Legend Of Zelda Fan Fiction / Starcraft Fan Fiction / Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Tassadar's Legacy: The Crusades: Sylvanis ❯ A bed, english lessons, and an new life ( Chapter 3 )

Sitting up, my first thought is, Woah, déjà vu. And it seriously was. Here I am waking up in a bed, naked, in a room I've never seen before, after being assaulted by unknown assailants from behind. Wait a sec, why is that déjà vu? That's never happened to me before! …has it? Shaking the weird thought from my head, I grabbed my head and groaned as my shaking was rewarded by a colossal headache. Figures. I got hit in the back of the head after all.  Slowly sitting up, but making sure to keep the comforter securely over my body, I tried to assess my injuries, first and foremost of which, WHY AM I NAKED!?

Twisting my hips a little, I made a huge sigh of relief. No pain… no rape then. I shuddered at even the possibility of such a thing happening. I looked around the room hoping to find some clothes without having to get up. It was hard enough to move let alone sit up what with the constant jackhammer in my skull. Unfortunately, there were no clothes visible. Fortunately, a dresser stood over by the door on the wall to my right. Unfortunately again, someone chose at that moment to walk in. Double unfortunately, my instant reaction was to lay back down and pretend to be asleep. Not hard since in my haste to go down, my head hit the head board. Swimming in pain, everything went black and I became unconscious.

When I came to next, someone was sponging my forehead. It felt sooo good… I think I have a fever. I'm sweating like crazy under a comforter and yet I'm cold, very cold. Shivering, I tried to move closer to the warmth sitting on the edge of the bed. The warmth chuckled, and my post unconscious stupor suddenly disappeared and I was possibly snuggling up to my captor. Eyes flying open, I tried to sit up and get away, but hands suddenly were holding me still. I didn't struggle long when I realized Tifa is the one leaning over me. Tifa must've rescued me I realized. Makes sense, considering I was only behind her bar. She must've heard something, thus discovering my sleeping hole… oh crap. So what now?

Tifa went back to sponging my forehead and humming softly and I found it extremely relaxing despite my confusion and trepidation over the situation. I decided to follow my age old adage, Enjoy the little things. You never know when they'll disappear on you. So I turned into her touch and let a smile grow on my face. I could hear people in the restaurant downstairs. Is Marlene running the bar all by herself? I hope she isn't being overwhelmed. I'm sure Tifa knows what she's doing though. Tifa continued to sponge my forehead even as the shadows grew long from the window to my left. And not once did Tifa stop in her ministrations to me. I was touched and feeling slightly guilty at causing her so much trouble. Footsteps on the stairs interrupted my thoughts, and Marlene came in a few seconds later with a tray of food. Right on cue, my stomach announced its presence to the room, loudly. Embarrassed, I coughed even as my mouth watered at the smell wafting my way.  Tifa and Marlene were both having a good laugh at my expense, but I was too hungry to care. Marlene handed the tray to Tifa and said, “Tifa, **** ***** Matthew ***?” Tifa responded, “*** ****** **.” Marlene nodded and after handing off the tray, she gave me a smile, then left. I sighed at my ignorance, but happily dug in to the bowl of soup Tifa set in front of me while she went after her own plate of food.

I was in the middle of inhaling my soup, when she stopped me and said, “*** *****.” She sounded admonishing, but I still had no idea what she said so all I could do was look contrite and confused at the same time. She sighed and pointed at the spoon, then pointed at her own fork, and made an exaggerated slow performance of dragging her food through the air , then chewing slowly. Evidently she wants me to slow down. I nodded and started eating at a much more sedate pace. Tifa watched me thoughtfully, before getting back to her own meal. It didn't take long to finish, even if we were eating slow. And she took my bowl, set it on the tray, and went and took it downstairs. I sighed, wondering what in the world I'm going to do. I don't want her to know that I can't speak Japanese, but it seems a little too late for that. As soon as Tifa came back up, I sat up and bowed to her and said the first words I'd spoken since I told her my name. “Tifa… arigatou.”

To say Tifa looked astonished was an understatement. She looked downright floored. She started speaking really fast and suddenly both Marlene and Cloud were upstairs with her, trying to calm her down.  To say I was confused would also be an understatement. I hadn't expected that reaction at all. Suddenly Cloud rounded on me and started yelling and shaking me, which made my head hurt real bad.  Tifa dragged Cloud off of me, but I was crying by then. The strain of everything I'd been through in the past few days finally catching up to me.  I was sobbing so hard I didn't even notice as Cloud and Tifa left the room, leaving Marlene with me. Timidly, Marlene sat on the edge of the bed and offered me a handkerchief. I wanted to take it and say thank you again, but I couldn't even move. So, Marlene leaned forward and wiped my face for me.

---Meanwhile---

Once in another room, and the door closed behind them, Tifa whirled on Cloud, “Why did you do that? He was in enough pain already. It was hard enough trying to get him to trust me enough to stay put!” Confused, Cloud interrupted, “What was I supposed to do? All I know is I was downstairs helping Marlene tend the bar, then we hear you shouting for the both of us, and then when I got to you, you were hysterical! I thought… I thought he hurt you…” Tifa, calm now, stepped up to Cloud and gave him a hug and said, “No he didn't hurt me. You should know a kid on his sickbed could hardly hurt me. But that's ok. Are you alright?” Cloud sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “Yes but, what were you shouting about?” Tifa smiled and said, “Matthew spoke.” Cloud raised an eyebrow, “What'd he say?” Tifa answered, “He thanked me. I'm still sure that he doesn't know any other words though. He must've picked it up somewhere.” Cloud sighed, “You're sure? Any Gaian should know how to speak our language. How do you know he's not just faking?” Tifa answered, “Unless he's a really good actor, I'm sure if he understood our language, he wouldn't look at me all curious and innocent like that as I'm telling him kindly that his grandmother is a whore. I didn't mean it of course, but I had to make sure.” Tifa promptly started laughing at Cloud as his jaw was still hanging open as soon as Tifa had told him what she said.

Closing his mouth, Cloud said, “Fine. I'll accept that he doesn't understand Gaian. But that still leaves an even bigger question unanswered. If he doesn't know Gaian, then where is he from?” Tifa shook her head, “I don't know. But I think we've been gone long enough. We left him crying by the way. You should apologize to him.” Cloud sighed, “Alright.”

---

Tifa and Cloud walked back into the room while I was still huddling under the blankets. I'd finally been able to bring my sobs under control and felt really stupid for losing it like that. I just couldn't understand what I did wrong. I eyed Cloud warily hoping he wouldn't attack me again. But even as I eyed him, I looked away and stuttered out, “Go- gomen nasai…” I didn't see Cloud and Tifa exchange a look, then Cloud said, “Matthew.” I looked up at him to see him bow to me all formal and awkward looking. It was a little painful to watch, but I didn't know what to say to get him to stop. Then I heard him say, “Anou… gomen nasai *** *****…” Then he sat up and crossed his arms. I nodded to show I understood. I couldn't very well tell him your welcome since I didn't know how.

Tifa leaned over to Cloud and said something in his ear I couldn't catch even if I could understand it, then left. Cloud nodded and dragged a chair from the side of the room and sat down by the bed, then looked at Marlene and said, “Marlene, **** *** Tifa.” Marlene nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. Not wanting to be rude and just stare at him, I settled for staring at my hands. Cloud sighed and scratched the back of his neck, not really sure what to do or say with an adolescent who doesn't even know the language. Meanwhile, I had my eyes open wide grasping my head in pain, as I was suddenly hit by a wave of memories. Memories of Vincent, Hojo, Omega, Chaos, and Deepground.

Cloud looked up and saw me in pain, and quickly jumped up and pulling out an potion, dumped it over me. Instantly the pain was gone and I sat there blinking at him. Why didn't Tifa just do that if that was all it took? Thoroughly confused, I wanted to ask, but I knew he wouldn't understand me, and I wouldn't even understand the answer if he could understand me. But what the heck? Looking at him, I asked, “Cloud, why didn't Tifa do that in the first place?” I don't know what made me so bold to ask. Whether it was the fact that I was now a little fearful for a lot of people since I didn't know if Dirge of Cerberus had taken place yet or not, and while I'm here, I might be able to do something about it if I can just stop their version of the internet from going back online. No use though, Cloud just stared at me, not in shock or confusion, but I could tell he didn't understand a thing I said.

Sighing, I looked down trying to think of how I could convey to him that I needed to see Vincent. Well,  let's see if sign language is as universal as they say it is. Cloud was still staring at me, so I pointed at myself, then I pointed at my eyes and said “Vincent Valentine.” That got a reaction out of Cloud. His mouth hung open and I stared at him. Well I wouldn't have expected him to be capable of such an expression…  I again, pointed at myself, then at my eyes and said, “Vincent Valentine.” Cloud promptly shut his mouth and held up a finger, then nearly ran out the door. I sighed.

---

“TIFA!” Cloud rushed down the stairs and nearly ran both of them over. Tifa frowned at Cloud, “What? What is it? I just got all our patrons calmed from the last outburst…” Cloud said, “I don't get it Tifa. This kid is way out of my league. He just pointed at himself, then at his own eyes, then said `Vincent Valentine'. What in the world does Vincent have to do with that kid?” Tifa shook her head and went up the stairs, leaving Cloud to send the few patrons left to go home.

---

Tifa came in through the door and sat on the edge of the bed and pressed a hand to my forehead, frowning when she realized I didn't have a fever anymore. She turned as Cloud and Marlene came through the door and asked, “Cloud, ***** **** *******!?” I winced at her volume. So did Cloud. Cloud answered back, “**** ****** *** *******!” Tifa suddenly sighed and looked back at me. Again, I pointed at myself, then at my eyes, and said, “Vincent Valentine.” Tifa's eyes grew huge then looked at Cloud. “**** **** ******* Vincent…” Cloud shrugged, then said, “Vincent **** ******* *** ****** Tifa.” Then Cloud turned and left. I can only hope he's gone to get Vincent. If I can just get a hold of him and somehow tell him he needs to stop the World Wide Network from being turned on. Or maybe the whole thing is already over and it's a waste of time, but I wasn't about to take that chance. Sighing again, I slumped back against the pillows and again wondered why Tifa didn't just give me a potion to heal me in the first place. I glanced up at Tifa who was watching me warily.  Why is she looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong?

Suddenly Tifa stood up and went over to a backpack sitting against the wall, rummaging in it, she came back with a piece of paper and a pencil. Sitting back down, she wrote on it and showed it to me. Just more Kanji. I sighed and shook my head. Frowning, Tifa erased what she'd written and seemed poised trying to write something. Then she set the paper and pencil down and sighed herself. Timidly, I took the piece of paper and pencil and coming to a descision, I started writing out the alphabet. Looking up, Tifa scooted closer and looked at what I'm sure to her must be strange symbols.

Finished, I pointed to the first letter and once sure I had her attention, I said, “A.”  Tifa looked at me. I didn't bother to try and decipher that look, so I just moved to the next letter and said, “B.” And so on and so forth. Till I'd gotten through all the letters. Once I'd done that, I wrote the name, Vincent, on the bottom of the page. “Vincent. V-I-N-C-E-N-T.” I pointed out each letter as I sounded out his name. At that Tifa's eyes widened. She took the paper and studied it.  Then she took the pencil from my hand and wrote something down on it, then handed it back.  I took it, and read the name Tifa. I smiled and nodded. Tifa smiled back, then she wrote out, arigatou. I nodded then drew a line under it and wrote, thank you. I handed it back to her. Frowning she sounded out, “t hank yo u?” I shook my head and wrote th on the paper, pointed it and said, “th”. Nodding she said, “Thank yo-u?” I nodded and said, “Thank you.”

Smiling even more, she held up the paper and pointed at it, “Paper.” She held up the pencil. “Pencil.” Tifa then proceeded to point at things all around the room, and I named them for her. I suddenly couldn't remember why I'd never bothered to talk to her before. I wish I could understand languages as well as she's picking up English. And she kept going for it. She reached in the drawer and handed me my clothes. After putting them on under the comforter, she Helped me stand up, she continued to point at things and I followed her saying what they are in English as we continued to head downstairs. It took an hour or so with Marlene watching and picking up a few things herself.  Looking around, suddenly Tifa pointed down, “Floor.” Tifa raised an eyebrow. “Floor?” she asked. I nodded. She still looked skeptical, then pointed down and made a wide circle with her hands. I suddenly understood and said, “Gaia.”

Nodding, Tifa walked outside and I followed her. Pointing at her bar, I said, “Bar.” She kept pointing so I kept giving names. “Building… restaurant… Seventh Heaven.” Then she smiled, nodded again, and led me back inside. Then she turned around and gave me a hug. Surprised, I said the first thing that came to mind, “Hug.” Tifa giggled when I didn't do anything else and said, “Matthew hug Tifa.” Mystified, I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her.  She kept holding me, and I slowly relaxed in her hold. She tightened her arms slightly. Suddenly it dawned on me. So long as I was sick and hurt, I couldn't really leave. But now that I'm healed… I hugged her harder.  If Tifa wants me to stay, then I will.

A small cough from Marlene left me embarrassed and I tried to let go, but Tifa didn't. She only hugged harder. Why does she think I'm going to leave?  Confused,  I looked at her and realized she was crying. Automatically without thinking, I said “Crying.” And wiped a tear away. She looked up at me. I wanted to wipe that look off her face. Casting around, I spotted a glass in the sink. Taking it, I set it on the bar and pretended it was glued to the bar. Tifa watched me. I looked at her and said, “Stuck.” I tried to shove at the bar. “Stuck.” I then picked up the glass and said, “Unstuck.” I picked up a chair. “Unstuck.” Hoping she understood, I walked up to her and put my hand on her shoulder and made a false show of trying to remove it, then giving up. I whispered, “Stuck.” Then I hugged Tifa again and said in her ear, “Stuck.”

Tifa suddenly hugged me back so hard I couldn't breathe. “Tifa!” I gasped. She let me go and said, “Gomen!” I rubbed my side and said, “ow…” Tifa gave a small bow and said, “Ow…” I almost laughed. Almost. “No.” I shook my head and said, “No.” again. I held up my hands holding up one hand I said, “Gomen” holding up the other I said “Sorry.” Tifa nodded and bowed again, much to my chagrin and said, “Sorry.” I hugged her and said, “It's ok.” I figured she didn't understand, but that's alright. Sighing, I walked over to a table and sat down. Tifa came over and sat down too. Then Marlene poked and pushed me, so I scooted over and she sat next to me. Tifa said to Marlene, “Marlene! **** *** Matthew.” I figured she was scolding her, so I put a hand on her arm and said, “It's ok.”  She looked at me and said, “It's ok?” I nodded and said, “It's ok.”

The sun was starting to set, so Tifa got up and went behind the bar to paly with the machine I found spit out food when you used it right. She came back and set food out for all of us. “Thank you Tifa.” I said. I started digging in. Marlene repeated me and did so too. Tifa smiled and didn't say anything and ate too.

---

Cloud pulled up to the City of the Ancients and got off his bike. Walking around the city, he let memories come. Eyeing the fish statue sitting over the space where Aeris was killed, Cloud suddenly became aware of a presence behind him. Cloud didn't nod, or say hello. Vincent knew Cloud already knew he was there.  They regarded the statue quietly, then Vincent turned to Cloud and said, “I would have come if you called.” Cloud nods, “I know. But I needed to talk to you in person. I couldn't tell you what was going on over the phone.” Vincent said, “I'm here now. What did you want?” Cloud shook his head and said, “Tifa started having a visitor in her bar coming in for every meal. He's a weird kid. Dressed in all black and has a knife that can somehow turn invisible without having any built in technology or material. To top it off, he doesn't speak our language. It's almost as if he's-“ “Not from this planet.” Vincent supplied. Cloud nodded. “He asked for you.” Vincent eyed Cloud then closed his eyes. Cloud turned around and walked back to his bike and Vincent followed.

---

After we finished eating, Tifa took our trays and placed them in the sink. I followed her and together we washed the dishes, while Marlene  dried them. We spent the time in silence. After that was done, Tifa walked us both upstairs and put us to bed. I'm glad there are three bedrooms up here. Otherwise I'd feel bad. So I stripped out of my shirt and pants and dove in the bed and stretched luxuriously. I hadn't really appreciated the bed until this moment, knowing I wouldn't have to sleep behind a dumpster anymore.

Sighing happily, I turned as Tifa opened the door and waited. Thankfully, I knew what she was waiting for. “Goodnight Tifa.” “Goodnight Matthew.” She responded, then closed the door.