Cloud & Tifa

[Tifa Lockhart]

In a most adorable fashion, Seb rolled onto his back, so he was laying beside Damien looking up at the stars, his belly fatally exposed XD
<Very nice... what is it about the night sky... that is so peaceful?> He asked.

[Cloud Strife]

Damien chuckled a bit. "You know what? I'm not exactly sure WHAT makes it so peaceful. That is a good question. However...I do know that is just is. Perhaps it is all of the small dots of light that appear amongst the darkness...I am not completely certain. Either way, the cosmos is brilliant and wonderous, in general. Wouldn't you agree?"

[Tifa Lockhart]

This gave Seb an idea, so he nodded in agreement.
<I think i know why... because for people like you and me, the tiny lights amongst the darkness shows us that no matter how much people see us as evil... we are good if we want to be.... you think?> He asked, tilting his head to look at Damien as an ear flopped over his eye in a cute fashion... quite a funny thing to see from a mangy black werewolf XD

[Cloud Strife]

Damien mulled this over, pondering Seb's words...before finally allowing another smile to appear upon his face. "Yes, yes I think you have something there, Sebbie. Perhaps you're right." He chuckled a bit before reaching a hand forward to scratch Seb on the head. "Cute."

[Tifa Lockhart]

Seb gave a wolfish laugh.
<and the best part is i didn't even think that hard.> At least he was honest >.<

[Tifa Lockhart]

((NEeeeed to think of an idea that will stick... perhaps we could RP Tifa and Cloud in here? *Nods eagerly*))

[Cloud Strife]

((Yah!! <33 That'd be excellent. >;3 Let's think of an awesome plot to go along with it. Hell, we could be more than JUST Cloud and Tifa if it calls for others. (: ))

[Tifa Lockhart]

((Yaya... now awesome plot... hmmmm.... i'm thinking setting it after the movie? So things are moving fairly hunky dory for everyone. So we could start off all happy and peacefullish but things go wrong? (Cloud could be having his doubts of course... as he does when he's not doing something constructive) I've thought of a beginning so i'll post and we'll run with it from there, sound good?))

Tifa groaned as he began his normal routine, she often wondered why she let him back in to her bar when she really would prefer for him to stay out permanently.
"Ye shouldn' be workin' in a beat up dump like this... why don' ye come home and HIC.... eh.... come home and party with me eh? Pretty little one? He slavered, his breath nearly suffocating Tifa as he pulled her down close to him and whispered right into her ear.
"We go through this every night... i'm not going home with you." She said in a disinterested tone, boredom obvious in her eyes.
"Wha? Am i not good 'nuff for ye?" He yelled, standing up and brandishing his glass around, slopping its contents all over Tifa and her recently cleaned bar.
"No, i just don-" She was cut off as she was forced to dodge the glass he hurled at her, the tankard shattering against the wall, showering her with glass.

The bar fell silent as Tifa looked up, inhaling deeply to calm herself down as she reached into the pouch in the front of her outfit and pulled out a pair of black leather gloves.
"Please remove yourself sir, or I'll do it forcefully."
The drunken man continued yelling profanities at her so Tifa vaulted casually over the bar and casually socked him one in the jaw, watching him drop like a stone. She then picked him up by the collar and literally kicked him out the door.
"And don't bother coming back this time!" She yelled, pulling the bar door shut behind her.
As she turned around the bars patrons all cheered.
"You show him sister!" A group of girls in the corner chorused while most of the men were just whistling.

With a sigh Tifa pulled off her gloves and plucked a tiny shard of glass out of her shoulder and wiped away the tiny amount of blood. Once back behind the counter she cleaned up the spill on the bar and the glass on the floor and added the broken glass to her breakages list, so she could replace it later.

Sure she had to handle pricks like him, but running Seventh Heaven was what Tifa did best.

[Cloud Strife]

Cloud had once again disappeared...though his cellphone was actually on! He had been gone for awhile this time, having decided to just roam around and take jobs where he could find them. Of course, he was still a delivery boy on the side whenever he showed up at Seventh Heaven...but lately he just...never found the time to return.

Don't get me wrong. The man loved being nearby in case something went wrong...but lately he had felt so...caged. Ever since the final battle with Kadaj and his brothers...he had felt...well...he had felt lost.

He did not know what he should do with himself...and because of this, he left. After all, Cloud was always the type of guy who needed to be DOING something. The blond Ex-Soldier was just that way - a drifter.

But today...was different. The man had a sense of homesickness, and he felt this powerful urge to return and see Tifa and the children. So he did.

By this time, he was already in town...and driving on his kick@ss motorcycle - having spruced it up even MORE after the battle. Anyways, he pulled up to the bar and hopped off of the cycle, kicking the stand and leaning it. His typical garb was apparent as he proceeded to push the doors open into the bar. However, just as he was about to enter, some guy was promptly thrown OUT...forcibly. Jumping to the side so as not to be slammed into...he regarded the man with a quirked brow. Then, he proceeded to promptly step over him without a passing glance and enter the bar. Pausing just inside the building, he scanned the area - listening to the shouts and woops about Tifa's obvious victory over some drunk fool.

Approaching the bar, he took a seat and finally spoke. "Tea. Hot tea. The way I always like it." And he would then wait for Tifa's inevitable squeal. xD

[Tifa Lockhart]

For the past few months or so Tifa had been more or less alone again, though Barrett was around a lot more often he still couldn't sit still and went off on job after job, just keeping himself busy.

The same could be said of Cloud, who'd made another disappearing act, though this time it had been a little less abrupt. Often he'd go out on a job and accept more immediately afterwards. This kept him away a lot, but he always checked in from time to time, though Tifa doubted whether he came to see her, or whether it was more for Denzel and Marlene's sakes.
It had been a while since he'd dropped by last and Barrett had been gone for several weeks, leaving Tifa alone to look after the bar and the children, though both were very self-sufficient, especially Denzel. It got lonely, and Tifa was beginning to feel it, the joy she got from running Seventh Heaven was beginning to ebb and her punching bag upstairs was beginning to feel it... she was well and truely sick of the same people every day....

...and too tell you the honest truth... she missed Cloud terribly.

Coincidentally as he entered, Tifa was facing the shelves, siphoning through bottles of assorted Alcohol, she'd grown accustomed to people entering and requesting a drink without so much as a second thought so her reaction was almost robotic.
"It'll be a minute, sir." She said in a disinterested tone. But just as she was making her way over to the kettle she realised how the request had been made. She wheeled around and was nearly given a heart attack when she met the mako blue gaze. The wind was knocked out of her for a moment and she was left there standing gob smacked. When she finally retrieved enough breath to speak she still sounded breathless.
"Cloud!" A small timid smile broke across her face as she made straight for the kettle and turned it on to boil before she fished around in the cupboard and brought out Cloud's unused mug, but it was still spotless due to Tifa's almost obsessive cleaning. She placed the mug down before moving to stand before Cloud, restraining the urge to chastise him again... she kept repeating in her head what had become her motto: 'Let the eagle Soar.'

"Hows work?" She asked, containing the quiver in her voice as she asked, rocking on her heels and reaching up with one hand to brush a lock of ebony hair out of her vermilion eyes, the poor lighting over the bar glinting off her lone drop-earring and the ring of a wolf head she wore on her right hand. Her eyes, despite her efforts to hide it, reflected her mental state, and how desperate for company she was.

[Cloud Strife]

Cloud let a vaguely amused look cross his face as she completely and utterly almost snuffed him for a regular customer. He had to admit, her surprise was welcomed whole-heartedly. The blond had missed Tifa something fierce, though he probably would never admit to it openly and willingly. Mako blue gaze scrutinized her as she stood there, wide-eyed and fidgety.

Mm. Something was troubling her...or at least, that was what it came across as. Head tilted to the side as he regarded her some more, piercing mako gaze seemingly capable of looking right through her - intense observations made as though he were trying to soak her up through his eyes. "Tifa." He greeted when she noticed him, only to place an elbow on the counter and place his chin in the palm of his hand. Silence reigned between the two for a time as the kettle was adjusted and moved so that the water would boil for his tea.

At her inquiry towards work, he merely shrugged. "Fine." Ugh, Cloud. He was so eloquent wasn't he? I mean, c'mon! Two words. That's it. Of course, the blond man had never been one to speak more than necessary...but this was ridiculous! He hadn't seen Tifa in months...and all he says to her when he sees her again are his preferred drink order, her name, and 'fine'. Can someone smack him? Please? Anybody?! Sigh...guess not.

Anyways, he sat there for a longer moment, staring at her rather blatantly. Do not be mistaken. The blond had missed the children too...and he hoped to see them soon. After all, there were many times when he looked at them as if they were his own. He treasured them, though he never made many affectionate gestures towards them...save for a complimentary word and a piece of advice on occasion. "How are Denzel and Marlene?" Good! Conversation at last! <3

[Tifa Lockhart]

Tifa busied herself in the silence by going over to the kettle as it began whistling, it hadn't been long since it boiled last so the water had still been quite warm. She then proceeded to pour the boiling water into Cloud's mug, looking up as he spoke again.

It stung a little, Tifa's traitorous mind informing her that Cloud didn't want to follower her topic of conversation... that he'd rather see if the children were doing well. But she soon killed this strange uncharacteristically jealous thoughts and gave him another small smile and she placed his drink before him.

"Denzel will be glad to see you." She replied, toying with her hair again briefly before she grabbed for a rag and a dirty glass which she began cleaning.
"Denzel is out for a walk and Marlene is upstairs drawing." She added as she put the glass down behind the bar again, looking over Cloud's shoulder as the number of patrons began to dwindle.
"You missed Barrett by a week or two... and Yuffie dropped in for a brief stint the other day, and Reno has adopted Seventh Heaven as his drinking place." She continued, hoping to keep the conversation as far away from how she'd been as possible, though she was now conscious of her bruised knuckles, which he would no doubt pick up on, hence she kept her hands busy.

She was also nervous, it was drawing close to closing time, Denzel would arrive home any minute and then Tifa would lock the doors... then she'd be left to think... nothing to keep her mind occupied... perhaps she wouldn't feel so terrible tonight with Cloud there... but the idea of it still frightened her...

You see lately, since Cloud visited last... Tifa had been having the same dream.
Someone broke into Seventh Heaven... she would go down and investigate and in the dark, before she could find the light switch she was attacked by something. The attack always came so swiftly that she couldn't fight back, and was knocked out after a few short blows, the pain feeling almost real... then when she woke in her dream, the sun would be shining, her bar would be trashed and when she staggered her way up to check on everyone, they were all gone... the entire house and bar had been torn apart and the only signs of Marlene and Denzel was the bloodstained ribbon from Marlene's hair and the chain bearing Denzel's wolf ring.
She ran out into the streets, trying desperately to find them, but eventually when she had no success she dropped to her knees and screamed for someone... anyone who could help her find them... but no one ever came.

It was then that Tifa would wake up, covered in a cold sweat and aching from head to toe... she found that keeping herself busy was the only way to keep it off her mind.

[Cloud Strife]

Cloud was known for his observational skills and his raw, physical power. So naturally, when she started to ramble a bit, he instantly noted that something was up. He nodded, not making much of the situation just yet. After all, why would he want to ruin the good atmosphere.

"That is good. I am glad that they are well." He stated absently, only to take his tea cup, blow on the warm liquid a few times, and proceed to take a sip. Mako blue eyes would then shutter themselves, pink tongue escaping to lick at his lips. "Delicious. Thank you." He'd murmer, before setting down the mug and glancing back up at Tifa. "Tell me what the problem is, Tifa." He stated randomly, knowing that this would probably wind up startling her. But at the current moment, he cared little for that. The blond wanted to know what was bothering her, and if she did not give him a straight up answer...then fine. He would just let it go. Either way, he looked up at her, mako blue orbs smoldering as he observed her. "You are obviously not doing so well. Your knuckles are bruised, therefore you have been thinking too much while beating that poor bag up, and you have bags under your eyes, thus implying that you've not been sleeping well. Care to elaborate?" Oh man, Cloud actually spoke more than a few words! Of course, his tone was still as chilled as it always was, though there was a little bit of a worried undertone.

"If there is something wrong, let me know so I can help you." He stated, knowing that offering himself up for help would be something she would have done.

[Tifa Lockhart]

((Unless there are other characters that you want to specifically claim (Which you can do so) im just gonna make them NPCs, so you can control them any time you like...))

Tifa was startled by Cloud's observations... she should have known better then to try and fool him. But before answering she glanced nervously over his shoulder, noting the bar was now empty. She then hurried out from behind the counter over to the door, which she locked shut, Denzel would enter the back way as he normally did, his walks having become routine.
Tifa then returned to the bar and took a seat on the stool one place down from Cloud's.

Her answer was reluctant and a little hazardous... she had hoped Cloud wouldn't notice, because she didn't want to risk giving him something to worry about... or have him think this was a ploy on her half to make him stay... because it wasn't.
But finally she opened her mouth to talk, leaning her forehead on her hand as her elbow braced against the polished bar surface.
"I... I just keep getting the same nightmare.... thats all." She said quietly, flinching slightly as she heard a door closing somewhere at the back of the bar.

A young males voice then called out. "Tifa?"
"I'm in the bar Denzel!" She replied, thanking him for the momentary distraction, though she figured Cloud might just bring it up in front of the boy... if the children knew that Tifa was struggling they hadn't said anything, only Marlene had mentioned anything of the sort a couple of mornings ago at breakfast, when she'd asked Tifa why she'd been up so late.

She aways hated to cause worry, but it seemed no matter how hard Tifa tried to keep herself occupied, the moment there was silence and nothing to do, her mind would wonder back to the dream. She'd polished the bar so much that in places the smooth lacquer had been wiped away, leaving just the rough wood beneath.

Denzel could be heard talking about his walk as his footsteps grew nearer. He came around the corner from a hallway and into the bar.
He was slightly taller, he'd been growing a lot lately, his messily kept auburn hair still often invaded the space reserved for his deep blue eyes. He wore baggy gray cargoes and a black vest, hanging around his neck on a chain was a ring similar to Tifa's.
He stopped to lean on the corner of the bar, his eyes roaming the ceiling lazily as he continued talking about his walk.
"I had to stop by the store to get some stuff but it wasn't that eventful really."

Then Tifa interrupted him.
"Denzel."
The boy turned to see what she wanted, but it didn't take long for him to realize.
"Cloud!" He chorused happily.

[Cloud Strife]

Cloud furrowed his brow when Tifa mentioned nightmares. That wasn't good. Perhaps she hadn't fully gotten over the last huge, life-changing battle they had had all of those years ago? Either way, the blond was worried for her now...and because of this, he spoke again. "...Nightmares..? What sort of nigh-"

Oh, and how lucky Tifa was! She'd not have to answer any prying questions for the moment...for as the saying goes: 'Saved by the bell!' Or rather, 'Saved by the Denzel!'. Ha ha. A sigh escaped him then as he continued to regard Tifa...only to then hear the boy's happy exclaimation. A small smile contorted the delivary man's lips upward, only to rise from his seat and stride a few steps towards him. "Denzel." He'd acknowledge, greeting him accordingly..before extending a hand and placing it on his head. Then, he'd smirk in slight and ruffle the kid's hair. "It is good to see you again." Cloud stated, a hint of warmth interlacing with his words. "How have you been..?" Inquiry would be offered to the growing boy as the elder man regarded him curiously. He had grown, that was for sure. "And where is Marlene..? Upstairs, right, Tifa..?"

Throughout this conversation, Cloud was still worried for Tifa..and he would make sure to get her alone in the VERY near future. If there was anything he could do to help her, he would. That was one thing that Cloud had decided a long time ago.

After all, Cloud adored Tifa...and it was very possible that he loved her...even though he would never admit such a thing to himself or to anyone else for that matter. He simply felt unworthy...as always.