Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Coming Home ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5: Heaven

 

It had been 3 days… 3 long days since anyone had seen Cid. The bar had been full almost every night, so Lilli had lots to occupy herself with, but every time she stumbled behind the counter, dropped a cup or heaven forbid, mixed a drink wrong, Tifa saw her do the same thing… halt, sigh and a few tears would escape her eyes before containing herself. She'd asked her what was wrong several times… even though she already knew, but the answer was always the same; “I don't want to talk.”

And now… at closing time, Tifa watched Lilli as she washed down a few shot glassed behind the bar. The somber girl was seated at the corner booth smoking.

Cloud came out from the kitchen with a load of dishes hot and steaming from the washer out back. Tifa smiled sweetly at him before gesturing to Lilli. “The more she keeps this up… the more I want to smack him myself.”

Cloud began drying a few plates, his eyebrows raised.

“We can only do so much Teef.”

“Yeah, well I wish I could do more.”

There was a silence. Only the clanking of dishes and silverware. Finally Tifa turned to Cloud, a hand on her hip. “Does anyone even know where he is?”

Cloud looked up from his duties. “Barret told me the only thing he's seen is the empty Highwind parked down at the dock… but no one's seen Cid at all.”

 

After everything was done for closing, Tifa made her way to the front doors, her keys in hand. As she locked the deadbolts, she glanced over at Lilli and smiled. “I got some fresh tea brewing upstairs… you want me to bring you some?”

Lilli shook her head, eyes plastered to the window. “I'll get some in a minute… thanks though.”

Tifa nodded, her face concerned. Do you see this Cid? You see what you've done? Tifa sighed.

“You mind then if I turn off the lights?”
Lilli shrugged. “What's the difference? I don't care.”

Tifa smiled. “Ok sweety… well I'll be upstairs ok?”

“Kay.”

 

 

As Tifa walked through the door to her apartment, a crack of thunder was heard and then… a downpour. Cloud was sitting on the couch, a glass of milk in one hand and a half eaten sandwich in the other. Tifa eyed his food as she passed.

“Mmm that looks good.”

“Yeah it is good… I got the last of the sandwich meat too.”

Tifa opened the fridge, discovering what he spoke was truth.

“Pig.” She heard him laugh at her from the living room and rolled her eyes.

The door opened and Lilli came walking in quietly. As she passed Cloud he smiled at her. She half-assed waved and walked into the kitchen.

“Hey sweety… teas right there… you want a bite to eat?”

Lilli shook her head as she got herself a cup from the cupboard.

Tifa leaned over and gave her a sideways hug. “Don't give up hope Lil… don't”

 

 

Lilli made her way downstairs. Teef had made her feel better, but her insides still felt like lead. She trudged over to her booth, but as she neared she saw something on the table. A flower… a single yellow flower laid next to her pack of smokes. She set her cup of tea on the table and picked up the flower. As she shifted her weight, her shoes made a wet squeaky sound on the tile floor.

From the light illuminating outside she saw a trek of wet boot tread leading to the front door. Something… like some force made her look out the window. There in the downpour he stood. Soaked to the skin. She blinked her eyes in disbelief. He just stood there, dripping from head to toe and the most he did was nod to her. That was all it took. Lilli dropped the flower and ran to doors. She opened them and tore out onto the street and then halted a few strides from him. She stood limply, her face like stone, suddenly feeling an anger well up inside of her.

The two stood for a moment in silence, the rain soaking them. A crash of thunder made Cid look up to the sky, but it didn't effect Lilli… she was too mad.

“I only wanted to make sure!” She called out to him, her voice harsh. Hearing her, brought Cid to attention as she continued.

“I wanted to know… if you… really cared about me… ME!” She tapped her chest with a hand. “Or were you treating me like you did…because of her.”

He didn't know what to say. He could only look at her…. All of her. That ebony hair…weighed down by the rain… her porcelain skin shone like a sonnet. He took a step towards her, but she wasn't finished. “And you just… just” she began sputtering her words, flailing her arms around as her anger mounted. “You just LEAVE! You disappear… like I'M not gonna notice at ALL! Well I did!”

She was the one who closed the gap between them. She marched right up to Cid and pushed him as hard as she could.

“You JERK!”

He stumbled backwards a bit and then steadied himself. Ouch… he knew he deserved that.

Lilli was sobbing now. Didn't he get it? Didn't he care? She wanted him… all of him… forever.

Cid lifted his hands, trying to find the right words, instead he raised them to rub his face and then to run them through his hair. He shook his head, letting his arms drop limply to his sides.

“I'm tired.” His voice finally made its debut there in the rain. “I'm tired of tryin ta figure out why every time your not here… right here like you are… I hurt.” He paused to lay a hand on his chest. “Right here.”

There in the rain, Lillis anger began to wash away. She understood then how hard this was for him.

He took a step towards her, his face clenched as if trying to keep from blowing up inside. He studied her face, rolling his lips. God, everything around her seemed to stop… like she was some kind of magic. He stepped closer, till they were inches from one another and he felt his insides turn to what was falling all around them.

“I know you ain't her Lilli… shit yer a whole different world from her… you… you.” His voice cracked and he let out a nervous breath. He couldn't talk when she looked at him so… her green eyes were so understanding. He swallowed hard. “I feel you round me an it's like… like comin home all over again.”

Lilli smiled, listening to the deep drawl she'd missed. She reached up and gently pulled his goggles off his head and dropped them on the ground. He felt his heart going a mile a minute, the blood pounding in his ears, as she ran her fingers through his wet locks. That was it… he couldn't keep it inside any longer. For once, Cid Highwind knew the right words to say. He reached up and grabbed her hand, laying it flat on his chest, he was shaking all over. “I figured out that when yer here… the hurtin stops…. En I don't wanna lose ya… now… never.”

Lilli looked up at him, her green eyes taking in the sights. His familiar grizzled face… his spring blue eyes… he wasn't perfect. Everyone in Midgar knew that. But he was here… and he wanted her… for who she really was.

“You mean it?”

Cid swallowed hard. “If'n you'll have me... though I dunno who'd want a worn out `ol pilot like I am… Cripe, Planet knows ya deserve a whole lot more `en me.”

Lilli took in a deep breath and threw her arms around his middle. He put his arms around her tiny frame, taking in all of her.

“God I missed ya.” Was all he could get out.

She closed her eyes, holding him tight. He smelled like cigarettes, fuel and sweat… all rolled into one, it was what she called Heaven.

 

 

Cloud couldn't help but smile to himself as he watched them outside the window kissing. Tifa laid a head on his shoulder and sighed.

“What?” Cloud asked turning his head to press his cheek against her forehead.

“Remind you of anyone?”

Cloud closed his eyes and chuckled softly. “Yeah… us.” He paused to look back out the window. “Planet knows, you saved me.”

Tifa lifted her head to look at him. “Really?”

“Mmm… in every way Teef.”

“Well, Barret's getting his butt talked to tomorrow.”

Cloud was confused… Tifa had this great habit of changing the subject all of a sudden to leave you hanging. “Huh?”

Tifa gestured to the yellow flower on the table. “That's the third time he's left his keys in Cids shop… personally, Highwind walking around in my bar at odd hours of the night kinda bothers me.”

Cloud gathered his arm around her and chuckled.

 

Cid ended their kiss, let go of her and took a step back, analyzing her, a sly smile on his face. He shook his head. “Damn Lil… didn't know what I was missin.”

She laughed as he moved back, swooping her up in his arms. He twirled her around, kissing her again. She wanted to stay like this forever. She felt like nothing could hurt her when he was here.

He softly put her back on her feet, their foreheads touching he closed his eyes. “Honey… I gotta git.”

“Why? Couldn't you just bunk here for the night?”

He lifted his head and looked into her emerald eyes that pleaded with him. He shook his head. “Naw… if I don't git the old girl outta Port, they'll charge me a fee.”

Lillis heart stung. Dammit Cid… Don't go yet… she didn't want anything more then just to have him near like this.

“I want to come with you.”

Come with ME? His eyes widened in surprise. “Honey… you sure? Ya might git homesick.”

She rubbed his back, which sent chills down his spine.

“Yeah I'm sure.”

Cid picked her up and she held on tight, wrapping her legs around his middle. It was all in innocence, but her hold on him made Highwinds head swim.

He stopped in front of 7th Heaven and gently put her down.

“Well then, you go git some clothes and whatever else yer gonna need… I'll wait right here.”

Lilly smiled. “Okay.”

Cloud and Tifa watched her come in dripping wet and she didn't even notice they were standing there. Up the stairs she went.

Cloud continued to watch Cid however. It had stopped raining and he mosied out onto the street to retrieve his goggles, now soaked and almost swallowed in a puddle. He stood straight wiping them off and then Cloud saw the pilot do something he had only ever seen him do when he was flying his ship. Right there in the street he began to rock back and forth on his feet, leaping up into the air, a “YEE-HAW!” was heard.

Tifa began laughing as she rested her head on Clouds shoulder. Cid landed on his feet, a satisfied look on his face. He put his goggles on and proceeded back to the steps as if nothing had happened.

When she burst down the stairs with a bag of clothes, Tifas heart leapt to her throat. Lilli ran over to them. She looked like whole different person. “I'll see you guys in a little bit okay? I love you!” she hugged Cloud, then Tifa, grabbed her flower off the table along with her smokes. “Here Cloud.”

She shoved Barrets keys into his hand. “Bye!”

Cloud peered out the window one last time. He watched Cid take the bag of clothes from her and holding her close with the other hand, they started off down the street. Cid watched all around, Cloud noticed… watching out for her like a hawk. He was pulled out of his thoughts by an insistent tugging on his arm.

“Cloud!” Tifa was yanking on his hand. “Reeve said that-“

“Do you trust him?”

Tifas expression froze, mouth agape. “Uh… trust who?”

“Cid.”

She crossed her arms and smiled. “Actually… with her? I do… I trust him.”

Cloud took her by the hand and lead her to the front doors where he proceeded to lock them.

“Then leave it be… she's only got so much time before Reeve talks to Rufus. So let her go.”

Tifa was indignant. “But Reeve said-“

“I know what he said Teef.” Cloud paused to take her again by the hand this time headed for the stairs. “But I talked to him this morning… He said it would be better for her to be in Rocket Town… Shinra has no interest in that red-neck hole since No. 26 failed… she's safer there then in Edge.”

Tifa stopped at the foot of the stairs, the whole thing coming together in her head. “Cloud Strife!! You're behind this whole thing aren't you?! You talked to Cid and didn't tell me!”

Cloud turned to her and smiled slyly. “Me? Talk to Cid? Why would I do a thing like that?”