Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Learning Curve Continuum ❯ In The Heat of the Night ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: Definitely not mine; always returned to Square Enix only somewhat confused.

 

A/N: Red XIII/Nanaki is characterized as having a formal speech pattern, so for the duration of these fics, he'll use Japanese honorifics when addressing other characters. Despite strong Western influences on its `in a galaxy far, far away' setting, Japanese cultural sensibilities pervade FFVII's universe, so why not?

 

In the same cultural vein, in small, traditional Japanese inns (ryokan), it wasn't unusual for two guests* to share the same futon, to make the most out of limited floor space as well as maximize body heat in buildings that even today lack central heating; the key is that each person has their own blanket.

 

*of the same sex; a privacy screen separates men from women and from married couples in the same room.

 

Also, Aerith isn't trying to be a bitch in this chapter; she's had a very bad shock and isn't dealing with it very well.

 

Warnings: Coarse language.

 

Bushels of Mimett Greens to Kitsune13, aka Tam-Lin, for continuing to encourage these bunnies. If you haven't read her innovative FFVII AR fic titled Avatar, I highly encourage you to do so!

 

Bouquets to my wonderful, ever-patient betas Ranuel and SilverOnTheRose.

 

Learning Curve Continuum

Chapter Two: In The Heat of the Night

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Tifa started her third circuit of Kalm's side streets, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, but not entirely because of the nippy night air. It was plainly obvious that her skimpy clothing wasn't going to be adequate outside of Midgar's mako-powered hot house, but that wasn't the main reason why she had goose bumps; instead it was the conflict swirling inside her head that was giving her the chills.

 

Cloud sounded so sure of himself, but he wasn't there! I'd remember if he was! Turning a corner, she blindly stumbled down the quaintly crooked street. He was so convincing, though… finding his mother crushed beneath their burning house, her last words… you don't make up stuff like that. He knew so many details from before Sephiroth went crazy, even the bridge collapsing and the materia fountain, but... but....

 

I suppose he could've debriefed the remaining trooper who accompanied Sephiroth and that dark-haired SOLDIER to Nibelheim… except Cloud was nearly killed and would've spent months in recovery. I doubt he was in any condition to do paperwork!

 

And he definitely didn't pose for any pictures with me.

 

But...

 

I suffered a concussion - among other things - from being thrown down the reactor stairs, and some of my memories definitely aren't as clear as they could be.

 

I'm so confused…!

 

Crossing a cobblestoned intersection, Tifa continued desperately sorting through her memory banks, trying to match up her recollections of the events of five years previous to Cloud's version - and kept failing. He had to have been part of a second team, probably called in as backup when Sephiroth locked himself in the ShinRa Mansion, and then read the reports after he got out of hospital; that's the only logical explanation for him knowing all that stuff about Sephiroth's connection to Jenova. But… why haven't I heard anything about him as a SOLDIER for the past five years that I've been in Midgar? Unless - he quit a while ago. But then, why would he still be wearing his uniform?

 

“Tifa-san.”

 

She barely stopped herself from defensively lashing out at the rasping voice speaking unexpectedly from around her hip level. “R-Red?”

 

“Apologies for startling you.” His single golden eye gleamed up at her in the flaring light of his tail-tip.

 

“Were you looking for me? I'm so sorry!” Tifa exclaimed, instantly feeling guilty for causing a fuss.

 

“Cloud-san became concerned at your extended absence.” Tilting his muzzle to the starry sky, Red let out a short yowl; within moments the thud of heavy boots announced the swordsman's rapid approach.

 

“There you are.” His flat tone held an unmistakeable rebuke.

 

Tifa was almost too unnerved by the hard, emerald-tinted glitter of his eyes to reply right away. They've been like that since the Tower…

 

`Get movin'!' Cloud shouted, falling back on the stolen motorcycle to take on their pursuers. Tifa had a moment to again wonder why ShinRa kept fuelled vehicles on display before she floored the accelerator, flinching as several bullets pinged off the rear of the cab. Long minutes later, after Cloud had fended off the last of their pursuers in a shower of sparks, he pulled alongside and his fierce viridian glare gave her pause - for just a moment she was reminded of someone far more frightening….

 

“I'm sorry,” she finally responded, ducking her head, then `eeped' when she was shrouded in coarse fabric that smelled of him.

 

“Don't wander off again; it'd be a pain in the ass if you were picked up by a ShinRa patrol,” Cloud said curtly, briskly adjusting his cowl so it covered her chest and upper arms. Firmly gripping her elbow, he hustled her along the uneven pavement; they were within sight of the inn when Cloud abruptly sent Red on ahead. “I gotta talk to Tifa.”

 

“As you wish, Cloud-san. I shall inform the others.” With a small bob of his massive head and a flick of his sizzling tail, the leonine creature padded down the street towards the brightly-lit entrance of the half-timbered building.

 

“The innkeeper seemed a little nervous about Red's fire-starting potential, what with all that dry wood,” Tifa commented just before Cloud hooked his arm around her waist and dragged her into a dark alley behind the buildings fronting the town square. “Oh! What're you...? Oof!”

 

Her ears ringing with a dull metallic clang caused by the collision of his sword with the brick wall, she was yanked into his arms. Startled and more than a little concerned by Cloud's forceful behaviour, Tifa held very, very still, her head trapped between his shoulder and his chin, listening to his thundering heartbeat and aware of how thoroughly he had her restrained.

 

“If I'm not with you, I can't protect you.”

 

She felt, rather than heard, his growl as his arms tightened to the point of discomfort, the ridges on his gauntlet digging into her back. Does he think I'm going to take off or something? Then Tifa realized that she was all tensed up, as if ready to flee - or strike - at the first opportunity. He is making me nervous, but... Forcing herself to relax, she tried not to think of what a casual passerby would make of their intimate embrace. Cloud's almost paranoid about my safety; at the Tower, I'm sure that he deliberately placed himself so that we'd be put into the same cell. His deep exhalation and the way he both loosened his grip and gathered her closer seemed to confirm her suspicions.

 

“I needed some fresh air... I'm sorry. I didn't realize how long I was gone,” she said contritely.

 

His lips brushed her forehead. “Don't leave me.”

 

Wha...? Where did that come from? “I won't,” she murmured, wriggling her arms free and slipping them around his waist to hug tightly.

 

Cloud exhaled again, his shoulders slumping. “It's my fault we were captured. I was distracted.”

 

Tifa shook her head in mute protest - until she thought about it. In the confusion of running battles and multiple confrontations, Cloud had collapsed in front of a specimen tank and never really recovered his momentum. “That Jenova-thing?”

 

He viscerally shuddered. “So much darkness.”

 

“Um... what?” When Cloud remained silent, Tifa ventured, “You're sure Sephiroth isn't just saving the Planet from ShinRa?”

 

“I already told you - there's no way. We're insects, so far as he's concerned - insects to be crushed under his heel. I'm damn sure he's planning something far worse than Nibelheim for the rest of the Planet; all those poor bastards in the Tower were merely a warm-up.”

 

“We have to stop him!”

 

“I have a score to settle, too.” Cupping her cheek with deceptive gentleness, the green in Cloud's eyes flared brighter just before he kissed her with bruising strength. When Tifa flinched and tried to pull back, he fisted a handful of hair to keep her in place. Just as she started to struggle, his mouth softened, the brutal pressure easing to a soft caress that was such a complete contrast to his previous aggression that Tifa didn't quite know how to react, especially when he whispered, “He nearly took you away from me the last time; I won't let him hurt you again.” Cloud pressed a series of light, tender kisses to her lips, then the tension on her hair released.

 

Tifa pulled away, and he let her go... but the clear blue of his gaze, with only the slightest hint of emerald rimming his irises, stopped her in her tracks. In fact, she stared at him for so long with such a puzzled expression that he finally quirked a small smile. “Is there something on my face?”

 

“Uh... no. Er, we should head back.”

 

Straightening to his full height, he rolled his shoulders. “I suppose.” Giving the street outside the alley a perfunctory check, he strode past her and disappeared around the corner; Tifa hesitantly followed.

 

It's like... he's two different people. Could the mako already inside his body have been boosted by his contact with the spring the other day and it's affecting both his behaviour and his memories?

 

“C'mon, Tifa.” Snapping out of her reverie, she checked his eye colour before obeying. Apparently unaware of the reasons behind her inspection, Cloud chuckled softly as he casually slung his arm around her shoulders. “I promise I won't bite,” he grinned, before adding in a suggestive tone, “In public, any ways.”

 

“I'm not so sure about that,” Tifa mumbled, stiff-backed and resistant to closer contact.

 

Cloud studied her for a moment before letting his arm drop and moved away. “You were gone so long that dinner was gettin' cold; I wonder if Barret left us any?”

 

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

 

“Has anyone ever told you that your sword is very impressive, Cloud?”

 

His smirk was pure masculine arrogance. “Plenty of ladies love how big it is.”

 

“You don't say,” Aerith purred, propping her chin on her palm. “However, I've heard it isn't the size of the weapon, but rather how well it's used.”

 

“Yeah? It's probably too much for you to handle.”

 

“Oh, I doubt it.”

 

Hunched across the table from the bantering twosome, Tifa desperately wished for something to stuff in her ears to avoid listening... or maybe a seat on the other side of the room. Even though the meal was excellent, her appetite completely deserted her at Aerith's tinkling laugh, as Cloud leaned close to whisper in the other woman's ear.

 

“Tifa-san? Are you all right?”

 

She forced herself to smile at Red because his furry brow was furrowed with concern. “I'm not very hungry, for some reason. Would you like my share? It'd be a shame to let it go to waste.”

 

“Only if you are sure that you have had enough.”

 

“I have.” Placing her plate in front of him, Tifa folded her napkin and stood up.

 

“Now where are you goin'?” Cloud demanded.

 

Glancing in his direction, she twitched at the sight of Aerith now practically sitting in his lap, ostensibly admiring his sword, and quickly answered, “I'm turning in.”

 

“We still haven't decided where to go next,” Barret protested.

 

“It doesn't really matter, does it?” Tifa retorted, edging away.

 

“You don't look so good,” the big man observed, concerned by her sharp tone and flushed cheeks.

 

“Just really tired,” she fibbed.

 

“All right. We won't be gettin' too old tonight, either.” As Tifa hurried away, he cocked a jaundiced eye towards Cloud and Aerith, who were deeply involved in a private conversation that included some suggestive fondling of the welded protrusions on his pauldron. Rapping his gun-arm on the wooden table, Barret grumbled, “Either get a room or knock it off. Yer embarrassin' this old man.”

 

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Closing the door behind her, Tifa took several deep, cleansing breaths while focusing on the graceful painted fish swimming across the screen that divided the room in half. The room they'd been assigned was small but spotlessly clean and the pretty screen gave the two women some privacy. I'm safe from Cloud climbing into bed with me, since I'm sharing with Aerith... on the other hand, that might not be much of a deterrent tonight. Shaking her head to dispel the images of the flirting pair, Tifa stripped off Cloud's cowl and left it neatly folded on the bed closest to the door, then hurriedly readied herself for sleep in the chilly room.

 

Several minutes later, snuggling under the thick quilt on her side of the mattress, Tifa again tried to clear her mind, but found herself instead contemplating Cloud's rough handling. What triggered it? He's adamant about wanting to protect me, but then does that... I just don't understand.

 

“Thanks for walking me up, Red. Oh, dear... I seem to have forgotten my Carbon Bangle downstairs. It has a couple of materia in it that we won't want to lose!”

 

“I will retrieve it, Aerith-sama.”

 

“Thank you so much!” she trilled.

 

“It is my pleasure.”

 

Hidden behind the screen, Tifa rolled her eyes. He's already wrapped around her little finger - just like the rest of them. How does she do it?

 

“Where did Cloud get that sword?” Aerith's hard tone made her unconsciously curl her fists in preparation for an attack as she sat up and warily regarded the other woman, now crouched across from her, an intent expression on her pretty face.

 

“Well, er, it's a SOLDIER weapon... isn't it?” Tifa floundered.

 

Aerith vehemently shook her head. “It isn't SOLDIER regulation issue. I know that for a fact.”

 

“Oh. He had it when I found him, so I assumed....”

 

“ `Found' him?”

 

“A few weeks ago, at the train station. He was filthy, dehydrated and a little out of it, but clutching that sword like it was his lifeline.”

 

“A few weeks ago?” Aerith murmured, her gaze dropping to the folded quilt beside her knees. Abruptly, her shoulders slumped and she appeared positively stricken. “It was him... oh, no.”

 

“Aerith?” Alarmed at the change in the other woman's demeanour as well as her cryptic words, Tifa threw back her blanket and reached for her, but was shrugged off.

 

“I'm fine,” she crisply declared, squaring her shoulders, but Tifa could see her trembling lip. The door slid open at that moment, giving Aerith an excuse to break off the conversation; by the time she returned from thanking Red for returning her Bangle, she was composed.

 

Maybe a little too composed... and I'll eat that Bangle if it really was `forgotten'. Tifa settled back into her bedding, carefully watching Aerith as the other girl undressed. She recognized Cloud's sword, no doubt about it - and someone connected to it was very important to her.

 

The pink ribbon securing her hair was the last thing to be removed; Aerith gently smoothed it with her fingers before tying it around her wrist. “Good night,” she said, her silvery voice several shades less bright. “Hopefully the boys won't make too much of a racket when they come in.” Wrapping herself in her blanket, she lay down on the other side of the mattress with her back to Tifa, making it very clear that she didn't want to talk.

 

I'd better warn her anyways. “Um, I've been having nightmares, so if I start screaming in my sleep, go ahead and wake me up.”

 

“A slap upside the head ought to do the trick,” Aerith coolly mused.

 

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`Jessie! Jessie!' The Plate heaved and bucked, the metallic shriek of tearing metal deafening... but not enough to drown out Jessie's final scream as she vanished into the crack between two chunks. Sick to heart, Tifa frantically searched for Cloud, finally locating him locked in combat with an Aero Combatant that morphed into Moth Slasher while their world fell apart. A massive section of Pillar tore loose and plummeted towards him… she shrieked his name, but it was too late….

 

“I'm here, Tifa. Shhh... I'm here.”

 

Surrounded by Cloud's familiar scent of wool, leather and honed steel, Tifa let out a plaintive whimper and clung tightly to the comfort he offered. As he began stroking her hair, she burrowed into his warmth until his heartbeat lulled her back to sleep - but not before a stray thought wandered across her consciousness.

 

I wonder what colour his eyes are right now...?

 

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

 

“Funny... I don't recall agreeing to a threesome.”

 

“If this was a threesome, I'd be in the middle. Wearing nothing but a shit-eating grin.”

 

Behind her closed lids, Tifa rolled her eyes at the heavy innuendo, and continued pretending to be asleep despite being uncomfortably squashed between Cloud and Aerith on the suddenly too-small mattress. I am not taking part in this conversation, because it's going downhill fast.

 

“Rather drafty, unless you brought your own blanket.”

 

“I don't get cold; I'm always hot.”

 

“Positively scorching, I'm sure.”

 

“You know it.” His hand protectively cupped the back of Tifa's head. “Hey… you weren't really going to hit her, were you?”

 

“Quickest way to stop the racket.”

 

“Wow… the sympathy is just oozing out of you.”

 

“People die all the time; you have to deal with it and move on,” Aerith said evenly, and Tifa barely repressed a shiver at the flatness of her tone. “So, how long have you known her?”

 

“Since we were kids.” Cloud nuzzled Tifa's hair; she wondered if she was busted for being awake, but if so, it didn't seem to affect his answers.

 

“Why did you join ShinRa, instead of marrying her and raising a pack of tow-headed brats?”

 

“I wanted to come home a hero and sweep her off her feet.”

 

“How'd that work out?”

 

He snorted. “Not exactly as planned.”

 

There was a pause, in which Tifa had no trouble at all imagining Aerith's expression as she surveyed the intimate way Cloud was wrapped around her. “So, what are you to each other? Friends? Lovers?”

 

“You and Marlene were separated at birth.”

 

“That doesn't answer my question.”

 

“I'd give my life to protect her.”

 

“What about me? Aren't you my bodyguard?”

 

“I'll guard your body any time, Aerith....”

 

Tifa decided that this was as good a moment as any to `wake up'; pushing against Cloud's chest, she forced him to relax his grip. “Why are you here?”

 

His expression was one part smirk and two parts leer. “You were the one screaming my name, so I came... fast and hard.”

 

“I - what?” she spat, shoving harder.

 

He just held on tighter. “We gotta do something about these nightmares.”

 

“There's a simple answer to that.” Raising her voice, Aerith called, “All in favour of Tifa sleeping with Cloud from now on, please say `aye'.” As a chorus of grumpy affirmatives came from the other side of the screen as well as a more enthusiastic one from the man squeezing her, Tifa turned scarlet.

 

“Don't I get a vote?” she muttered.

 

“Nope,” he grinned, a response loudly echoed by the rest.

 

Glaring daggers at Cloud, Tifa growled, “Separate blankets, buster.”

 

Unnoticed by the other two, Aerith softly echoed, “Buster…?”

 

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

 

Half an hour later, they all convened downstairs for breakfast; Tifa's cheeks were still notably pink as she seated herself, not least because when Cloud arrived a few minutes later from an errand, he scooted his chair closer to hers. His eyes held only the faintest hint of green, and he seemed back to his usual self, chatting easily with Red while slyly teasing Barret.

 

During a lull in the conversation, Aerith casually asked, “So, Cloud... how did you come by that sword?” as she blew on a spoonful of eggs.

 

He blinked, and appeared to collect himself before answering, “I was awarded it when I became a SOLDIER.”

 

Aerith tilted her head. “Really? What a great honour,” she said silkily.

 

Cloud's expression closed. “Yeah.” Swirling the contents of his mug, he took a sip, then draped his arm across the back of Tifa's chair. “I have some good news, some bad news and some even worse news. Which do you want first?”

 

“Just give it to us straight, Spiky,” Barret growled.

 

“The bad news is that the Mythril Mine is closed right now.”

 

The big man frowned. “So?”

 

“The worse news is that it's closed because of an infestation of Midgar Zoloms.” While the rest of them merely looked confused, Tifa twisted in her seat to stare at Cloud with wide, frightened eyes.

 

“What's a Zolom?” Aerith asked, noting Tifa's reaction.

 

“The biggest fire-breathing snake you've ever seen, except maybe in a nightmare,” Cloud replied cheerfully.

 

Tifa shot him a disbelieving look as she exclaimed, “Cloud died the other day when we fought one!”

 

“Phoenix Downs - don't leave Midgar without them!” Grinning cockily, he gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Luckily for us, Tifa is a certified Zolom-disposal expert.”

 

“What is the good news, Cloud-san?” Red asked, the feathers in his mane rustling, as if his hackles were going up.

 

“If we can acquire ourselves some trained Chocobos, we don't have to worry about the Zoloms - and I happen to know where we can score some.”

 

“Why are we even going near the fucking mine?” Barret wanted to know.

 

“I have a strong hunch that Sephiroth is headed that way.” Cloud stretched, then took off his cowl and dropped it over Tifa's head; as she spluttered and clawed the material away from her face, he placed a pouch of gil in front of her. “While me, Barret and Red take care of supplies, you and Aerith go pick up whatever girly-type stuff you need. We'll meet back here in a couple of hours and head out.”

 

“ `Girly-type stuff'?” Tifa muttered, struggling with the fabric. Why does he keep smothering me with this thing?

 

“In other words, things boys wouldn't be caught dead purchasing, even for their mothers or sisters,” Aerith said, watching Tifa with a thoughtful expression. “Cloud, are we likely to be camping?”

 

“Plan for it.”

 

Turning back to Tifa, she helped arrange the cowl's folds into graceful swags with a few practiced tugs. “Some heavier night clothes would be a good idea... maybe a sweater and a pair of slacks, too.”

 

“Are slacks really necessary?” Both Tifa and Cloud spoke at the same time, then looked askance at each other.

 

“Entirely up to you,” Aerith replied. “However, Tifa's not a barmaid anymore, and who knows what kind of weather we'll encounter while we follow Cloud's hunches around the Planet?”

 

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

 

“Oooh! Look at this!”

 

Tifa glanced up from where she was methodically searching through a bin of assorted panties to see Aerith covetously fondling a lacy silk nightdress. “Um, I don't think that'll keep you very warm.”

 

The other girl let out a gleeful cackle that had everyone else in the clothing shop looking her way. “Are you kidding me? If you cuddled up to Cloud wearing this, I can guarantee you'd never be cold!”

 

For the second time that morning, Tifa's cheeks flamed. “I doubt it,” she mumbled.

 

Aerith planted her fist on her hip, treating Tifa to a sceptical look. “Really? You looked quite cozy with him this morning.”

 

“We're childhood friends - nothing more.”

 

Rolling her eyes, Aerith laid the nightgown aside and reached out to yank on the cowl Tifa still wore around her shoulders. “When a man gives a woman a piece of his clothing to wear in public, he's making a statement. `This one's mine' is the rough translation.”

 

Self-consciously plucking at the coarse fabric, Tifa protested, “He's just being protective.”

 

“Riiight. If that's the case, then why doesn't he give me something of his to wear? He's my bodyguard, after all.”

 

“Er....”

 

Aerith sighed heavily, as if searching for patience. “Cloud has said twice now, in front of witnesses, that he'll `protect you with his life'. Do you have any idea of what that means?”

 

“Of course I do! He's just, uh, really determined to keep me safe.”

 

Pinching the bridge of her dainty nose, Aerith said, “Yes, but that's only part of it, Tifa. A guy - especially a guy like him that's allergic to `mushy stuff' - uses that phrase to declare that he's extremely serious about a girl.”

 

“No way! We barely know each other!”

 

Again tugging on the cowl, Aerith murmured, “His choice of words, plus this thing, tell me I'm right.”

 

He did say that he's had a crush on me since we were kids, and that he joined SOLDIER to impress me, but.... “I'd better set him straight,” Tifa said briskly, quickly picking out some definitely not-sexy pyjamas, a pair of slacks and a long-sleeved sweater with intentions of ending the conversation by taking refuge in the change room.

 

“You'd hurt him deeply if you rejected him.” Aerith blocked her escape route. “Can you look me in the eye and honestly say that you don't feel anything for him?”

 

Holding the folded clothing like a defensive shield, Tifa said quietly, “I don't know him well enough to feel anything definite for him. We weren't that close while growing up, even though we lived next door to each other. He left to join SOLDIER when I was thirteen, and I haven't had anything to do with him for the past seven years.”

 

“According to that story he told last night, you spent a fair bit of time together before Sephiroth went on the rampage in your hometown.”

 

Tifa shifted uncomfortably. “My memories of that incident are quite different,” she said carefully.

 

“Hmm.” Aerith gave her another of those considering looks before extracting the pyjamas out of her arms. “That neckline is more suitable for your maiden aunt. Here, try this style.” The sweater was exchanged next. “A zippered neckline will be more versatile because you can wear it open or closed depending on the weather, the short sleeves accommodate your armour and this colour is going to do amazing things for your complexion.”

 

“Er, thanks.” Beating a retreat, Tifa hid in the change room. While trying on the clothing, she tried to organize her scattered thoughts, but she couldn't come up with anything coherent to refute Aerith's perceptions... until she remembered the innuendo-laden conversations between the mage and the swordsman.

 

“Come out and show off your new outfit, Tifa!” Aerith called gaily. Gathering her arguments, she stepped outside and discovered she had to temporarily shelve them due to an unexpected audience.

 

“Lookin' good,” Barret rumbled, giving her a perfunctory once-over before making for the door.

 

Red followed on his heels, but not before nodding in approval. “Eminently practical, Tifa-san.”

 

Cloud, on the other hand, looked far less than impressed. “Sweater's okay, I guess,” was all he said before jerking his thumb towards the door. “Hurry up - we'll wait outside.”

 

Aerith showed off her own finds, which included pink-sprigged pyjamas, lace-trimmed leggings to wear under her dress and a smart coat that perfectly complimented her existing outfit.

 

“Maybe I should go with leggings, too,” Tifa muttered. “That way I can at least keep my skirt....”

 

“One battle with a monster, and they'll be in shreds,” Aerith pointed out. “Slacks aren't as fragile, and those ones are stretchy. No worries about popping a seam while in the middle of a fight!”

 

Is she ever wrong? Irritation made Tifa bold. “Regarding what we were talking about earlier, Cloud's been flirting rather heavily with you lately; I find it hard to believe that he's serious about anything, never mind me.”

 

“Give me a break, Tifa. Cloud's all talk - if you haven't bedded him, then I don't believe for one second that he's ever been with a girl outside of his imagination - and has it occurred to you that maybe he's trying to make you jealous?”

 

Tifa was completely flabbergasted by Aerith's first assertion, so concentrated on the second. “Why would he want to do that?”

 

“You really are dense,” Aerith grumbled in exasperation. “He's declaring repeatedly and in public that he's your knight in shining armour... and you haven't even noticed!” While Tifa spluttered, the other girl efficiently organized their purchases and paid, not giving her the chance to change back into her skirt before whisking her outside.

 

The others were lurking at the mouth of the alley running behind the building; Tifa wondered why they were being so secretive, until she remembered that they were all fugitives. Hopefully ShinRa will be too busy to bother with us for a while.

 

Cloud pushed himself upright as they approached, his expression unreadable. “`Bout time.”

 

“We're ready for just about anything!” Aerith chirped, smiling brightly.

 

“Hopefully `anything' will fit in the packs we bought,” he dryly commented, eying the bulging shopping bag she hefted.

 

“We're already wearing most of it; this is just the bare necessities.”

 

“Some of you are wearing a little too much, in my opinion,” Cloud grumped, looking directly at Tifa.

 

“I'll attract less attention this way,” she said reasonably, brushing imaginary dust off her new slacks and straightening the hem of her sweater as she returned his cowl. “Besides, it's a lot colder out here in the countryside than it was in Midgar.”

 

Cloud grunted in acknowledgement, but he still didn't sound happy. Turning to Aerith, he handed her a long, silver rod. “Picked up a Full Metal Staff for you; with a little practice, you should be able to... urk!”

 

The end of the Staff was pressing against his Adam's apple, and he appeared rather surprised; Barret didn't bother muffling his delighted guffaw. Aerith winked and released the pressure, giving the rod a jaunty twirl before stowing it. “I grew up in the Slums,” she shrugged. “A girl had to know how to defend herself.”

 

Rubbing his throat, Cloud merely nodded thoughtfully. “You should stay out of the front line, though; you're more valuable as a healer.”

 

Tifa helped pack the knapsacks with gear and food, the entire time feeling strangely reluctant to leave the relative shelter of the town for the unfamiliar dangers of the countryside. I've been a city girl for too long, I guess. Shouldering the pack, she bounced on the balls of her feet a few times.

 

“Don't overload yourself; let the others carry their own weight,” commanded a voice very close to her ear, and she just managed not to jump. Cloud removed several items and split them between Barret and Red, then adjusted the straps of her pack. “How's that feel?”

 

“Better. Thank you.”

 

“Thought this Mythril Claw might come in handy.” Showing her a curved piece of gleaming metal before tucking it into her knapsack, he murmured, “I'm gonna miss your skirt. I'd rather watch your legs than Barret's ass.”

 

“Then don't walk behind him,” she retorted.

 

Chuckling, he swatted her on the bottom before addressing the others. “Let's get the hell outta Kalm; it's a long hike to the Chocobo Farm.”

 

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф