s some kind of mako poisoning?”

“I don’t know, I don’t think so. What do you think?”

“I don’t think you’re crazy or insane. I honestly think Sephiroth is messing with your head somehow.” You both have made it to the gazebo in the middle of the large pond, you stop to look at him, holding his hand in both of yours, his head blanking out. “We’ll get through this together, don’t worry.” A heavy weight had just been lifted off his chest, to be without judgement for once, to just say everything out loud without being trapped in his own head, alone.

You see him smile, like he’s about to laugh. “What?” You ask. 

“You scare me.” 

“What?”

“I’m too comfortable around you, it scares me out. You have some like, mind control materia on you. It’s weird.”

You laugh. “I can say the same thing about you.” He’s looking down at you with soft eyes, the green in them feels like it’s moving, the moonlight making them shine brighter. You can hear water lightly rippling around you, and looking at him so closely seems to drown the rest of the world out. When you look up at him, he can see the glossy reflection of the moon in your own eyes, lighting up your face. Your heart picks up, starting to hammer in your chest. You catch onto yourself, turning away and clearing your throat, walking to the edge of the gazebo to look over the water. 

You’re getting the wrong idea. You only met him a month ago, you’re out of your mind if you think there’s anything between you two other than friendship.

“Want to head to the beach?”

“It’s so late.”

“We’re used to restless nights anyway, right? It’s not often we get a moment of quiet in Costa Del Sol.” He said, grabbing your wrist to turn you toward him. “We’ll only be 30 minutes.”

“That is such a lie, Cloud Strife.” However, you let him slowly pull you out of the gazebo, in the direction of the beach with a huge smile on his face. 

“You want to, I know you do.”

“You’re such a bad influence.” You say, rolling your eyes sarcastically, walking up beside him, half the way there, you feel a drop on your shoulder. Then two. The four. A few seconds later, a light drizzle. You look at each other and lightning flashes hitting only a kilometer ahead and immediately rain starts crashing down. He grabs your hand since the rain is too loud for you to hear him well, leading you past a tree that seems to lead to nowhere, behind it an entrance into the inside of a hill.

“What’s this?”

“Found it yesterday by accident.” You take a few steps in the dark path, passing through some vine. 

“A lifespring.” You say breathlessly, there’s a small body of water in the middle with a gap in the tip of the hill, rain falling into the pond, the grass, flowers, mako crystals around it, untouched. There’s another hit of lighting and thunder. “Guess I’m stuck out here with you now.”

“This is better than the beach anyway. The rain and thunder add something.”

“Of course, you’d say that, Cloud Strife.”

“Never make a joke again.”

You smile. “It’s calming in a way, I agree with you. I like it too.” There’s a spot beside the pond, close to the crystal cluster you lay in, looking up at the hole rain pouring through, Cloud sits next to you, leaning on his elbows and looking with you. Your eyes shift to him, looking at how his hair has dropped down, swaying back, still fluffy, his side profile is gorgeous too. You could sit there forever looking at him. It seems to click, like a switch in your head. Your heart feels full, your stomach is in knots.

He looks back at you, and he catches the look in your eyes, a light, loving expression. It makes his head go hazy.

His eyes dart back to the sky. He didn't like it. Didn't want to like it. It was a problem, an inconvenience, and yet, he couldn't find himself caring about that. It was an amazing feeling, the feeling he had, even though it scared him. The way your eyes glimmered at him, the soft expression on your lips. 

“Thanks for letting me open up to you, Cloud. It meant a lot.”

"You know I'll always be there for you, you don't have to thank me. If anything, I have more to be thankful for.” There was a moment. “How do you feel about me?”

"I think you're great in every way." You say, vaguely, you cheeks heating up. "I love being around you, you're a good friend. How do you feel about me?"

He hesitates, a pause before he answers, but something about you made him think twice. 

"You're great." You felt a tinge of disappointment but it's what you expected. 

He's looking at you. He wants to kiss you. No. No. Stop. This is the worst thing he could ever do.

"But you don't really see me as a friend, do you?" Fuck, fuck, fuck, he's onto you.

"Cloud, don't be an idiot. Of course, I see you as a friend."

"Then why did you look at me like that earlier?"

"Look at you like what?"

He laughed. "I'm not stupid, you know. You don't have to be embarrassed."

"I..." You didn't know what to say. But you didn't need to know what to say.

“Am I getting the wrong idea?” He said quietly. You shake your head, butterflies being unleashed in your stomach, as his face is so close to yours. He had to be the one with that mind control materia on him, because your head was spinning, before he could even think about what he was doing, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against yours.

The butterflies in your stomach went crazy, you felt like you were flying, his lips were soft, the surprise took you off guard. When he pulled away, the two of you were breathless. You know what you were doing was wrong, but it was already too late, and you were too hazy to care. You turn over, sitting on his waist, his hands drifting to your hips.

He pulls you down again and kisses you, his arms wrapping around your neck, pulling you closer.

 You were kissing him back, not thinking, letting your feelings take over, you felt amazing, so good, so happy, like your stomach was on fire. He felt the same.

"This is bad." You mumbled against his lips.

"Mhm."

"We can't do this."

"Uh huh." He was barely listening to a word you were saying. 

You kissed him harder. He was all you could think about, how badly you wanted him, needed him. You knew you shouldn't be doing this, you were friends. Nothing could ever happen.

And yet, you were kissing him.

When you finally pulled away, your heart was beating a thousand times a minute, your chest was heavy. You didn't want to get off him, he flipped over changing the positions, pressing his lips against your neck. 

"You're not a good influence, Cloud Strife." You said, breathlessly.

"I know."

He was kissing you like it was his last night alive, his hands were everywhere, running through your hair, on your hips, your thighs. And yet, the two of you were not satisfied, not for a moment.

The feeling of his body pressed up against yours made your brain foggy, you could feel his muscles flexing under your touch.

You were completely lost in each other, unable to tell where you began and ended. His hands coming up to your chest, slipping under your flimsy crop top. You put your hand over his, stopping him, getting hit with the first sensible thought. Tifa.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm sorry, we can't. We can't do this, I don't know what came over me."

"I... What?"

"We can't do this." You said. 

"Is there someone else...?"

"No, I’d be a terrible person, I can't do it, can’t do that to my friend..."

"To me?"

"No... Tifa likes you, I'm pretty sure. I just can't..."

"But..." He said, trailing off.

"I can't, and I'm sorry." You said. "You're great, I really like you, but I've already gone too far. “Fuck... I feel awful."

"Don't. I kissed you."

"Let's just... Forget about this, yeah? Just act normal." You tried to stand up, but he pulled you back down.

"I just don't understand, you want this. She's never said anything. Why should we ignore what's so strong between us?"

"But-"

"I'm not interested in her. This is right, us. Don't you feel it?"

"It's wrong, I'm not an option."

"Do you have feelings for me?"

"Yes, almost from the moment I met you and I didn't realise until now, because this can't happen. We're friends. We basically live with Tifa and Aerith, we can't go off complicating things like this."

"They don't have to know."

"Cloud."

"It's worth it, isn't it?"

"Fuck. Fuck. I don't know. I'm scared, and it's too soon, and I'm scared. We can't do this."

...

pt 2?

[cloudjr]

‘tease.’ || ffvii

scenario: how they react to you teasing them.

characters: cloud, tifa, aerith

contents: a lot of blushing, flirting, fluff

CLOUD STRIFE

the group was taking a brief break from travelling to stretch their legs. cloud thought to use this time to walk around, preferably by himself.

when he feels something on his hair, he instinctively turns to see what it is, prepared to wield his blade. he's surprised to see you standing in front of him, looking a bit taken back at his sudden movement, but immediately going back to touch his hair.

he closes his eyes and lets out a small sigh, both in relief and slight annoyance.

"your hair," is all you say as you knead strands between your fingers.

"yes," cloud opens his eyes with what he hopes is a neutral face, "what about my hair?" he asks, and you pull your hand back.

"how do you keep it like this all the time?" you don’t look him directly in the eyes when you speak, keeping your eyes on the blonde's hair with a curious gaze.

cloud merely furrows his brows at the sudden attention before looking away and shrugging. when he looks back momentarily, you're much closer than before and back to touching his hair, making comments cloud doesn’t even bother acknowledging anymore.

cloud interrupts your comments with his own, gently pushing your hand away from his head.

"sorry, i don't really do anything to it." cloud gives you a deadpan look, and you put your hands up immediately in defense.

“hey, i never said it was bad thing,” you grin at cloud's utterly confused stare. "it just amazes me how it always just... stays in that shape?"

"what?" is all cloud can get out, confused by your words.

"i mean, a lot of people take their time to make themselves look this good, but all you do is wake up and you look,” you let a smirk pass over your lips and give cloud a quick once over that makes his heart jump at the sudden action. "effortlessly handsome." you finally finish.

you lift a hand to brush some hair away from his face, and cloud has no words as he feels his pulse quicken at the feeling of your fingers brushing against his forehead to pull his hair away.

he can feel a heat climbing up the back of his neck to reach his face, and your smile widens a bit before giving cloud a wink, leaving and making your way to the others.

it takes everything cloud has in him not to crumple to the ground in a flustered mess.

TIFA LOCKHART

you circle each other tentatively, both watching each other strategically.

tifa opens with a jab towards your midriff. you manage to avoid the attack, spinning round into a kick, which tifa dodges with ease.

you continue to spar for the next several minutes, moving in some kind of dance of space and awareness and strikes forceful enough to hurt, but careful enough to not bruise.

tifa notices as you carry a small smile, face a little flushed and sweat sticking a few strands of hair to your forehead and she could trace, with her eyes, the lines of your arms and the dip between your collarbones and the smooth skin of your shoulders.

"staring, lockhart?" you questioned, a small smirk on your face, and tifa felt herself flush.

"um, n-no. just... looking for an advantage."

you raised an eyebrow. "worried i'll beat you?"

"well, uh..." was what came out instead, clearly thrown off by your teasing comments, nearly as embarrassing as her last excuse.

you grin, directing a spinning kick straight at tifa's ribs. this time, the hit makes contact, knocking her fully off-balance.

still slightly dazed, tifa forgets sparring etiquette and reaches out thoughtlessly, grabbing onto you to try and right herself, but your centre of gravity was still off from the kick, and you both ended up falling to the ground.

tifa doesn't breathe. part of that being because you had just landed on top of her, physically knocking the breath from her lungs, but mostly because you had just landed on top of her, bodies pressed together, your face against her neck.

you quickly push yourself up on your forearms, taking a little of your weight off tifa.

you stare at her for a second with a look in your eyes she can’t quite decipher yet. tifa's breath hitches when she sees your eyes flicker to her lips, gaze lingering on them for a while.

"pretty," you whisper, lowly, as your face unconsciously moves closer to hers, and in that exact moment, her brain stops working.

around you there was complete silence, with your breaths and the subtle sound of your heartbeats being the only sounds heard.

tifa's eyelids close slowly when she feels you lean in towards her. she shudders as she feels your nose brush hers.

it isn't until she feels you turn her head slightly and peck her on the cheek, that she opens her eyes, staring at you, an expression filled with confusion and desperation.

"i'd rather kiss you when i'm not covered in sweat and gross," you say, getting up and bringing tifa's hand up, placing a soft kiss against her knuckles. "for now, this'll have to do." you say simply, offering a cheeky smile before heading back and leaving a bemused tifa by herself.

AERITH GAINSBOROUGH

it's late in the evening when there's a rhythmic knock at the door, and you can instantly tell who it is.

"come in, aerith." you smile softly at the brunette as she walks into the room, humming a tune you don't particularly recognise.

aerith shuffles to where you sit and stands there for a second. you notice how her hair was down, no accessories or anything tying it up, and your heart flutters at how beautiful she managed to look at any given moment.

"can you braid my hair?" she asks, a pout on her lips as you raise an eyebrow. "pretty please?"

you look down and see a brush and hair ties in her hand, along with her signature bow wrapped around her wrist, and you can't help but titter at how prepared she was.

her hair is damp—she must’ve just gotten out of the shower—and she wears a white t-shirt paired with light pink shorts.

she looked to be ready for bed, you realise. her eyes look tired.

"of course," you stand up and go to turn on the bedroom light as aerith sits down, clapping her hands in rejoice.

you walk back over to aerith, who was setting down the hairbrush on the vanity desk. you stand directly behind her and begin the braiding process.

"you better make me look cute when it's done!” aerith teases, earning a soft snicker from you.

"you don't have to worry about that. you always look cute," you say, and aerith's smile only grows wider as she nudges you, calling you "such a flirt".

you take the brush in one hand and some of aerith’s hair in the other. you begin gliding it through the damp locks, weary to avoid pulling it. you delicately brush out the knots and begin sectioning the hair off.

as you start to braid her hair, you notice how aerith stared straight into the mirror, seemingly not at herself, but at you.

you decide to do some teasing of your own this time.

"so," you speak, snapping the brunette out of her trance. "why'd you decide to have me braid your hair tonight?"

she blinks a little bit, internally debating on what to tell you, then smiles brightly. "just wanted a reason to spend time with you." she says, confidently.

you feel a warm feeling creep from your neck to your cheeks, and it doesn't go unnoticed by aerith, and you can't help but feel slightly defeated.

"aww, did i make you blush?"

"shut up."

now, you're determined to get her back.

a few minutes pass of the both of you just talking as you continue to work your fingers through her hair, and you run a single finger down the complete braid when you finally finish.

"there," you hum, sliding your hands down to cup her face in your hands, tipping her head back so she’s forced to look up at you. "all done, pretty girl."

if it weren’t for the way your palms were pressed to her cheeks, you wouldn’t have been able to catch her reaction.

but since they were, you get the experience of feeling her face heat up beneath your hands by the second, and you can’t help the smile that finds its way to your lips.

"aww, did i make you blush?" you coo, a laugh bubbling out of you as aerith attempts to bury her face in her palms.

you move in front of her and kneel down to gently take her hands off of her face, giggling at her now red-tinted face. "do you like it when i call you that, my pretty girl?" you tease further, enjoying her reaction.

"mhm," she nods without hesitation, arms wrapping around your neck, a wide grin stretches across her lips. "definitely."

"good." you mirror her smile as she leans in to give you a toothy kiss.

[drabblesandimagines]

Bedside Manner

Cloud Strife x fem reader Word count: 2,531

--

You’re going to die here. You knew your line of work left you open to the threat of death more often than not, always the chance the next monster encounter would be your last… But you hadn’t expected it to end like this – sweaty from fever, a horrible chesty cough, every breath feeling a struggle and surrounded by used tissues on your sofa.

But the worst part of it all? You’re going to die without kissing Cloud Strife.

There were always ailments going around the slums – it was par for the course with so many people living in close quarters, sunlight obscured by a metal sky. There were rumours that this particular one had stemmed from Shinra HQ and thus it had become nicknamed the Shinra Flu, much to the company’s chagrin. It’d floored you from day one. There had been no build-up, no telltale sniffle or scratch in your throat, you’d just woken up feeling like death and that’s how you continued to feel the past four days. Tifa - bless her heart - was straight round the moment you’d not shown up for the Avalanche meeting. You think she must’ve knocked but she was in possession of a spare key and that’s where she’d found you, wheezing away in the bed. What had followed were clean sheets on your bed, water, soup and medicine.

She’d been round morning and evening since, going through the same routine. You’d never felt so pathetic in your life. Every night you’d drift off to sleep hoping you’d feel better in the morning but nothing seemed to be easing despite the numerous combinations of medicine you were taking and the hours of bedrest.

There’s a hesitant knock at the door. Tifa is going to be annoyed you’re on the couch, but you’d split your water in your bed in the night reaching for it after a coughing fit and didn’t have the strength to deal with the situation, so you’d decamped. At least it gave you a different view of the water-stained ceiling.

The key twists in the lock and the door opens and you brace yourself.

“Hi.”

You know you’re still burning up with fever, but that’s definitely not Tifa’s voice. You turn your head towards the door and Cloud Strife is standing there, minus his sword for a change, a paper bag in hand and looking incredibly awkward.

“Cloud?” You rasp out, which was a mistake. Speaking sets a coughing fit off and you sit upright awkwardly, the blankets spilling off your lap – you wished you were wearing nice pyjamas - trying to catch your breath. You hear the door close, footsteps, and the sound of running water. As the coughing subsides, Cloud is now crouched in front of you, holding a glass of water out.

“That sounds nasty.”

You nod, and regret it instantly because it makes you feel dizzy. You reach out to take the glass but your stupid hand is trembling. Could you stop being so pathetic for one moment? Cloud notices and supports the glass as you take it to your lips for tentative sips. This is not how you ever imagined the ex-Soldier being in your home.

“Thanks.” Your voice sounds tight. He nods.

“So,” he gets to his feet, “I guess you’re wondering why I’m here and not Tifa.”

“Hallucination?”

“Not quite.” Cloud smiles slightly, glad to see your particular sense of humour hasn’t been lost, but it isn’t long before he resumes his usual serious expression. “This virus is really contagious. Tifa’s lucky she’s not caught it from coming round here. I said I’d check on you instead.”

You frown at him, positive you’ve misheard. “You wanna get sick?”

“I can’t get sick - not like that anyway. Mako gives you quite the immune system.”

“Oh. Lucky.” You pull the blankets back over you from where they’d fell off in your coughing fit. You’re feeling cold now, though you’re painfully aware your forehead is covered in sweat in front of your crush.

“Wouldn’t you be more comfortable in your bed?” He looks at it pointedly - it’s only a few steps away in your studio apartment after all.

“It’s wet.” The blonde raises an eyebrow at that. “I spilled water on it.”

“Ah. I can help with that. Tifa wrote me a list. Starting with…” he produces the paper from his pocket, “..have you taken medicine recently?”

“Last night. Is it morning now?” Time has lost all meaning.

“Mm-mm, afternoon.” His hand is in the paper bag – you recognise the logo from Wall Market – and he withdraws a small vial holding a luminous green liquid.

“Oh.”

“Drink the whole thing. Apparently the latest in Shinra flu fighting technology, whatever that means.” He twists the lid off and hands it to you. It smells foul so it doesn’t bode well for the taste, but you down it in one with a slight grimace. You’d drink all manner of disgusting things if it made you feel a little better. “I could only get two – supply and demand.”

“Thanks.”

Cloud’s already looking at the next step on Tifa’s list. You can’t imagine how many instructions are on there. “Medicine, check. ‘Temperature – thermometer in bathroom cabinet.’ Okay…”

He’s striding over to your bathroom now, and you hear the bathroom cabinet open and close and he emerges as quickly as he left, thermometer in hand.

“Wait, you don’t have to do this, Clo-“ your sentence is cut off as he slides the device under your tongue and waits for the beep, before retrieving it and scrutinizing the number.

“Fever still - makes sense. And I do have to do this.”

“Just leave me the list, I can do it.”

He stares down at you, hands on his hips, crushing the list ever so slightly. “Uh-huh…” You know you look awful, you couldn’t even hold a glass of water earlier, you haven’t washed your hair in days, and you’d made the couch your bed. Trying to convince this man that you were capable of looking after yourself is an argument you weren’t going to win.

“Right. ‘Change bedsheets. Clean sheets in the basket, wash used sheets in communal washroom downstairs…’ ” He’s heading off towards the bed, still reading aloud. You sink back on the sofa and close your eyes, willing the medicine to kick in and make you feel normal for at least five minutes and save some face in front of him…

--

Cloud was used to making his bed during training, so it doesn’t take him long for him to strip yours and put clean sheets on, but apparently it was long enough for you to doze off.

This wasn’t on Tifa’s list. You’d be better off in bed – it must be more comfortable than the thing you call your couch. He crouches down besides you, debating if he should wake you up. You look so peaceful though and he hopes that means the medicine must’ve kicked in. It’s only a few metres between the couch and your bed and sleep is important in recovery, after all…

He slides an arm under your knees and another around your waist, picking you up off the sofa in one fluid motion, your head lolling back . You mumble and he freezes, but you nuzzle your cheek into him and your breathing remains in its steady rhythm. He takes a tentative step forward, then another before he makes it over to your bed and carefully places you down on your mattress and tucks the blanket over you. You unconsciously snuggle into the clean sheets and your hair falls over your eyes. Without thinking, he automatically reaches out and tucks it behind your ear, his touch lingering a moment too long.

“Cloud…” you mumble happily into the pillow, cuddling it.

His face goes red, but not from fever.

--

You awake to a cool hand on your forehead. Everything aches and you desperately want to return to the comfort of sleep, but you’re so hot and there’s a one-sided conversation going on.

“No, she’s still really feverish.”

Cloud’s on the phone – you can hear Tifa’s voice from the tinny phone speakers, though not well enough to hear her side of the conversation.

“No, not since just after I got here. She’s asleep at the moment, but her forehead feels hot.”

Another pause. The cooling hand is removed and you let out a whimper, missing it immediately.

“And that’s all I can do?”

A sigh. “No, don’t come here. I told you, you’re lucky you haven’t caught it. I’ll stay the night and ring you in the morning, okay? Thanks. Night.”

You drift off again in the silence for a few minutes before there’s a gentle shake of your shoulder. It feels a monumental effort to open your eyes but you manage it, though your breaths are feeling laboured again.

“Sorry,” Cloud whispers, looking apologetic. He has the thermometer in his hand. “I just need to check your temperature again, then you can go back to sleep, okay?”

“Mm-hm.” You open your mouth and the device is slipped under your tongue. It beeps moments later and he frowns at the results. “Higher than last time – damn.”

“Bad?” You mumble.

“No, you’ll be fine. You just need to take some medicine and have some water. Can you sit up for me?”

“Yeah…” He can’t help but smile as your eyes close again and you make no sign of even trying to sit up. It’s pathetically sweet.

“Here, let me help,” he slips an arm around your waist and lifts you up slightly, leaning you back against the pillows. “You good there?”

“Uh-huh.” You don’t even sound convincing to your own ears.

“Okay, let me grab some more water.” Cloud’s gone for what feels like no time at all when a glass of water is held up in your face. “Small sips.” You take the glass and he places his hand over yours, supporting it as you dutifully drink.

As you do so, you become more awake and you can see he’s tidied up your living space - the couch is clear of your blankets, the tissues, the glasses…

“You cleaned up.” You say.

“Er, yeah,” he shrugs. “Hope that’s okay. It didn’t take long.”

“That’s embarrassing.”

He looks confused. “Why?”

“Cos I’m pathetic. You’ll never want to go out with me now.” The words tumble out of your mouth with no reasoning behind them.

“I… wouldn’t?” He’s trying hard to hide the smile on his face.

“Who wants to go out with someone who can’t look after themselves?”

“You’re sick.”

“I know – who lives like this?”

“No.” Cloud says, gently, “I mean, you’re sick - ill, poorly, feverish. Besides, I don’t pick who I want to go out with by how clear their floor is of clutter.”

“You don’t?” You sound hopeful.

“Do you?”

“I don’t know – I haven’t seen your floor.”

He laughs. If you weren’t feverish you would’ve been astounded you’d got the stoic Cloud Strife to laugh, but the moment flies well and truly over your head.

“Well, it’s not cluttered, but I don’t have a lot of stuff.” He admits, before retrieving the second vial he got from Wall Market.

“You might just be saying that.”

“Tell you what, when you’re better you can come and take a look.”

“Is that a date?” You sound so hopeful.

“Let’s say it can be a part of it. Now,” he twists the cap off as before and hands it to you. “Drink this, then you can go back to sleep.”

“Okay, only cos you’re so cute.” You down it in one again.

“Well, I’ll need to remember that one.” He takes the empty vial from your hands and places his hand on your shoulder, encouraging you to lie back down. “Try and get some more sleep, okay?”

“Okay…” It isn’t long before you’re enveloped in sleep again.

--

Through the night, Cloud doesn’t leave your side. He sits on the floor besides your bed, keeping a watchful eye. The fever was proving persistent and you had been tossing and turning, throwing the blankets this way and that in an attempt to stabilise your temperature in a fitful sleep. He remembered his mother looking after him when he was sick as a child, pressing a cool washcloth to his forehead to try and soothe him. Luckily, he found one in the bathroom cabinet, soaked it in tepid water before he placed it on your forehead. At first you tried to shuffle away, but he held it in place, words coming out of his mouth before he can even think. “It’s all right, sweetheart.” He wasn’t sure if it was the words or the washcloth that soothed you more.

Through the night, he’d take it back and resoak it, and when he pressed it once more against your burning skin you’d let out a sigh of content.

“You’ll be okay,” he mumbled – aware he was saying it more to reassure himself. He always hid his emotions well, but he’d been shocked by how sick you were. Although the two of you hadn’t known each other long, he’d grown fond of you more than he’d been willing to admit to himself. Seeing how open and vulnerable you’d been had only endeared you to him more.

Towards the morning, when he’d checked your temperature to find that you finally felt cooler, you’d rolled closer to his touch, causing your hand to drop down from the bed. He grasped it, trying to gently tuck it back under the covers but you wouldn’t let go though, unconsciously linking your fingers with his in a fierce grip and mumbling something. He doesn’t fight it, only smiles and leans his head back against the wall, closing his eyes for a moment.

--

When you next open your eyes, it’s to the relief that the horrible pressure that had been on your chest for days has finally alleviated, the fluctuating temperature stabilised. There’s a weight to your hand, and you look through bleary eyes to see Cloud’s head bowed as he’s leant against the wall, your fingers firmly intertwined.

You let go in embarrassment more than anything, not sure how it had occurred. The motion is enough to wake the blonde, who smiles seeing you’re awake.

“Morning,” his voice is husky with sleep, and you feel warm once more – though this time it’s not from sickness.

“Hi.”

He frowns, probably noticing the colour in your cheeks. “How are you feeling?”

“No, I feel better. So much better.”

“Good,” Cloud smiles, before getting to his feet and stretching his arms over his head, showing off his muscular forearms. “You must be hungry, right? I realised I never got you to eat anything yesterday. I’ll go grab something light from the store for us.”

“You don’t h-…”

“I know, I want to.” In a few steps he's already opening the front door before hesitating, turning back to you and grinning, slyly. “Besides, you need to eat so you can build your strength back up ahead of our date.”

“Our… date?” Are you having a fever dream?

“We’ll talk about it more when I get back. Won’t be long… cutie.”

-- Sorry this isn't Rei Suwa-centric as promised, I finished this one first so out it goes into the world x

Masterlist . Requests welcome . Ko-fi

Details for my event celebrating 200 followers.

[kissami]

☄︎. *. ⋆ STARLIGHT GAZES •°. *࿐

➵ summary : Marlene asks how you and cloud met, but she didn’t expect the response she got.

➵fem!reader with she/her pronouns!

➵ warnings: none besides Cloud being adorable as usual! Possible spoilers and miss spelling…(-0-)

➵ authors note: I’m going to try to continue posting more often, but recently got a full time job at a bank, who would’ve thought hm? Anyways, requests are always open!!

‎ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

⠀⠀⠀‎ ⠀⠀⠀‎ ⠀⠀⠀ ‎ Less of you~ Keshi

⠀⠀⠀‎ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀‎ 0:20 〇────── 3:27

⠀⠀⠀‎ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀‎ ⇄   ◃◃   ⅠⅠ   ▹▹   ↻

⠀⠀⠀‎ ⠀⠀ ⠀VOLUME: ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇ 100%

‎ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

“How’d you and [N/N] meet, Cloud?” Stopping abruptly at the question, Cloud placed the plate he was scrubbing down on the sink and chuckled.

“I’m not sure you would want to know that, Mars. Probably less romantic as you may think.” Shoving a spoonful of the soup Tifa had made for her and Denzel that afternoon, she sat quietly.

Cloud was another father figure to her, always telling her such amazing stories about when he was a child now that he regain his correct memories, his experience with fighting sephiroth and saving humanity, but never once did he speak about the story of his lover.

He did talk about her all the time yes, but whenever Marlene asked about how they met, in her eyes she could tell that he was nervous.

‘Not until you’re older will I tell you.’

He told her one day when the group of them went out to see the stars together for a camping trip. Everyone went off to find firewood while Cloud stayed with the children just incase.

That was when she brought up the topic last time and was extremely frustrated whenever he brushed off her question but it was clear the blond was not budging.

That night was almost two years ago now and Marlene felt she had waited long enough to hear the story.

“Please tell me, I’ve been waiting ages Cloud!” She whined, playing with the small pieces of bread on the wooden table as she looked at his teal blue eyes.

“Fine fine, you’ll have to wash my bike for a week though.” He softly teased as he sat down next to her, ignoring her whines again.

He felt his hands start to sweat a bit his lip from nervousness but stay cool as he began.

FIVE YEARS AGO

You stood sternly as you ignored the eyes that stayed on your form, watching your every move as you waited.

It’s been 15 minutes already of waiting, although it wasn’t obvious on your face, you were becoming irritated.

After being thrown down here by Corneo’s goons, you just wanted to get this over with, find out what you needed and get the hell out of here.

Tifa, a girl you met in town was still sleeping on the floor as the sleep dust was still in her system.

The two of you met long before, occasionally going to the bar to discuss things about Avalanche.

Although you wouldn’t say you were necessarily part of the movement, you still offered the help when she needed it.

She was always understanding and sweet with you, definitely a weakness for you when you saw how distressed she looked when she was suddenly in a room upstairs with you and three other men.

You agreed to come with her, agreeing you’d try to help get information on why those men were asking about avalanche earlier and you both came to terms that if either of you were picked, save the other once information was learned.

You stood near her, not saying a word as you glared at the men grabbing the both of you as your eyes were becoming weaker.

The next thing you knew, you were down here for god knows how long, anxiously waiting.

It didn’t help you had such a skimpy dress that left little to no imagination on what hid underneath.

You stood straighter when the goon that was in the room watching suddenly left, closing the door as you heard noise from up above.

“Tifa? Wake up, I hear someone coming.” You whispered softly as you started to shake her softly, waiting for her to open her pretty red eyes.

A groan came from her as she slowly woke up, but sat up quickly seeing the worried expression on your face as you were shielding her from the people coming in.

Two more girls were thrown into the room, making you wince when the brunette unconsciously fell on her cheek rather harshly.

“Oh no.” Tifa whispered, going over to the blonde one while you made your way over to the other.

She was rather pretty, a red mark on her cheek started to rise when you quickly grabbed a wipe from your hidden thigh stash.

The stash was small, but it had all you needed incase of emergency’s. Definitely came in handy the more you hung out with Tifa and her friends. Always getting into trouble it seemed.

“Excuse me, can you hear me?” You asked as you patted her face ever so gently. Not firm enough to hurt but still enough to try to wake her up.

“Ughh dang it.” She groaned, and you watched as she rubbed her eyes tiredly.

You chuckled a bit, finally feeling relief that everyone in here was okay and you stood up quickly to help her up. She gave you a sweet smile, her eyes brightening up at the sight of you. She turned away from you quickly though as she looked over at Tifa excitedly.

“Hey Tifa! How’s it going?” She jogged over and greeted your friend who was very confused on who this girl was and why she was with cloud of all people.

“Oh right. I’m Aerith, a friend of clouds.” She greeted. You kind of zoned off as you walked over to the door, crossing your arms across your chest as you waited once again.

“…and that’s [Y/N]. She’s helping me out and she works with avalanche occasionally when I need her.” You gave a small smile and wave, looking to the blond who have you a firm nod of acknowledgment.

Besides the dress and makeup, he was rather pretty and very muscular it seemed as you watched the way his biceps would flex under the tight sleeves of the black dress he was rocking.

Tifa and Aerith continued to talk about what was going to happen and the plan, but Cloud seemed to have his attention (silently) on you.

You were (short/tall), with (long/short) hair that fit your face amazingly. You had soft makeup on with a pink soft lip that pulled your look all together. A nice black dress that hid the thigh strap just right and hugged you perfectly.

But he wasn’t going to talk to you yet. Not once he knew you could be trusted and the girls would be safe. That was the reason he was here, so why did he care so much for a stranger that seemed more than capable of herself.

Tifa seemed to trust you and Aerith already liked you, so why was he so hesitant towards you?

It wasn’t until later on when the four of you were thrown down to the sewers when he was noticing how you prioritized everyone else’s safety over yours the whole time.

When the big monster first attacked you, you grabbed the girls and jumped out of the way quickly. When the whisperers were surrounding and trying to hurt Tifa you were there guarding her.

Even when you were thrown and beat down numerous times, you were still fighting and backing the group up, trying to get back to the slums as quickly as possible.

Then after the three of you found Aerith again, did he seem to finally get you. You cherished the people around you, even if they did you wrong or had no idea who they were, you were still right there.

He admired you deeply for that.

When the group of you were at Aerith’s home after she was taken away, did he finally have a full conversation with you.

He was supposed to be sleeping, to get rested for the day ahead, but he just couldn’t seem to shut his eyes just yet.

So many thoughts ran through his mind. Tifa and her well being. Aerith and if she was okay or hurt. And, you.

You didn’t say much, didn’t show much emotion to him, but the moment you found out she was taken, did he see the way you tried to blink away the tears that were threatening to release.

He heard soft footsteps from outside of his room, making him slowly get up and walk out while trying to not wake the house up.

He saw the door to the room that you were sharing with Tifa open, meaning either of you could’ve left.

Taking a quick glance, he saw Tifa sleeping with tears streaming her cheeks and a distressed look on her sleeping face.

He sighed, wanting nothing more than to comfort her, but he had to make sure you were okay and why you were up so early.

He made his way outside, seeing you sitting on the small hill that was in the garden surrounded by all the flowers.

You were sitting there with your legs up to your chest, your arms resting on your knees with your face resting on them as well as you kept your gaze forward. He couldn’t see your face, but he didn’t need to when he could see the way your body shuddered.

“I should’ve been there to protect her and went with her to find Marlene. I should’ve done more to save everything, It’s all my fault, I’m so sorry.” He heard you cry silently.

He didn’t speak a word to you. What could he say? He was in the exact same boat as you, but with the little time you two would be alone while Aerith and Tifa did their own things together, he noticed how quickly you opened up to him about a lot of things.

Your parents both left you behind with your younger siblings. You had to take care of them at a young age, but your uncle was the one to teach you a lot of things. Your uncle was your best friend, and the day you lost him, you swore to work and protect harder.

Now your siblings were doing their own things, leaving you behind once again with no one and no support system. You had experience now though, and being able to help Avalanche really helped fill the void in your heart to be able to be around people like that again.

Jessie was your closest friend besides Tifa, and when he saw how much of a wreck you became when she died, it was evident everything was hitting you all at once. It didn’t help one bit when the plate fell, everything you knew of was gone in just a click of a stupid button.

Your loud sobs and the way you pushed your hands in your hair aggressively brought him back to reality as another breakdown began to take a toll on you again.

He made his way over, sitting down tensely as he had no idea what to do.

“Hey, calm down okay? Breathe, [Y/N]. Nothing is your fault, none of all of this is either of our faults. I feel…the same way you do. Aerith, she…she means a lot to me. I protect her, she protects me, and the cycle continues…but this time, I failed her. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore to be honest.”

Hearing a small chuckle and sniff, he took a glance over to you as you wiped your eyes with your hands.

“You must really like her hm? Can’t really blame you, she’s absolutely incredible and I…don’t know what I would be doing right now if she didn’t drag me along after we were done escaping the sewers.”

A small smile made its way onto his pink lips. He continued to watch the sky with you, the soft wind blowing the flowers softly and a comfortable aura surrounded the both of you, almost like she was there with you guys.

“So that’s it? You guys didn’t kiss or anything??” Marlene spoke with annoyance laced in her voice, completely oblivious that everyone was there listening.

Yuffie, Vincent, Tifa, Barrett, and you.

You giggled as you leaned from behind her and squished her cheeks.

“That story is for another day, starlight. Tifa wants you to go to bed now while your dad rests hm? I’m sure Denzel wants you to read to him to bed again.” Teasing slightly at the little girl who now seemed to zoom off to her room, you gave your lover a knowing smile.

“You speak beautifully, my love.”

Cloud scoffed, getting back up to continue washing his dishes but he held a smile as he placed a kiss on your jaw.

“Gross!” Yuffie stuck her tongue out in disgust while Vincent held a stoic look on his pale face but a tiny smile crept up on his lips.

“Let’s leave the love birds to it then. I need a nap.” Barrett scoffs and walked off, slinging an arm over Tifa and Yuffie as the four of them walked away.

You kept your gaze on them happily, but your eyes looked at Cloud in shock as he placed his lips on yours fully now while you weren’t looking just yet.

“What was that for?”

“What? I can’t kiss you?”

“Stop being such a smart ass and give me another one.”

[vincentvalenfine]

hai halo! the mansion fic sounds interesting!

i love my black hair turk and ex-turk so much so when your request is open again can i ask for something like tseng trying to make vincent jealous because he is tired of the mutual pining between vincent and the reader and just want them to be together? thank you for considering this🖤

There's no such thing as a former Turk. Well, only if they're dead, in Tseng's opinion; Vincent Valentine isn't dead in the conventional sense, only the legal, so it doesn't count. And the Director - calm, level-headed, keen, observational - can tell when a Turk is purposely missing what would otherwise be the easiest shot of their life.

It's one of the few things that actually annoys him, really.

Tseng is one of the only Turks not banned from Tifa's bar on the count of not starting any fights (Reno), talking himself into trouble (Elena), or being annoying in general (also Reno). Tifa had also pulled him aside once to admit he was still allowed in spite of working for Rufus because, in her words, "Aerith would've been happier this way."

(The emotions that had invoked in him... weren't to be dwelled on. Not out in public.)

But it meant he was given a free viewing of the torturously long, circuitous and mind-bogglingly slow relationship developing between you and Vincent, "former" Turk. The subtle glances when he thought you weren't looking, the care with which he pulled out your seat for you, the active listening skills that Tseng wished he could put to more serious uses than knowing when your birthday was and what your favorite flowers were. All of it pointed to obvious adoration, and though you clearly felt similarly, there were always overlooked chances that made Tseng clench his teeth on his words, trying to maintain his low profile in what could easily become a much less welcoming space to him if he wasn’t careful. Rufus needed his eyes and ears in here.

Tonight, though... he's finally had enough. Any more hours of pining sighs and tender glances from the corner of an eye and he just might do something much stupider than what he plans instead, discreetly speaking with Tifa beforehand. It's easier to pull stunts when the bartender is on one's side, and it doesn’t surprise him that she's just as aware of the mutual pining between her friends, though she's not entirely sure his plan is going to work. He uses calm confidence to his advantage to persuade her.

The evening carries on, Vincent Valentine arrives after sunset to quietly find his way to your usual corner of the bar - and stops dead in his tracks when he finds Tseng in his normal seat, quietly conversing with you like he might a friend.

Tonight Tseng has adapted with an aura of understated confidence and charm, subtle but effective in provoking smiles and giggles from you. His stoicism is set aside for soft smiles and warm little laughs at your jokes, and when crimson catches his peripheral vision he only offers a brief look and a raised brow, dark eyes meeting red and offering a challenge. Make your move already, or I just might beat you to it.

To his satisfaction, he sees a jealous spark light up in Vincent’s eyes.

"It was lovely talking with you," Tseng says casually, "but there's work waiting for me in the morning. Do enjoy your evening, won't you?"

"Aw, alright. See you tomorrow?" you ask, a hint of hopefulness in your voice, and Tseng has to give you another smile for that even as Vincent’s presence grows closer and the hairs on the back of his neck begin to stand with an atavistic response to the other. He masks that feeling with ease.

"I'll be heading to Junon, unfortunately," he lies smoothly, "but perhaps next week."

He has one last move to finish his plan out, sliding out of the booth as you pout a little and continuing to ignore Vincent while he steps over by your side to offer his hand. You blink with confusion but take the offered hand, and find yourself blushing but giggling again as he raises your knuckles to his lips and presses a chaste kiss there. Tseng can actually feel the aura beginning to radiate off Vincent in response, heavy and seething like a storm cloud full of static charge just waiting to unleash its fury. The reassurance that Tifa wouldn't let the man attack him here is a faint comfort when they all know full well what he's capable of.

Then he lets go, steps back, and makes calm eye contact with Vincent as he walks past, offering just a slight inclination of his head. If looks could kill, Tseng would already be dead twice over.

Maybe now this "former" Turk will finally take his shot, now that he's been given incentive.

[miragee19]

THE NIBELHEIM INCIDENT

I would like to present a short essay on why I think Nibelheim was fully Jenova's making, and what was her intention with it.

I fully accept that fans strongly support the idea that it was hundred percently Sephiroth's own action and I'm honestly not trying to convert anyone to believe it was otherwise, I'm only offering a different perspective.

We don't know what species Jenova is or what kind of emotional capacities she has, but it's fair to assume that she knows - or at least with the time she'd spent among cetrans and humans she's already found out - that cetrans and humans build emotional bonds with each other and use it as their support system for their survival and general well-being.

Jenova - being an overmind - can influence other organisms' thoughts and actions that have her cells in them. In order to take full control over them, however, said individual must lose control of their mind and more importantly, must lose their will to fight to take it back.

As we see from Zack's example, a healthy human mind could resist submitting to Jenova's control, and even Cloud, who was severely mentally disturbed, could fight back against her each time pretty successfully.

I would like to make a point here by saying that the chances to fight back Jenova's domination on someone's mind are higher when said person has strong supportive emotional bonds with other people, or at least has peace with themselves. We could see it several times that soft touches, kind words from Tifa could snap Cloud back from submitting to mind control.

Sephiroth's psyche was very fragile by the time he arrived to Nibelheim. He lost his best friends not long ago, the only people he really loved and bonded with, and he was understandably severely depressed. He had no direction or much faith in anything and the only things that kept him going were routine and a sense of duty.

I'm not ruling out the possiblility that Jenova even messed with Angeal's and Genesis' mind in order to separate them from Sephiroth both physically and emotionally. Whether Genesis' reactor speech was respresented by Jenova's influence or simply by the result of his own degradation, he successfully made Sephiroth hit the rock bottom mentally.

By the time Sephiroth started reading the books in the basement, he was not only grieving Angeal but was deeply hurt by Genesis' words as well. The next days were spent reading, overthinking, feeling betrayed, feeling despatate, slowly dying inside.

However, Sephiroth was still Sephiroth, looked up by many, trusted and respected by many. He still had an imporant role and a well-earned place in human society. Although at that time not very close to him emotionally, there were still people who cared about him in one way or another, whom he could lean on, or bond with in the future.

Jenova - executing the Nibelheim incident - made sure that absolutely no one would look up to Sephiroth anymore. No one would trust or even care about him. She made him lose his last remaining hopes to build himself back from scratch, to be a strong and valuable human being in the future. And she secured it for him that there would be no turning back.

Cinematically speaking, when you look at the scenario where the village is burning, even his motions are kind of robotic.

Let's say if Cloud succesfully killed Tifa or Aerith - no matter under what kind of influence - would the party still trust him? The bare minimum is that they would abandon him, if not outright try to kill him.

I believe Jenova making Sephiroth burn down Nibelheim and making him kill many innocent people was her particular way to make sure he has no other option left than submitting to her will.

[theshenami]

So, about the English localization of FF7 Rebirth's sector 5 scenes

Sorry, this is going to be a long one, but I had recently seen on Reddit that several people mentioned the English localization for several chapter 14 scenes can be rather misleading. I decided to play through the opening cutscenes again in Spanish, since several people noted that it matches the original Japanese script very closely, and I neither speak nor read Japanese. My objective going into to this was to better understand several of the conversations that left me scratching my head.

For example, when Sephiroth comments on Cloud having a functional piece of white materia in the forest, the English line "Very poor form" left many of us scratching our heads. However, in Spanish he says "he de castigarte por ello", which can be interpreted as "I have to punish you for that". The English script creates a HUGE misunderstanding, and completely obscures the clear foreshadowing in the Spanish dialogue. Also, in Aerith's house she says to a very confused Cloud: "we could call it a homecoming" vs "hemos vuelto al planeta" (we have returned to the planet). The latter strongly implies that they are in the Lifestream, which they seemed to have fallen into at the end of Chapter 13.

The "date scene" also has some key differences between English vs Spanish. Notably, when the photographer says "you don't look like you're on a date, more like at a funeral. just have fun while you can, huh", in Spanish he says "no crees que haceis mala pareja? tu novia esta a punto de llorar. No teneis quimica, y punto" (don't you think you make a bad couple? your girlfriend is about to cry. you don't have chemistry, period). I mean, come on, he's WAY more savage in the Spanish version, and a lot clearer about why they lost the contest! I think the other party members would agree with that last point if they had to compare Cloud x Tifa vs Cloud x Aerith interactions throughout the game, with the former having chemistry that jumps off the screen.

Finally, several points of the conversation in the church scene between Cloud and Aerith seem to be clearer in Spanish, which honestly had me confused several times in the English version. I break down the entire English vs Spanish exchange below, structured as English/Spanish (with English interpretation in parentheses). I also put in both Cloud's low and high affection responses for reference.

Cloud: This is it right, our spot? / Aqui es donde querias venir? (Is this where you wanted to come?)

Aerith: Bingo / Has acertado (You got it)

Cloud: That was easy / Era obvio (It was obvious)

Aerith: I told you it was obvious / Eso es porque tenemos pocos recuerdos juntos (That's because we have too few memories)

Cloud: Well, you'll have to give me a harder one next time / Con el tiempo tendremos mas (We can make some more in the future)

Aerith: Oh, next time? / Eso es lo que quieres (Is that what you want?)

Cloud, low affection: Yeah, why not / Eso hacen los amigos, no (that's what friends do, right)

Cloud, high affection: Yeah, next time / Si, sin duda (Yes, definitely)

Aerith: At least I know now, where you and I stand, I mean. Thing is Cloud, I really like you. / Es un alivio saber lo que sientes (I'm relieved to know how you feel). Yo... te quiero (I... love you).

Aerith: But then, "like" can mean a lot of different things, can't it. Cause there's liking, and there's "liking. / Pero hay muchas formas de quere a alguien (But there are many ways to love someone). A cual crees que me refiero (Which one do you think I mean)?

Cloud: Seriously, what's going on? You've been weird all day. / Aeris, estas muy rara (Aeris, you are acting strange). Llevas todo el dia rara (You've been weird all day).

Aerith: I'm sorry / Permiteme un capricho ("Allow me to have a treat" is the literal translation, but it likely means "grant my strange/unusual wish" in this context).

Aerith: Whatever happens, don't blame yourself / Basta de sentirse culpable (Stop feeling guilty).

Aerith: Cloud, thank you / Cloud, ayudame (I need your help).

Aerith: Sorry, I'll be okay / Olvidalo, no he dicho nada (Forget I said anything).

She hands him the white materia, Cloud seems confused, and then:

Aerith: This isn't about me though, it's about saving the world, and you / Estoy segura de que esta materia salvara el mundo (I'm sure this materia will save the world).

Cloud then gets pushed into the rainbow light and, scene.

Much of the dialogue is the same between languages, but several points are clearer in Spanish: asking for Cloud to grant her wish before hugging him instead of abruptly apologizing first; telling him to stop feeling guilty (which alludes to his internal story arc); and telling him she needs his help before handing him the White materia vs "thank you" in the English script.

It is worth noting that the whole "te quiero" (i.e. I love you) part can be a bit misleading. In Spanish there are actually two ways to say "I love you": te quiero and te amo. The former is typically used in a more casual way such as for close friends or members of your extended family, and in some contexts can be interpreted as "I like you", which matches the English script. The latter "te amo" is typically meant to express "I'm in love with you" for romantic partners or deep love for close family members (such as your parents, siblings or children). So the Spanish dialogue seems to suggest that Aerith doesn't have overtly romantic feelings for Cloud. Side note, in Gongaga when Cloud asks if she still loves Zack, she simply replies "Si, aun le quiero" (yes, I still love him) in Spanish vs "Maybe, he's never given me a reason not to" in English. Again, the Spanish is so much clearer!

The differences that I thought changed the meaning of their dialogue the most are the English parts that mention "our spot", and the saving the world bits. For "our spot", in Spanish Cloud merely states the church is where she wanted to come, and does not refer to it as "our place" (nuestro sitio) like Aerith does prior to the church scene, which removes some of the confusion I had since it is not technically "their spot" (they first met on the Sector 8 plate, which she even reminds him of in Junon), but rather hers and Zack's. The change in the saving the world part also changes the subtext quite a bit, since the English version led some to believe that she was implying she could fill Tifa's role in the Lifestream sequence (i.e. be heroine of the inner plot), whereas the Spanish version places her focus entirely on being the heroine of the outer plot.

This analysis really makes me see these scenes in a whole new light (especially that photographer one, it's priceless in Spanish), as it makes them both clearer and more tragic. Now I really want to replay the entire game in Spanish, to see whether any other instances exist where the English is just too ambiguous compared to the Spanish, and hence the Japanese by association.

[powerpolyculeshowdown]

Mod's Self Indulgent Polyship Poll Masterpost

Hello and welcome to the poll where I cannot lose! As the winner of the next-poll poll, we mark the return of powerpolycule showdown with my own self indulgent poll, where every contest is a polyship I like so whoever wins I also win 💖

While the premise likely sounds a bit selfish, I hope you find something among the contestants that speaks to you, and maybe you'll have yourself a new polyship or even just a new piece of beloved media even if you disagree with me (which is fine!!). Do keep in mind the ships vary from canon, to personal headcanons that will never happen to "the creators were onto something here I swear but they were cowards".

Now, the rules!

Vote for whoever you like best, if you don't know them, please check out their descriptions! I worked very hard to write those.

Don't be an asshole in the notes section. If I see a fandom being particularly toxic I will disqualify that ship. You don't need to like everything, just don't be rude.

Propaganda is welcome and encouraged!

As a personal rule to myself, I left out 3 of our beloved polycules from last year because the next poll will be rare polyships, and I believe they fit that category. They will be returning there!

There will be revival rounds because I was unable to narrow the list down to 16, and I didn't want to exclude any other ships. So if a polyship you like loses their first poll, not all hope is lost!!

Not a rule, but a reminder: The inclusion of a polyship does not mean I support or condone statements from any of the cast members from the source media.

Tags:

#selfindulgentpoll - all posts relevant to this poll

#siround[n] - every post for each poll will be tagged this way, [n] representing the number correspondent to each round (#siround1, #siround2, etc)

#sirevival[n] - revival round polls, [n] representing the number of the revival poll (#sirevival1, #sirevival2, etc)

#sipropaganda - any propagabda posts/reblogs/asks by other people. if u like any of the ships, make sure to campaign for it so it has higher chances of winning!!

#polypoll or #bonus poll - any poll made by me not directly related to the competition

#poll boost - self reblog of the polls for visibility, for people who might want to block those.

Relevant links:

Match Ups

Round 1 (finished!)

@tournament-announcer

List of contestants under the cut!

Roy/Keeley/Jamie (Ted Lasso)

Gwen/Miles/Hobie (Spiderverse)

Wu Zetian/Li Shimin/Gao Yizhi (Iron Widow)

Julien/Marnie/Roman (Charity Case)

Eddie Munson/Steve Harrington/Nancy Wheeler/Robin Buckley (Stranger Things)

Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson/Chrissy Cunningham (Stranger Things)

Kayla/Elise/Hotaru (Shootaround)

Oikawa/Iwaizumi/Matsukawa/Hanamaki (Haikyuu)

Akaashi/Bokuto/Kuroo/Kenma (Haikyuu)

Ennoshita/Tanaka/Kanoka (Haikyuu)

Midna/Zelda/Link (Twilight Princess)

Zelda/Link/Sidon/Yona (Tears of the Kingdom)

Geralt/Jaskier/Yennefer (The Witcher)

Martin/Jon/Tim/Sasha (The Magnus Archives)

Georgie/Melanie/Rosie (The Magnus Archives)

Jon/Martin/Gerry (The Magnus Archives)

Georgie/Melanie/Basira/Daisy (The Magnus Archives)

Georgie/Melanie/Helen Distortion (The Magnus Archives)

Jon/Martin/Tim (The Magnus Archives)

Sam/Celia/Alice/Gwen (The Magnus Protocol)

Stede/Blackbeard/Izzy (Our Flag Means Death)

Black Pete/Lucius/Izzy (Our Flag Means Death)

Penny/Sam/Sebastian/Abigail (Stardew Valley)

Farmer/Leah/Elliot (Stardew Valley)

Zack/Cloud/Aerith/Tifa/Jessie/Briggs/Wedge (FF7R)

Edward/Winry/Paninya (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

York/Rosé/Grendan (Drawtectives)

Megaera/Zagreus/Thanatos (Hades)

(yes a huge chunk is magnus archives and i will not apologize)

[skyflyinginaction]

out of curiosity can you compare ff7 and ff7rebirth Aerith's death scene?

the only way to talk about the two iconic scenes is to talk about the build-up leading up to it. 

let's start with the original,

Cloud under Sephiroth's influence gives him the black materia where his child self is running back and forth as his self is giving the materia to Sephiroth.

he couldn’t break out of Sephiroth's control and after Cait Sith appears he passes out, aerith appears in the forest and tells Cloud she will take care of things on her own and runs off to the lost city of the ancient while we all watch her leave then sephiroth appears and outright tells could that he intends to take care of Aerith you feel dread when sephiroth tells cloud that he is going after her. 

now that you learn that Sephiroth is going after Aerith it feels dire, cloud is feeling inner turmoil and self-doubt at how Sephiroth compelled him to give up the black materia he isn’t sure if he wants to pursue Aerith because if Sephiroth doesn’t kill Aerith cloud might sephiroth could do this to cloud he has done this before with giving cloud the black materia tifa and barret talk him out of it the uncertainty still lingers in cloud however we hold optimism because cait sith is back and that we can prevent it but that all changes in the lost temple.

when we finally go to the lost temple we see Aerith praying in an altar as Cloud approaches Aerith sephiroth takes control of Cloud again he raises his sword to Aerith's head, and then his friends call out to him and break him out of it.

what makes this scene tragic is that he breaks Sephiroth's influence only to have Sephiroth swoop down to finish the job.

sephiroth swoops down from the ceiling and impales her with his sword and you watch it all happen everything goes still your mind is still reeling from this scene in front of you followed by Sephiroth's cruel smirk at Cloud

he takes the sword out of her then music plays. 

we and Cloud are both in shock at what happened 

cloud catches her as Cloud shakes her awake Cloud is in denial at what he saw he breaks down right here you even see the text express his emotions you can feel it from Cloud this scene is absolutely soul-crushing we are feeling her death and it's really setting in. 

When Cloud expresses his sorrow and rage sephiroth dismisses it because he views Cloud as a puppet who doesn’t have feelings of his own he sees cloud as a lesser version of himself he can manipulate to serve his purposes and only has free will and agency so long as he allows it this is what sephiroth contemptible not only he kills an innocent flower girl but also but he also denies cloud of having an identity this is no end to sephiroth's cruelty. 

For rebirth, The buildup to her death plays out differently. 

you wake up and spend the day with Aerith, you spend time with Aerith but you feel uneasy. then arrive at the church 

When Cloud mentions next time and Aerith stifles

Aerith speaks cryptic words to Cloud it feels foreboding like it was the last time you are going to spend time with her. aerith hugs Cloud followed by this 

this is heartbreak because you knew what happened before then she gives cloud the materia 

the whole time it is Aerith giving her last goodbye to Cloud before she pushes us into the flower bed

the door opens revealing Sephiroth 

cloud reaches out his hand but couldn’t stop her 

the dread comes that Sephiroth is going to come after her and you half to save her 

you are sent to the lost forest again fighting whispers then you meet Aerith again you feel brief relief and try to warn her but Aerith worries about Cloud’s well-being

the scene plays out like in the original He gives her materia and Aerith leaves. 

cloud chases after her but is stopped by whispers preventing him from reaching aerith you are given the option to crawl to her but you still can’t reach her. 

if you play the original game you know what's going to happen but cannot stop it that's how you feel right here 

back at the temple of the ancients, Aerith is praying like in the original game, and much like the game cloud approaches Aerith sephiroth takes control of Cloud again he raises his sword to Aerith's head as he is going to strike down

Sephiroth swooped down on her

cloud clashes his sword before it reaches her head and repels his sword

you get a brief relief of stopping Aerith from getting killed however just when it feels like you prevented it. 

Sephiroth draws out his sword.

Aerith is struck down.

if you didn’t play the original game Aerith is killed you know this and still to prevent it but you are still powerless to save her. this is what this game does it gives us the option to save her and gives us a faint hope that her death can be prevented, only to have this cruelly snatched up you were so close but you still can’t save her. you experience the same feeling as Cloud does at the moment. 

Cloud turns around and catches her and holds her body close he breaks down as he holds her body in his arms. 

Cloud is a broken mess with tears streaming down his face this matches the original text from the original then Sephiroth laughs cruelly behind

to mock Cloud's feelings which makes Sephiroth contemptible not only does he kill Aerith but he laughs at Cloud's feelings.

One important thing no, aerith isn’t alive further proof is when Tifa sees cloud holding aeriths lifeless body. 

Cloud is denying Aeriths death this is seen before in the text in the original and this is what happened in this scene this is actually quite common for someone who experienced the death of a loved one to deny their death at first, this is what Cloud is feeling at that scene 

you see everyone's reactions to her death both anger and grief 

the remake didn’t change the themes of her death it had the themes intact the themes didn’t change in fact heightened them

both of these scenes are soul-crushing and devastating in different ways 

[srs-deep-dives]

Tifa's Theme: A Musical Deep Dive (Part IV)

Parts I-III here.

Section (D) Tifa’s Leitmotif Across the Original FFVII

(D) (I) The Leitmotif as Setup and Foreshadowing

Tifa’s leitmotif is heard just twice in the original game. The first time – in Tifa’s Theme – it loops over four crucial back-to-back story events:

Cloud and Tifa’s (first shown) reunion in Seventh Heaven;

Cloud and Barret’s argument in Seventh Heaven’s basement;

Cloud and Tifa’s recollection of their promise; and

Cloud agreeing to join Avalanche on the next bombing run.

Tifa’s Theme begins before Tifa welcomes Cloud “home;” before Marlene mistakes his arrival for her “Papa’s;” before anything at all is said about her. The music is the game’s first statement about Tifa.

As well as introducing the character and what she represents, Tifa’s Theme communicates the subtexts of the Cloud and Tifa’s bond:

The ‘reunion’ foreshadows their reunion in the Lifestream where their arcs climax;

The argument (with Barret) establishes Cloud as having no ties to any person, affiliation or cause but Tifa;

Cloud’s promise to protect Tifa is the memory tying their past throughout the narrative;

And Cloud joins Avalanche to keep their promise.

Screenshot from Cloud’s profile in Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive Vol. 2.

The second time the leitmotif is heard is in the track, The Planet’s Crisis: the conclusion of Cloud and Tifa’s arcs. Before that, however, there is a melody directly connected to the leitmotif, and that is in the high flute segment of Words Drowned by Fireworks.

(Which I will call WDBF for short.)

(D) (II) The Leitmotif as Echo and Resolution

For decades now, players have debated which Gold Saucer outing is ‘the most’ canon. That they occur as substitutes for one another and shine insight on Cloud’s canonical bond with each comrade means they are all canon. But the accompanying music track on these outings pertains to one duo very specifically. And that is in its subtle relationship to Tifa’s leitmotif. I am not talking about the instrumentation here – the flute is not unique to Tifa (it is used heavily, for instance, in Aerith and Nanaki’s leitmotifs). Nor am I referring to the track’s title – which is a homage specifically to Cloud and Tifa’s date (her words are the only words to be drowned by fireworks). No, there is a treasure here which undoubtedly gives the track away as belonging to Cloud and Tifa. And that is the pitch-for-pitch nine-note bridge to each melody’s climax (WDBF and Tifa’s Theme).

If we were to transpose one melody into the key of the other, this segment would be identical in pitch. In Tifa’s Theme this bridge is the ending of Subphrase 3. In WDBF, this bridge is the ending of the flute-passage.

Here is our segment from Tifa’s Theme in its original key of F major (untransposed):

Transposed into the key of G major – the key of WDBF – we have:

This section circled in blue is echoed in WDBF, in the exact same place where the bridge takes us into the climax.

Here is our quick comparison of this section in the original keys, and transposed key (Tifa’s Theme in the key of WDBF):

The effect of this subtle echo is huge. Recall from our last post that Subphrase 3 of Tifa’s leitmotif culminates on a held A – the note she had been trying to rise to again and again since its beginning…

…And ending on that initial rising point, we were taken into the climax (Subphrase 4) which ultimately ended a tone below that A (our G meaning Tifa just missed the mark).

Now, with the pitch-for-pitch echo of that bridge signaling the climax-point of WDBF, we have Tifa literally, openly, trying to express her yearning love for Cloud. This note-step echo, so to speak, presents her direct, now unmistakable attempt. For while Tifa’s Theme culminates in a final struggle where Tifa locks her feelings away, WDBF bridges into the game’s main leitmotif – which is specifically, in its minor-keyed, ‘unstable’ rendition, the heart of the ‘finding-Cloud’ conflict.

WDBF does not only play at Gold Saucer. We hear it for a second time in the Temple of the Ancients when Cait Sith ‘predicts Cloud and Aerith’s future.’ Of course, by Disc 1’s end, this is revealed to be the narrative’s ruse – this conversation (metaphorically) being the drowning-out firework as Cait Sith says, “Poor Tifa.” The third and final time we encounter the track is when Tifa finds the comatose Cloud in Mideel, ending where she learns that he has mako poisoning and circumstances again keep him from her reach. This is her last ‘drowned’ expression of feelings – their next reunion (occurring with the main leitmotif in Who Am I?) being the real deal, where Tifa and Cloud together piece back their memories, recover Cloud, and Tifa learns of Cloud’s life-long devotion to her.

It has often been overlooked that Tifa has, at the point of Who Am I?’s second occurrence, lost her own semblance of self. (Forgive my error in the video – the track occurs three times and is first introduced through Cloud in the Temple of the Ancients.) I have rarely seen the subject of her own memories broached in discussion, which are, it must be emphasized, just as in need of resolution as Cloud’s. Noted in the video above, Who Am I? also applies directly to Tifa – its second occurrence being during her time in Scarlet’s gas chamber. Cloud, the anchor of her past and present, has been taken from her. Tifa doesn’t know what is real anymore, wondering whether her memories are “made up” (as she confesses later in the Lifestream). The life and home she’d rebuilt in Midgar is destroyed. And she is in a state of despair, having failed to keep Cloud safe. Tifa, simultaneous to losing Cloud, has lost herself, allegorized by her being strapped to a chair, alone in darkness, left to die under the foggy and suffocating fumes of the gas.

Moreover, this occurrence of Who Am I? bridges the two times that our brave and persevering heroine breaks down. The first, when Cloud hands over the Black Materia, where she is ready to die as North Crater crumbles. The second, on the Highwind, even after having fought for her life and escaping Scarlet’s chamber. Here, the party confronts her about Cloud and encourages her to push forward:

Nanaki: Do you think we aren’t strong enough without Cloud? Do you think we can’t save the Planet alone? Tifa: Meteor is coming, and Weapon is on the rampage… At a time like this, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. No idea at all… Barret: Get a hold of yourself, Tifa! C’mon, let’s think about this! No way we can get offa this train we’re on! Tifa: If only Cloud was here, everything would be fine. Cloud would… stand that cocky little way he did, and tell us what to do. He’d say, ‘Everything’s under control, Tifa.’ Barret: Tifa! When’d you become such a wimp! Tifa: I’m sorry, Barret. I’m so depressed, I’m surprised at myself. Nanaki: And Tifa… the reason why we all thought it was Cloud was because… Tifa: I know. That’s why I want to make sure. That’s why I have to see him again.

Before turning to the game’s grand climax, The Planet’s Crisis, let us look at some instrumentation. The intro melody of Tifa’s Theme is played on a solo oboe, and harmonized by an electric piano and clarinet. This is interesting because, as we saw in the leitmotif and its echo in WDBF, Tifa’s voice is represented by the solo flute. Remember from Part III of our deep dive that the intro of Tifa’s Theme presented two collocating viewpoints (ours/Cloud’s, and Tifa’s) and that its ending tension (the dominant chord) took us for the first time directly into Tifa’s own viewpoint. We see the same thing happening with the instrumentation: the oboe – the flute’s neighbor relative instrument – playing the intro; and the flute then picking up her leitmotif. Flutes and oboes serve different kinds of roles all over FFVII. But in the context of Tifa’s Theme, two perspectives can be taken on the oboe:

The first, as representing both Tifa’s view and the views of everyone else for whom Tifa is ‘home.’ (The oboe presents Tifa’s view but it is clouded by her secrets, whereas the flute lifts us up into her true desires.) Because her secrets are only foreshadowed and locked away in this intro, we see the Tifa that Cloud and the party sees – we see her as home, distracted from her sufferings. Thus the two views collocate: Tifa’s and the party’s/player’s/Cloud’s.

The second, as foreshadowing Tifa and Cloud coming together – the oboe playing the climax (the game’s main leitmotif) which follows the flute (Tifa’s leitmotif echo) in WDBF, and the oboe later being Tifa’s voice (for Tifa’s full leitmotif) overlapping Cloud’s on the English horn in The Planet’s Crisis. (We’ll get to this shortly.)

While WDBF’s flute passage echoes Tifa’s Theme and climaxes with the heart and resolution of Tifa’s conflict – saving Cloud – it very, very closely resembles the instrumentation of the track Lifestream, as we’ll see in the video below. In terms of Tifa’s character arc, therefore, WDBF can be called the track that bridges Tifa’s Theme (her arc’s conflict) with the Lifestream itself (the physical setting of her arc’s resolution).

Finally, we have reached The Planet’s Crisis. Aside from WDBF’s little echo, Tifa’s leitmotif is hidden from the time of her introduction until the grand climax of the game. Why is this, from a musical-narrative standpoint? My conclusion is: to be the conveyance (together with FFVII’s main leitmotif) of the conclusion of Cloud and Tifa’s arcs. Here, at long, long last, the two leitmotifs overlap.

(D) (III) The Leitmotif as Conclusion

Cloud set off to join Soldier to gain the strength to protect Tifa, and his promise to be her hero continually drives his arc. It is during the Planet’s crisis that Cloud – free of Soldier and Sephiroth, as just Cloud – has finally carried this out. (Bear in mind the distinction between resolution and conclusion. Tifa’s arc resolved in the Lifestream with the saving of Cloud and her own sense of self. Cloud’s arc was there also resolved, with his regaining his psyche, his feelings being bared to Tifa, and his accepting of himself. The Planet’s crisis, following their night under Highwind, is the final carrying-forward of that resolution. That is to say, it is the tying up of all ends – the conclusion. Cloud who has accepted himself – his ‘weak,’ ‘failure’ self who truly was Tifa’s hero and had her heart all along – is able to save her in the very way he dreamed in the incident that kicked off their journey (Mt. Nibel).

Let us consider this narrative now together with the music.

Firstly, a note on the key. When we began our deep dive, we began with a quote by Austrian composer Ernst Pauer, who summarized F major as:

“…at once full of peace and joy, but also express[ing] effectively a light, passing regret – a mournful, but not a deeply sorrowful feeling.”

D major, the key encompassing our passage of The Planet’s Crisis, Pauer summarizes as:

“…express[ing] majesty, grandeur, pomp, and adapt[ing] itself well to triumphal processions, festival marches, and pieces in which stateliness is the prevailing feature.”

D major is popularly used in marches, carols and holiday songs. Where Tifa’s Theme carries home along with underlying suffering, its leitmotif with the main in The Planet’s Crisis carries victory.

When Cloud has caught Tifa in the crumbling crater, we hear Tifa’s leitmotif on the oboe, solo over arco strings. Below is a screen from the orchestral partition, courtesy of Courcelle Kevin here (all thanks and credit to this amazing musician and arranger whom I highly recommend looking up).

This first subphrase plays over the couple holding each other and discussing reuniting with Aerith.

As the second subphrase ends, we have the overlap of the four-note ending of Sephiroth’s leitmotif, on the English horn (cor anglais) and trombone. This ending represents the vanquishment of Sephiroth’s influence in Tifa’s life; Cloud has at last defeated him once and for all. (Well, until Advent Children, but for our present original story…) This is conveyed in the merging of Sephiroth’s leitmotif into the main leitmotif (through the same instrumentation), representing victorious hero-Cloud. The triumphant melody overlaps with the third and fourth subphrases of Tifa’s – Tifa’s cry from WDBF being fulfilled: Cloud is found and she is safe in his arms. It is now that Cloud lifts Tifa safely onto the rock.

In contrast to the unstable, minor synth and strings of Who Am I?, the main leitmotif – Cloud’s voice in major – is now on sure ground. And in an almost cheeky playfulness, it starts its first subphrase, stops halfway, and then restarts a tone higher with a series of accidentals; more triumphant, more glorious, more free (image below). (Accidentals are chromatic notes foreign to the key, giving off tension against and breaking through the key’s constraints.) It is as if Cloud, stepping into hero status, begins as ‘Soldier Cloud’ would – following the pattern of his once-idol Sephiroth – only to immediately stop and go, “Hey, wait, he’s gone. It’s finished, he’s gone!” He backtracks and starts again, realizing himself different from that hero he’d dreamed of being in Sephiroth’s shadow; Tifa’s man in his own wholly free of any and all his influence.

This restart of the main leitmotif kicks off on a low E note, synchronizing with the ending high E note of Tifa’s. It is a merging of the two character voices – an effectual becoming of one. It is then that the main leitmotif takes the forefront, Tifa’s effectively being drawn up into it, as the pair turn to meet the rest of their friends.

What is also interesting is the instrument combination. I mentioned earlier that the oboe is a relative neighbor of the flute. The English horn (cor anglais) is not actually a ‘horn’ – in terms of being a brass instrument (like, for instance, the French horn). The cor anglais is in fact a double-reed woodwind instrument of the oboe family. It is played in the same manner as the oboe, but differs in that it is bigger (giving it a lower pitch range), and has a rounder bottom (giving it a more reverberation). It is these two very related instruments that sync on that grand E note, in which Tifa’s voice is drawn up into Cloud’s. Meanwhile the trombone is the perfect voice for Cloud’s triumph as Tifa’s hero – no class more fitting than the brass to grandly express victory.

Cloud and Tifa are not the first Final Fantasy couple to have their leitmotifs overlap together. Final Fantasy VI’s ending track, Balance is Restored, introduces Celes’ leitmotif on an oboe. Then, transitioning into strings, Locke’s leitmotif simultaneously enters on… guess what? The English horn. Of course, there are many differences between Cloud & Tifa’s and Locke & Celes’ music synchrony, but I just love that little parallel.

To wrap up in summary the use of Tifa’s music in the original game (ie. Posts I-IV):

The intro of Tifa’s Theme (Post I) established Tifa as embodying home. In juxtaposing viewpoint – Tifa’s own viewpoint – were her locked-away burdens. Here we examined how the music sets up that Tifa: holds a profound motherliness toward others which outweighs thought for herself; strives to keep herself distracted from the insecurities of having to deal with her emotions; and embodies home for everyone else despite her own life being plagued by suffering.

Climaxing on the dominant chord (Post II), her conflictions were forefronted, and we were taken from the viewpoint of those to whom Tifa is home, into Tifa’s secret world of suffering. Here we saw the conveyances of Tifa being burdened by her: longings to confront Cloud with the truth; uncertainties of what the truth is; fears of losing Cloud should she take action; and doubts toward the validities of her own memories.

The leitmotif (Post III) revealed to us her drive, rock, reason, hope and the heart of her conflictions – Cloud – through its expression as: a theme of love; a clash against the always-home harmony; and a theme of perseverance.

Now that we have considered (to our efforts) the full picture, there is one final thing to point out. And that is the foreshadowing of arc closure in Tifa’s Theme itself – how Tifa’s character and journey, right down to the music, finds completion in her oneness with Cloud.

What I mean is that Tifa’s own theme track is, on its own, incomplete. Remember our observation in Post III that the leitmotif ends on and eternally loops from the dominant chord (our tension highpoint)?

And that the final note is a held G – a tone below the A the melody was trying to reach the whole time?

Tifa’s Theme ends in the highpoint of her conflictions which, despite consistent perseverance, could not be overcome through her strength alone. This ending note – a fall-short with Tifa’s greatest efforts – at last finds resolution in The Planet’s Crisis with the synchronizing support of Cloud’s victorious lift.

Tifa’s leitmotif seeks resolution, lest it loops and loops and loops, until The Planet’s Crisis at last sees it taken up into the main. It is an ending, and it is a new beginning, of a new life together. A life where, as is vice versa, Tifa finds completion in Cloud.

That brings us to the end of the original game. But we have one more post left, where we’ll observe Tifa’s leitmotif throughout the FFVII compilation. Seeing Rebirth is just months away, I will likely post it after its release. In the meantime, thanks for journeying with me here. If you enjoyed, please follow my blog as I will be posting more deep dives on Final Fantasy VII, anime and other stories.

[silver-wield]

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Review

Okay, this collection of posts will be filled with spoilers, including clips and screenshots, so if you don't wanna see things, then don't look. Some of the things I'm gonna highlight will include references to Remake to link with the overarching plot.

Onto chapter 1!

So chapter one literally starts with the truck on the way to Nibelheim, and the flashback comprises 80% of chapter 1. It's a solid start and I really enjoyed playing this part of the game.

We start off with Sephiroth showing off how awesome and powerful he is, but we also see hints of things very wrong with young Cloud, plus the fact the travel sick trooper has Cloud's hair and Zack's voice.

Things are very wrong in Nibelheim.

And we get a second hint of that when we arrive and talk to the travel sick trooper, who still has Zack's voice and Cloud's body. This line shows up again later in the game when Cloud remembers Zack, so it's a nice bit of confusion for those who remember who said it first because that trooper isn't the one who dies in the river later on.

We have more hints of real Cloud as he climbs the water tower and gets all in his feels because he's not a soldier. This can be confusing later when Tifa shows up and he acts like it's nothing. Well, it would be nothing for Zack.

We get the first crumbs of Tifa fishing to figure out wtf is going on. Cloud knows everything about her, but she knows he wasn't in Nibelheim and tells Aerith as much later that night before speaking to Cloud.

When Tifa arrives as the guide the next morning we can see the trooper turn to stare at her, then turn around just in case she spots him, then he peeks at her right afterward 🤣

Heading up the mountain the combat tutorial is pretty much identical to Remake. The limit synergies were a bit confusing to understand at first, and I kept asking what causes them to activate. Using the regular synergies and switching between leaders to activate synergies causes the limit meter to rise so you can use them. It really wasn't clear how they explained it.

I also don't like the new dodges. I loved my dodge roll materia, so only having access to the original dodge made me sad. You can't keep the materia you collect on Mt Nibel so after your first go there's no point picking any up.

This is another set of lines we hear later, but from Cloud when he starts losing his mind and Sephiroth starts gaining control. There's a lotta foreshadowing in chapter 1.

At the end of the Nibelheim incident we get a combination of Cloud as himself and Zack, but also this scene is in ToTP where Tifa says she faintly recalls someone yelling her name but she doesn't recognise them. This scene was also in Last Order with Tifa talking to Cloud although she wasn't really conscious. We'll get the clear picture in part three.

After hearing his story, Tifa wants to talk. Sephiroth doesn't want them to talk and get closer because he can't control Cloud if that happens. So he does discord and they argue. Tifa shows him the scar she has from Sephiroth, and Cloud glitches when she wants to know where he's been.

If he hadn't been in a mako coma then Sephiroth would've been active sooner. He chose Cloud as the core of his being and until Cloud woke up in some capacity, Sephiroth couldn't do anything. But Cloud doesn't know this, and he just avoids answering. He and Tifa return to their rooms with some discord between them.

Chapter two begins the next morning.

[crisiscutie]

Have you watched the new FF7 trailer? Let us know your toughts! XD

My current questions are these:

1. During flashback where Sephiroth slashed Tifa off, he said that she's dead and "...so who is she"? I don't remember the OG much, but does he speaks the truth? Or maybe he's merely gaslighting Cloud to hand over black materia?

2. What do you think Ever Crisis is about? Will we finally able to play as Sephiroth? I have a bad feeling of it being developed for mobile phone...

3. Anything else you notice?

Hello, anon! Yes, I've seen the trailer for Rebirth and Ever Crisis, so let's hop right into C.C's analysis/ramble. Unedited and Unhinged. Disclaimer: These are just my opinions, of course.

༻❁༺ Tifa DIES!?

I don't think so... the Crisis Cutie is definitely messing with Cloud here. And he's messing with US. Sephiroth is aware of our existence. Yes, I mean "Us" and "Our". The 7R Universe is basically a self-aware AU, heh heh. He is determined to change fate, and he is doing whatever he can to make sure he wins, by manipulating us and Cloud into his plans.

I think the Whispers would've ensured Tifa's survival, as she is an important character in the FF7/7R universe. It's possible they revived her by the time Zack arrived to confront Sephiroth. I've always wondered how Tifa AND Cloud survived their gruesome injuries from Sephiroth, but The Whispers existing in the canon now make their survival logical (in my opinion)

And don't forget that 7R Sephy knows what happened in OG FF7, so it would make sense he would begin his new plan of sowing seeds of distrust between Cloud and Tifa. Remember that Tifa is also the one who repaired Cloud's mind, taking him right out of Sephiroth's clutches at the last moments. So it seemed logical that our trolling Sephy would want to carry out his threat, eventually. Sephiroth underestimated Tifa AND her connection to Cloud in the OG game, so he is definitely taking her more seriously this time around. Poor girl occupied a spot on Sephy's special hitlist...

One of my biggest questions I had in Remake is that I wondered why 7R Sephy didn't immediately off both Aerith and Tifa and beeline for the black materia considering his future knowledge, but I realized the existence of the Whispers prevents that: They're holding him back. So both Sephy and Jenova are planning around them to make their plans come to fruition. I still think the whole "Tifa dying" is an obvious red-herring, for now. Nothing says it can't happen in the next 7R game...

༻❁༺ What's up with the Miracle Cutie?

What I find the most suspicious is how quiet the trailer was regarding Aerith. I find it interesting how Tifa worryingly confided in Aerith about Cloud's absence from Nibelheim in the recent years... Aerith sounded worried herself about it. Her tone of voice gave it away. Like Sephiroth, she also has knowledge of OG FF7's events. She knows Tifa is the key to repairing Cloud. I also think this denial keeps the Whispers away and so Aerith's own plans won't be disrupted. The Whispers aren't just around to keep our Sephy snake in line; you know.

And while it was incredibly subtle, Remake was building up something between Aerith and Sephiroth... Guys, believe me when I say something is going to happen incredibly differently when Aerith "dies'. My theory is that her death will be delayed, due to Zack intercepting the party in some way. I also think instead of Sephiroth "killing" her the traditional way, I think he will corrupt her with Jenova's essence....

Aerith is Cetra and Human. Her Cetra DNA will surely try to expel the Jenova essence, yet her human DNA will surely be overwhelmed by it. So either Aerith will spontaneously combust (unlikely) or become a massive freak of nature (most likely), begging Cloud and the party to put her down. It can do so many wonders for Sephiroth's plan: Aerith is gone, Cloud is on the verge of breaking or WILL BREAK from being forced to kill a loved one or to see her be killed. And it's deliciously cruel, because Sephiroth can drink in the party's despair. And for a meta reason, this might happen: it'd be a bigger player punch for those who played the original and for newcomers to the series...

If Aerith doesn't die at the right moment, then I think the Whispers would end up working with Sephiroth to make it happen. Or maybe they will demand someone equally important to die in her place, thus making a trade of fate? It all depends on how the rules of FF7's time and space works. Maybe Ramuh will explain it to the party? Again, these are all just my opinions and speculations.

༻❁༺ The Ever Cutie

Ever Crisis seems cool, but the fact it's a mobile and gacha game is a huge turnoff for me. I will stick to Twitter, YT and the FF wiki for my daily dose of new Sephy lore, thank you very much. As I once said before, Sephy and the first class boyos are deserving of their own full-blown title. After so much resistance from the devs of not letting Sephiroth be playable, he finally is! ...In a gacha mobile game, sigh...

Anyway, it sounds like Ever Crisis will take us through several time periods of the FF7 multiverse. So it's at least semi-canon...

If what I read on twitter is correct, then it also seems the First Soldier will be retconned to be intertwined with Young Sephy's storyline, as it should be. Not sure what SE was thinking when releasing the First Soldier in the first place, it had so many lore inconsistencies...

And it seems like Sephiroth is getting a new friendo(?) to add to his small social circle.

It looks like we aren't getting anymore or little news for Rebirth now on, as Nomura said EC is meant to hold us over, so I hope those who play EC will enjoy it.

༻❁༺ What else did C.C notice?

I admit, I love Sephiroth's quote about Jenova.

"They say she’s a monster. That she can peer inside you, into the very depths of your soul. That she can become those you hate. Those you fear… Those you love.”

...because it's a big theme I'm trying to convey with the darling and Jenova in HoS.

Also, I do not take this as a quote of Sephiroth trying to warn Cloud. I think he's doing the opposite: he's rubbing it in! Going back to my point of him sowing the seeds of distrust between Cloud and Tifa, Sephiroth may even do it for Cloud and the whole party! I do not believe the common theory of a heroic Sephiroth being present. If Sephiroth ever changes his ways and joins the good side, it's something he will have to strive for and work towards in the storyline, I presume.

For a final thought, the trailer showed no mention or even a hint of Vincent, but unlike Aerith, I do believe this is more so than the fact he doesn't appear until later on. This is a random gut feeling, but maybe Vincent will have a major role this time? He could potentially aid in Sephiroth's redemption and go against fate, by convincing Lucrecia to leave her cave.. Lucrecia, for sure, will make an appearance. She is far too important to cut out.

I am very excited for Rebirth about the interesting and new things to bring. But also quite concerned... With all these mysteries and new story developments, Nomura and the writers may bite off more than they can chew...

[ghostofnibelheim]

For Wire Verse:

It truly was a sight to see, the once so infamous Sephiroth making his way in the world... even if it was just one Saturday night tending the bar. The crowds were coming in thick and fast; parties of many rowdy punters, and others by themselves looking to get their thrills at the very bottom of a pint of ale or cocktail glass.

Tifa had taught the man everything he knew in preparation for this one night, and watching the man work was every bit as licentious as anything the former SOLDIER did lately... it really should be noted that Strife had a problem.

Love sickness most likely, but a problem nonetheless, even if this was one ailment the courier was in no hurry to cure.

Perhaps it was the odd - albeit fake - smile the silver haired barman would flash to his customers, the way his hands would move so deft and precise to prepare each and every drink. Or maybe it was just the sight of him in general... who knew? Who really cared? certainly not this blond fool seated at the very end of the bar with his cheek resting in a single hand, nursing the dregs of his first and only beverage of the evening.

He didn't want to get drunk, least not on liquor, he wanted this to be a moment he could revisit time and again, and certainly without the addled fog too much alcohol could elicit.

But finally the evening was beginning to simmer down, where these parties would move on to the higher more profitable establishments, where the loners would part and return to wherever they dwelled in the evenings, and only a few stragglers would remain, enjoying the quiet which came just before last orders. And in turn would Sephiroth eventually meander towards the blond still admiring him, not so secretly, from the opposite side of the bar.

But before the taller man could speak, offer him another drink or even scold him for being up so late, Cloud would reach out and tug a little on the dark barman's apron the other wore, the fabric coarse between his fingers. And he offers his next, hushed words with the wisp of an enamoured grin tugging at a single corner of his mouth.

"When you come up late, you should keep this on, yeah~?"

"Really now... It looks like I'm in a predicament." Sephiroth's voice was still laced with the typical monotone drawl one would expect of him. No matter how stern his 'boss' could be about what was called 'lip service' and customer talk, some things simply were hard for even him to change. Nonetheless, his lips had distended into relaxation, maybe even a smile depending on the eye of the beholder.

And in that, his tone gained a frighteningly familiar note in its timber. The bemused inflection of the demi-God who'd once tormented Cloud deep into his psyche.

"Tifa has instructed me to turn any unwanted attention toward you, should any of the patrons try to sexually harass me. I thought that was your reason for staying here for so long..." He said, reaching with his own hand to grab onto the one tugging at his apron. Holding it in place between them. "But it seems that my protector has turned into a threat. Whatever should I do now?"

[caeca-iustitia]

😴 { oh hi! our first interaction! }

It had been a long day for everyone involved which had only gotten more stressful when everything had frankly gone to Hell in a handbasket.

Now they were missing Cloud and everyone was seconds from tearing each other apart- whether that be out of worry or misplaced anger.

It had been a few days since they had made their daring escape from ShinRa's clutches and Vincent would be the first to admit that tensions were running at an all time high.

They usually secluded themself from the group but with everything going the way it was, they were needed more often than not to diffuse particularly volatile situations.

Thankfully, with everyone asleep, they could find time to calm down and breathe. Well, everyone barring Tifa who had been dealing with insomnia and nightmares since Cloud disappeared into the Lifestream.

Vincent heard her footsteps before they heard her voice, simply patting the spot beside them and letting her know they would permit her company this once. They could tell she was relieved to not be alone so lifted their cape to engulf her in a wave of woollen comfort when she settles in next to them.

They then resume staring aimlessly into space as they process everything that the last week had brought the group.

A while passes before they feel a weight on their shoulder and they look down, eyes widening slightly at the sight of their companion sleeping soundly. She was using their shoulder as a pillow as she finally got some well-deserved rest.

Pressing their lips together, they did their best to move slowly so they could undo their cloak and resituate it around Tifa's shoulders like a blanket. Once sure she was covered, they settle back against the wall and wait. Their voice is very soft as they speak, brushing a bothersome strand of hair away from her peaceful face.

"Sleep well..."