Title: Returns
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Pairing: Tifa/Loz
Author: [livejournal.com profile] icedark_elf
Recipient: [livejournal.com profile] kerrie13 for [livejournal.com profile] het_challenge
Rating: PG
Beta: [livejournal.com profile] 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.

From: [identity profile] artimusdin.livejournal.com


... interesting doesn't even begin to explain it. *amused* *uses appropriate icon*
ext_80021: (Default)

From: [identity profile] alydhe.livejournal.com


oooh! I luff this so hard! I never really thought about this pairing, before, but it's adorable! Of course Loz would fall in love with someone that drop kicked him across a church. *grin*

I also loved Zack's command that Cloud quite being so mopey. All in all, you win the internet.

From: [identity profile] icedark-elf.livejournal.com


*grins* She really has no idea what to do at this moment. So it's fun to see her flail in my head.

From: [identity profile] icedark-elf.livejournal.com


*chuckles* I got two requests for Tifa/Loz. This is one, so hopefully you'll like the other as well.

Zack wasn't even supposed to show up, but he snuck in anyway. Sneaky Zack. *nods*

Whee, an internet! I don't know if I've won one of those before.

From: [identity profile] mogumogu.livejournal.com


:3 D'awww.... I loves cuddles and mother henning.

Since we're on the subject of Loz and the people's he's hurt...


Mental Scene:

Marlene: *sniff* *tear*

Loz: XO STOP MAKING FUN OF MEEEEE! *CRY*

Marlene: O_o

Yazoo: I'll shut her up for you. *gun*

Lox: *puts her behind him* >:x

From: [identity profile] icedark-elf.livejournal.com


Tifa is most confused by cuddles. And Aeris is so a mother hen.

That scene would explain so much.

From: [identity profile] mogumogu.livejournal.com


... XD I just realized that I misspelled his name so that he changed from a crybaby to... smoked salmon. *smacks forhead*




Loz: :( What's wrong? Why don't you like my mother?

Marlene: Because she's the color of snot!

Loz: Well.... Takes one to know one! >P
ext_80021: (Gaara)

From: [identity profile] alydhe.livejournal.com


I'm sure I'll love anything you decide to write about them.

hmmm...is he being regular sneaky or ninja!sneaky?

And shall I giftwrap your internet or would you rather play with the ffvii pron search engine, now? ^___^

From: [identity profile] wildskyrider.livejournal.com


Oh, now I wanna see what happens NEXT. Love it!

From: [identity profile] icedark-elf.livejournal.com


It's Zack. I'm sure he's ninja!sneaky.

I'll play with that pron engine. >.>

*snuggles the Zilch 2 doujin*

From: [identity profile] icedark-elf.livejournal.com


*laughs* I've been getting asked a lot of that question lately. >.> For this, for Aftermath, for Fuzzy. I don't need any more universes.

From: [identity profile] kemis.livejournal.com


*hugs Loz* Yay for second chances!^^

From: [identity profile] ladynero.livejournal.com


*blinks* *grinks* I find all sorts of pretties coming back from my honeymooon....

And this is gonna be *so* much fun when Cloud wakes up and Tifa explains things.

But if Aeris and Tifa are both taken, who is Cloud gonna be with?

From: [identity profile] icedark-elf.livejournal.com


*laughs* Glad you are enjoying the pretties.

Zack just leered at Cloud, so I don't think that'll be an issue.

From: [identity profile] ladynero.livejournal.com


*giggles* does that mean out of body sex in the Lifestream or is Zack and Aeris gonna pull a "Loz" and come back for the poor boy?

From: [identity profile] icedark-elf.livejournal.com


Who knows. Most likely the former. *snickers at Cloud grumbling about odd dreams*
.

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