vatheon | 004

Entry tags:

tifa lockhart

004

Who: Tifa and you
Where: Vatheon's streets
When: Night
Style: I'll match~
Status: Open!

It's only supposed to be one night more, but it just seems like one night too many. Tifa's barely slept in the past week, and her nerves are shot, and she doesn't think she can stand to spend another night alone in her apartment with that monster.

Maybe walking off into the foggy darkness isn't the best plan, but anything, anywhere, is better than that. At least he won't be there in what passes for her home in this city. Maybe on the move she won't feel trapped with him.

But she still sees him--and so can anyone else who gets close enough: a tall, silver-haired man carrying a wickedly long sword. He seems to slip in and out of the shadows, sometimes disappearing just long enough to make her think she's finally lost him, only to appear again, his blade rushing for her chest. Sometimes he walks beside her, his stride smooth and predatory no matter how quick her step, and speaks to her, coldly recounting the deaths she's seen him bring about.

She ignores him as much as she can, but at best he makes her skin crawl. Maybe in the end it's no better than if she'd stayed put, but she's having trouble now finding her way back.

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Zack knows he hasn't gotten off on the best foot with Tifa. They had only met once, and the conversation over the network had been awkward. When it hadn't been confusing, at least.

He feels he ought to try and right things, or at least try to make her feel more comfortable. There were some gaps in his knowledge as to what exactly happened to Cloud, and he has a feeling that might have something to do with why she'd been distant. She had a right to be, but she was the only person from home he knew here, and he didn't want to keep her at bay.

So when he saw her walking by on the street, he turned around and went after her. Courage and confidence was hardly ever lacking with him, so he found no hesitation in pursuing her.

When he got close, he began to say, "Hey, Ti-"

That's when he got a glimpse of her phantom. Of course, he had no idea that's all it was. To him, that was Sephiroth in person, as crazy as he had last seen him.

"WHOA! Tifa, watch out!"

"What--?"

It was the unexpected warning as much as Sephiroth's reappearance out of the fog that made her jump, but there was no avoiding the phantom's attack. The sword went right through her.

...rather like a ghost sword, although it might not appear so to Zack until the figure of Sephiroth again withdrew, leaving her unharmed. She clutched a hand to her chest, forgetting Zack for a moment as she swallowed hard and tried to calm down.

The moment the sword went in, Zack's blood ran cold. He lunged forward, wishing more than ever he had the Buster Sword on him. The advance was halted mid way when Sephiroth pulled out, and Tifa wasn't harmed. Zack was left standing there, blinking in confusion as Sephiroth left.

"Wha...?"

She looked back at Zack at the sound of his voice, but at first she didn't say anything, trying to figure out if he was even real or not. Mostly it was the sleep-deprivation and the eerie circumstances which made her wonder. He wasn't anything she feared.

"You... saw that?"

She'd thought these fears were invisible to others.

He nods, looking a little unsure as he approaches her. It takes a second look before he convinces himself she's not actually hurt.

"Yeah. When I saw you on the street he wasn't there. It was weird. It's like he came out of nowhere. Sephiroth knew how to sneak up on people, but that was bizarre."

Tifa rubbed her arms a bit, trying to rid herself of a chill that really didn't have much to do with the weather.

"...it wasn't real, that's all. I guess you haven't been hit by this week's curse."

"Wait, this is a curse?"

He'd heard about them, of course, but he didn't realize they could manifest like this.

"No, I guess not either. I haven't had any Sephiroths springing out of nowhere."

She nodded. "A lot of people... seem to be having these waking nightmares. I don't think there's anything for it but to wait it out."

"That's pretty rough." He glances around, expecting for Sephiroth to turn up again. "So, what does he do? The nightmare. Just walk around? Does he say anything?"

She followed his gaze, tensing up again as part of her was sure he'd seen something. She was about to answer him when suddenly Sephiroth was there again behind her, smirking coldly.

"Her heart is weak. It only takes a few words to unsettle her."

Tifa jumped and whirled around, stepping back to get some distance from him. She swallowed and managed a little hoarsely, "He says plenty. I think he likes the sound of his own voice."

Damn you, muscle memory. His hand keeps going for a sword that's not there. Instead, he tenses and subconsciously steps next to Tifa. Safety in numbers and all that.

"Once upon a time, he was a pretty quiet guy." He glances over at her, trying to gauge her reaction to his words. Sephiroth had a way of getting under people's skins. Zack hadn't seen much of this firsthand, but he knew what he had done to Cloud. "You know he's just trying to bring you down, right?"

The figure of Sephiroth stays silent for the moment, shifting his gaze to Zack.

For her part, Tifa doesn't object to Zack coming closer. He might not exactly be a friendly face to her yet, but against Sephiroth, she certainly considers him an ally.

"I know," she says. "He's been at it all week." It's hard not to let it get to her. Especially when many of the things he says are real worries she's had, about home, about herself.

"This is what you've been hearing all week?" Zack's not a stranger to torture or emotional manipulation. He'd been stuck with Hojo for four years, after all. The worry is evident in his tone, but he won't push it out of her.

He meets Sephiroth's stare, holding it. Maybe it didn't do much, but it at least kept his attention on Zack, for now.

Worry. She's being worried over by a near stranger. Tacit support is one thing, but she doesn't want him thinking she can't handle this.

With the same stubbornness that's kept her on her own all week, Tifa draws herself up and turns to walk on. "You don't have to be around for it."

It never crossed his mind that she couldn't. But he knows what Sephiroth, even as a phantom, is capable of doing. And "handling it" doesn't necessarily mean alone.

Of course, it seems she begs to differ. "You think I'm here because I feel I have to be?" he asks. He's not angry, nor hurt. Just sincere.

"I couldn't say. I don't know you very well."

That much is true enough; she's barely even managed to remember his name. He seems nice enough, but maybe he just feels obligated.

"Okay, that's fair enough." Although he had been aware of some of what had happened, through Cloud, they had only had one meeting in life and considering what had happened in the days that followed... well, he couldn't blame her for being guarded.

"Look, we only met once, in person. But aside from being in SOLDIER, have I ever given you a legitimate reason not to trust me?"

Tifa shakes her head. "I'd trust you in a fight, Zack, but this isn't a fight."

It's her own personal nightmare. And that's how nightmares are supposed to be-- personal, private, not open for anyone to see. And why should anyone want to pe part of it except a friend?

...Well, that was something at least. "Then what would you call this?"

"Just a bad dream. It's not something you can really help with."

"If that's how you see it." He won't push her. Bad dreams are difficult on anyone, especially when they're walking around and following you. "You don't have to do it alone, though."

Tifa presses her lips together, and gives it a moment's consideration. Would having Zack around make this any easier? Maybe, but then again, maybe not. The truth is, she's not exactly comfortable around him either.

"Zack... I appreciate it, but..." This isn't how she wants to start dealing with you after five years. "I can do this on my own. This is the last night."

To be honest, he's not surprised she turned it down. And if she doesn't want him around for this, he can live with that. But... "Okay. If it still bothers you after it's over, know you're not alone, okay? That's the thing with nightmares: they tend to hang around a few days after they end. Even if you don't want to talk to me about it."

She nods, although she's most likely to keep it to herself if that's the case. Nightmares fade with time, and small worries are manageable.

"I know."

"All right, all right." He smiles, because there's not enough of those around right now as he turns back to Tifa. "I won't keep bugging you, but if he gets worse or something else happens," Because where Sephiroth's involved, you can't be too careful. "you can give me a ring. And I'm not just saying that because of Cloud. Although if he knew we were here and I wasn't trying to help he'd probably kick my butt."

Tifa hesitates at the mention of Cloud. Were the two of them really that close? Cloud didn't even recognize him...

No, that's a puzzle for another time.

She doesn't bother trying to return the smile because she doesn't think she could manage it right now, but she nods again. "We'll talk again later."

If she ever asks, he will answer.

But for now, he'll return the nod and give her a little wave. "Take care of yourself. I'll see ya around." And with that, he'll turn and leave her to her own devices. She's not the only one who's got more to think over.

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