![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Title: Returns
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Pairing: Tifa/Loz
Author:![[insanejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/ij-userinfo.gif)
icedark_elf
Recipient:kerrie13 for ![[insanejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/ij-community.gif)
het_challenge
Rating: PG
Beta:forgottenlover
Wordcount: 1,268
Warnings: None
Prompt: Tifa/Loz - "Why am I not surprised?" (as a theme or as a line) - fic pls.
Returns
She hurt.
That was the first thing Tifa was really aware of. She remember there had been a situation. Some type of explosion, she thought. It was kind of fuzzy at the moment. Had it gone off?
“You shouldn’t be here.”
That voice was somewhat familiar, and Tifa pushed herself to an upright position, blinking hazily at it. Why did that sound so familiar?
When she saw who it was, she shoved herself the rest of the way to her feet, ignoring the aches and shifting back to give herself some room. What the hell?
Loz blinked almost sleepily at her. “You aren’t supposed to be here. Mother said so. She said I’m supposed to make sure you go back.”
“I know all about your mother. She tends to hurt people, so pardon me if I don’t trust you,” Tifa told him, eying the place. It was pale, and there was no ground or sky or -anything.- Just a simply white blankness, as far as the eye could see, and only one person in front of her.
He was looking at her, confusion in his eyes. Still wearing the black leather she had last seen him in, he didn’t have the machine on his arm this time, and she was grateful for that. That thing had hurt, and she remembered the random twitches her fingers had done for a few days after that fight. She did hate electricity, even more when it was like that than when needle-kisses threw bolt. At least when those birds did it, it wasn’t so concentrated. Not like having it forced through her belly.
Understanding seemed to kick in, and Loz made a low sound of understanding. “Not that mother. She got Kadaj killed. New mother sent me. She says it’s too early for you to be here, and if you’re here, Brother will be sad. She says he’s sad enough too often to hurt him any more.”
Tifa wasn’t sure who he was talking about. Oh, she knew who he called brother. Cloud told them all about that. She was sure that it still was somewhat distressing for him to have to deal with it. But that was neither here or now. Right now, she focused her attention on Loz, who was studying her quietly.
Then Tifa heard an echo. Just the barest hint of sound. Of soft, familiar laughter.
“Aeris?”
A hand rested on her back, and a voice whispered in her ear. “It’s okay. He really is a sweet boy, though he’s just learning to move on his own. He’ll take you back safe and sound.”
The touch and voice vanished, even as she turned to look. “Aeris?” She couldn’t help but call out again.
“See. Mother said I was all right, right?”
Aeris was Mother?
Tifa shook her head, finding this strangely amusing. “Why am I not surprised?” she asked empty air. Aeris had always mother henned them, why not collect herself some kids after she died? And since these were connected to Cloud and Sephiroth both, well, it made sense in a way.
Loz was still waiting patiently, though he did fidget a little when she focused on him, and then offered up a tentative smile. “You were fun to play with, in the church.” His voice dropped. “I still think the flowers were smelly, but they don’t smell so bad anymore.”
She couldn’t help but stare at him, and then shake her head with a small smile of her own. Aeris was giving them a chance. She couldn’t help but do the same.
But...if she had talked to Aeris....
“Where am I?”
A shrug, and she focused on Loz again. “In the Lifestream. Mother said you aren’t dead. Not yet. But you’re close, so I’m supposed to help you go back. If you want to. Brother couldn’t stay, Mother said it wasn’t time. She says it’s not really your time either, but if you want to....” The look he gave her was almost hopeful. “It could be fun. You could stay with me and Mother and Yazoo and Kadaj. And Zack. Zack is Mother’s, but he’s fun to play with. He hits hard. Like you do.”
The look stayed hopeful, but she shook her head slightly. “I can’t.... What happened? I mean, how did I get here?”
“Explosion. Not sure what, just that something blew. Maybe a natural gas build up, maybe something else.”
This voice was familiar as well, and she and Loz both turned to look at the one who was standing there. The man smiled at them, said smile almost as bright as the violet eyes. Even if Tifa hadn’t recognized his face, she would have known that hair anywhere.
“Zack?”
“Got it in one. Knew you were a smart girl. But you guys really don’t have that much time for talking. If you are going back, Loz should be taking you there now. My girl can do a lot, but you aren’t like Spike, Seph, or the boys. She can’t send you back once the body finishes dying all the way. So you best get a move on.”
He smiled at her, and Tifa saw the smile Cloud wore anymore. She had only met the man once, and only then for a short time, and it had been so many years ago. But she still remembered how nice he had been. And she remembered Cloud’s voice cracking when he talked about Zack. “Why didn’t you...?”
Zack rested a hand on her shoulder with a light squeeze, then shoved her at Loz. She stumbled, unprepared for it, and the silver hair man caught her easily. She didn’t pull free right away, surprised by the shove, then by the fact that Loz wasn’t letting her go. In fact, the man was -hugging- her. She hadn’t expected that.
“Tell Spike that if he doesn’t stop being so mopey, I’m going to find a way to smack him upside that chocobo head of his.” Zack was starting to fade, and Tifa felt as if she was suddenly dropping, her stomach not liking the feel at all. Clutching to Loz, she closed her eyes for a moment.
“And tell him to take are of that brother of his. Loz came back for you, but he needs family as well.”
That, whispered faintly into her ear, made Tifa open her eyes suddenly.
Only they opened so slowly that she felt as if there were weights on them. Blinking, body aching again, as sharply as it had when she had first woken up in the area of white, she found herself looking at an unfamiliar ceiling. Where was she?
She felt two weights, one on either side of her, and after a few moments, she looked at them. On one side was Cloud, who ha his head resting on the bed she was laying on, head right next to where he was holding her hand. She could feel his hair tickle her fingers, and realized that she must have been out a while if he had gotten to the point of actually falling asleep.
And on the other....
Was Loz.
She wasn’t sure what was going on, but he was curled up against her, arm draped over her waist. What Zack had said came crashing back, and she sucked in a breath, barely holding in a whimper when she realized how much that -hurt.-
Loz had come back for her?
This, she decided after a few moments of studying the smooth face of the remnant that was sleeping next to her, was going to lead to interesting times.
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Pairing: Tifa/Loz
Author:
icedark_elfRecipient:
kerrie13 for het_challengeRating: PG
Beta:
forgottenloverWordcount: 1,268
Warnings: None
Prompt: Tifa/Loz - "Why am I not surprised?" (as a theme or as a line) - fic pls.
Returns
She hurt.
That was the first thing Tifa was really aware of. She remember there had been a situation. Some type of explosion, she thought. It was kind of fuzzy at the moment. Had it gone off?
“You shouldn’t be here.”
That voice was somewhat familiar, and Tifa pushed herself to an upright position, blinking hazily at it. Why did that sound so familiar?
When she saw who it was, she shoved herself the rest of the way to her feet, ignoring the aches and shifting back to give herself some room. What the hell?
Loz blinked almost sleepily at her. “You aren’t supposed to be here. Mother said so. She said I’m supposed to make sure you go back.”
“I know all about your mother. She tends to hurt people, so pardon me if I don’t trust you,” Tifa told him, eying the place. It was pale, and there was no ground or sky or -anything.- Just a simply white blankness, as far as the eye could see, and only one person in front of her.
He was looking at her, confusion in his eyes. Still wearing the black leather she had last seen him in, he didn’t have the machine on his arm this time, and she was grateful for that. That thing had hurt, and she remembered the random twitches her fingers had done for a few days after that fight. She did hate electricity, even more when it was like that than when needle-kisses threw bolt. At least when those birds did it, it wasn’t so concentrated. Not like having it forced through her belly.
Understanding seemed to kick in, and Loz made a low sound of understanding. “Not that mother. She got Kadaj killed. New mother sent me. She says it’s too early for you to be here, and if you’re here, Brother will be sad. She says he’s sad enough too often to hurt him any more.”
Tifa wasn’t sure who he was talking about. Oh, she knew who he called brother. Cloud told them all about that. She was sure that it still was somewhat distressing for him to have to deal with it. But that was neither here or now. Right now, she focused her attention on Loz, who was studying her quietly.
Then Tifa heard an echo. Just the barest hint of sound. Of soft, familiar laughter.
“Aeris?”
A hand rested on her back, and a voice whispered in her ear. “It’s okay. He really is a sweet boy, though he’s just learning to move on his own. He’ll take you back safe and sound.”
The touch and voice vanished, even as she turned to look. “Aeris?” She couldn’t help but call out again.
“See. Mother said I was all right, right?”
Aeris was Mother?
Tifa shook her head, finding this strangely amusing. “Why am I not surprised?” she asked empty air. Aeris had always mother henned them, why not collect herself some kids after she died? And since these were connected to Cloud and Sephiroth both, well, it made sense in a way.
Loz was still waiting patiently, though he did fidget a little when she focused on him, and then offered up a tentative smile. “You were fun to play with, in the church.” His voice dropped. “I still think the flowers were smelly, but they don’t smell so bad anymore.”
She couldn’t help but stare at him, and then shake her head with a small smile of her own. Aeris was giving them a chance. She couldn’t help but do the same.
But...if she had talked to Aeris....
“Where am I?”
A shrug, and she focused on Loz again. “In the Lifestream. Mother said you aren’t dead. Not yet. But you’re close, so I’m supposed to help you go back. If you want to. Brother couldn’t stay, Mother said it wasn’t time. She says it’s not really your time either, but if you want to....” The look he gave her was almost hopeful. “It could be fun. You could stay with me and Mother and Yazoo and Kadaj. And Zack. Zack is Mother’s, but he’s fun to play with. He hits hard. Like you do.”
The look stayed hopeful, but she shook her head slightly. “I can’t.... What happened? I mean, how did I get here?”
“Explosion. Not sure what, just that something blew. Maybe a natural gas build up, maybe something else.”
This voice was familiar as well, and she and Loz both turned to look at the one who was standing there. The man smiled at them, said smile almost as bright as the violet eyes. Even if Tifa hadn’t recognized his face, she would have known that hair anywhere.
“Zack?”
“Got it in one. Knew you were a smart girl. But you guys really don’t have that much time for talking. If you are going back, Loz should be taking you there now. My girl can do a lot, but you aren’t like Spike, Seph, or the boys. She can’t send you back once the body finishes dying all the way. So you best get a move on.”
He smiled at her, and Tifa saw the smile Cloud wore anymore. She had only met the man once, and only then for a short time, and it had been so many years ago. But she still remembered how nice he had been. And she remembered Cloud’s voice cracking when he talked about Zack. “Why didn’t you...?”
Zack rested a hand on her shoulder with a light squeeze, then shoved her at Loz. She stumbled, unprepared for it, and the silver hair man caught her easily. She didn’t pull free right away, surprised by the shove, then by the fact that Loz wasn’t letting her go. In fact, the man was -hugging- her. She hadn’t expected that.
“Tell Spike that if he doesn’t stop being so mopey, I’m going to find a way to smack him upside that chocobo head of his.” Zack was starting to fade, and Tifa felt as if she was suddenly dropping, her stomach not liking the feel at all. Clutching to Loz, she closed her eyes for a moment.
“And tell him to take are of that brother of his. Loz came back for you, but he needs family as well.”
That, whispered faintly into her ear, made Tifa open her eyes suddenly.
Only they opened so slowly that she felt as if there were weights on them. Blinking, body aching again, as sharply as it had when she had first woken up in the area of white, she found herself looking at an unfamiliar ceiling. Where was she?
She felt two weights, one on either side of her, and after a few moments, she looked at them. On one side was Cloud, who ha his head resting on the bed she was laying on, head right next to where he was holding her hand. She could feel his hair tickle her fingers, and realized that she must have been out a while if he had gotten to the point of actually falling asleep.
And on the other....
Was Loz.
She wasn’t sure what was going on, but he was curled up against her, arm draped over her waist. What Zack had said came crashing back, and she sucked in a breath, barely holding in a whimper when she realized how much that -hurt.-
Loz had come back for her?
This, she decided after a few moments of studying the smooth face of the remnant that was sleeping next to her, was going to lead to interesting times.