[incomplete]

[wolfsstrife]

Who: Cloud and Tifa.
Where: Around the Shinra building.
When: After this thread.
Summary: Tifa's arrived. Good thing too. Cloud's not much use without her.
Rating: PG, probably.

Comments

[lockingheart]

The Shin-Ra building wasn't so bad, she had thought. It wasn't huge like it had once been but in a ruined city, you take what you can get. Tifa stood near it and looked up, just gazing for the moment. Rufus was a perfectionist, she had to realize, to not be proud of what he had.

But the building was just a distraction. She was really thinking about Cloud and what Schuldig had said. Maybe he wasn't the Cloud she knew. Maybe she wasn't the Tifa he knew. But either way, she had to be sure he was safe and happy. They were friends...they were a family, as close as one could be. Couldn't she hope for that much from him?

The bark caused her to turn around just in time to see the direwolf rush forward. She smiled and knelt down, stopping the little beast with her hands to pet her. "Hello there, Freki. Nice to meet you," she said with a smile. Slowly, she looked up, and stood as Cloud approached.

"Hi Cloud," she said, smiling warmly, pushing back the conflict in her heart. "That wasn't long."

[wolfsstrife]

The little beast gave Tifa a very affectionate headbutt on her stomach. Cloud had to turn his head to hide the little smile which tugged at his lips. Damn wolf.

She didn't look at all different. Why should she, though? Cloud didn't have any concerns over her being the Tifa he knew. All he knew was that she was Tifa, his friend, his rock to cling to. The small smile even grew a little, a ghost of something daft and goofy.

"Thought I dilly-dallied enough," Cloud said, by way of greeting. Part of him wanted to hug her close, as if to tell himself that it really was her, like it had been when Aerith had come. But Aerith had also left. He didn't know if he wanted the same to happen to Tifa.

[lockingheart]

She giggled at Freki - the little thing was adorable - and patted her head. At least someone kept the Cloud company, if Zack was as busy as the network made her believe. She stepped towards him, leaning back a little. "You're never so late, you know," she said, shrugging.

"So, did you miss me? How long was I gone?" People had said she was here before, so maybe Cloud had met the other one of her. Maybe they got along well before.

[wolfsstrife]

"Usually get knocked sensible just in time," he answered, lowering his hand to pat Freki's head as she padded back to him. She gave his fingers an affectionate lick, seemingly content in Tifa's company. Good.

"... Yeah. I guess," he replied, raising his hand to scratch at the back of his head. Of course he missed her. Keenly. But he hadn't let himself think about it. Not too much, at least. He hoped. "The kids. They're all right?"

Her other question got her a shrug, "I don't know... I've heard you were here before, but I never met you then. I came in... pretty much as soon as the old place turned into this," he gestured around. "You got the welcome speech, right?"