![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Title: Any Good Fight
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Pairing: Tifa/Loz
Author/artist:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
icedark_elf
Recipient:starherd
Rating: PG-13
Beta:forgottenlover
Wordcount: 2,251
Warnings: None, really.
Any Good Fight
The last few days had been chaotic. It really was the simplest word for everything. Between the remnants, finding out about Cloud’s Geostigma, and the fighting, Tifa could honestly say it was the most excitement that they had had for a long time.
However, even with all of that, she did not expect what she found when Cloud had called everyone to the church. The last time they had seen him was while he was fighting Sephiroth, and they lost track of him as the rain started to come down. A call from the Turks had let them know something was odd at Aeris’s church, but it had been water, not Cloud. Still, the water was the best news most of the world had ever heard, and Shinra had put his resources to good work spreading the word.
Tifa, though, worried about her friend, who was still missing. She had done odd things around the bar, wanting to be out looking for him, but unable to really abandon her responsibilities. One of which was the kids, who were just as unhappy as she was with being unable to go looking for Cloud.
Thankfully, for Tifa’s state of mind, the others hung around, both to catch up and to look for Cloud. It wasn’t just for him, either. They also took care to see if there were any signs of Sephiroth or the remnants around. If they had survived, they needed to be dealt with before they could cause anymore damage.
Still, when Cloud had called, sounding exhausted on the phone, Tifa couldn’t help but feel something in her chest relax. She had accepted long ago that Cloud simply wasn’t ready for anything like she had hoped, but he was still her friend.
There was a lull in the crowds that were heading to the church, as most of the closest people had already visited, and Shinra was taking water to those further out. When she had gotten a hold of the others, she had headed down with the kids, wondering why Cloud hadn’t simply come back to the bar.
Seeing the three silver haired men behind Cloud had made her pause, and push both the kids behind her. “Cloud?” she asked, eyes narrowed as she studied the men. The one who had been the most vocal of the group, what had Vincent said his name was, Kadaj?, was behind Cloud, looking at her with wide eyes. Beside him, looking bored even as he studied her back, was the one she knew had to be Yazoo. Last of all was the one she perhaps knew the best. Loz.
He smiled at her, almost hesitantly. He wasn’t really behind Cloud, more off to the side, and he was shifting in place. Not fidgeting, just making sure of his stance and foot placement.
“Before anyone starts anything,” Cloud said, voice still tired, “lets get one thing out. Tifa, they don’t have Jenova anymore. Aeris did something to them to clear it out of their system. Spent the last few days making sure they didn’t die because of that, but everyone is good now.”
“Cloud,” Tifa said calmly, “would you please come over here?” The man clearly hesitated, but moved over quickly enough, and, after telling the kids to stay away from the men, she dragged him towards the side of the church.
“Are you insane?”
There was a tired look of humor in the back of his eyes, and while Tifa was happy to see it, now was not the time. “At this moment, no.”
“Cloud, why? They kidnapped Marlene and did something to Denzel that I’m still not sure if he’s fully recovered from it.”
“And they hurt you. I know, Tifa.” And he did look somewhat contrite.
“He didn’t hurt me that bad. All together, it was a good match, and it would have been a lot more even if he didn’t have that electrical device. That’s not the point. Are they safe? Safe enough you would trust the kids with them?”
A nod. Instant and steady. “They’re alone, Tifa. Totally. No Jenova, no Sephiroth. Just me. I know technically I’m not related to them in anyway, but.... They want a family, Tifa. And they need one to keep them out of trouble. They’re young. Younger even, really, than Denzel and Marlene. No real experience for themselves at all. And, in some strange way, they are my responsibility.”
She looked at them then. Kadaj was watching them calmly, Yazoo was watching the door, and Loz was...engaged in some type of conversation with the kids using gestures and smiling.
“Kadaj,” Cloud said softly, “reminds me of me. Even a little of Zack. He’s a brat, a charismatic one, and without his “mother” pushing him, he’s lost. I’d rather get that under control now before someone else puts it to their advantage and causes more trouble. Yazoo’s an odd one. Quiet, lethal, and is a lot like Sephiroth before everything went bad. He just needs somewhere to belong to be content. And Loz just wants to be where people want him.”
He looked at her, eyes tired. “Been talking a lot. To them, to Aeris. They need me, need a family.” Blue eyes were bright as she looked back at him, then at the men. A moment of quiet asked before Cloud added, almost too low for her to hear. “Aeris asked me to.”
Or were they? Like Cloud had said, they didn’t have much real experience with life themselves. They had been Jenova’s puppets, like Cloud had been, more than once. If he deserved a second chance, didn’t they deserve a first chance? They were like kids, in a way. New, young, learning.
“They still call me brother, Tifa. Please?”
Well, really, how was she supposed to say no to such an earnest look?
///
Even with all the funds that they had donated towards getting Edge started, there was still plenty coming in from various monster bounties and Cloud’s birds to buy a new place. A desperately needed new place. With three new additions to the house, space was just too limited in the area above the bar. So Tifa and Cloud had packed up Denzel, Marlene, their things, and moved house to one of the larger buildings that had been left standing.
It was on the outskirts of Edge, with lots of room in the back. That space promptly got turned into a sparring area. One of Tifa’s demands to agreeing to this was that Cloud had to spend more time at home. No more hiding in the church. Since he had agreed, a practice space was needed. A rather large practice space, given the inhabitants in the house.
It had taken a few weeks to get settled, and Tifa still wasn’t fully comfortable with the men. They were slowly charming the others, though. Kadaj was always willing to talk to the kids about things, and it had only taken a few warnings from Tifa to get him to tone down his stories some. Didn’t need kids having nightmares with some of the things the men had done.
Yazoo was a great deal more reserved, but he had a fan in Elmyra. The woman had come by to visit the kids in their new place, and Yazoo had looked at her and gave a very, very slight smiled and called her his mother’s mother. That had caused a stir, but once it was settled, Elmyra had accepted that these boys, in a way, were her grandsons, the only ones she would ever get. They were added to the “my kids” pile, along with the other two, and she was particularly fond of Yazoo. That, Tifa decided, she was never going to figure out.
Loz had drifted for a bit, but there was definitely some leanings towards Tifa. Like everything else with them, she was unsure but slowly growing used to it.
Cloud took them on trips with him at times, just like he did with Denzel and Marlene. Usually, though, the trips they went on were a lot more dangerous than the ones he took the youngest ones on. It did make her feel a little better knowing that there was someone with him during those trips, even if it was them.
It was the day after he had gone out, Kadaj and Yazoo trailing after him like puppies, and Tifa was going through her morning practice. Too early in the day for most people to be up, she could normally go through her routine without having to deal with anyone.
This morning, she had a guest.
Loz settled on the steps by the back door, watching her with bright, curious eyes. It was a little disconcerting, and she slowed, then stopped. “What?” she asked, studying him.
“You were fun to play with,” he said simply. “Like that one Turk. Rude. Both of you don’t hold back.”
She quirked a brow. “I don’t hold back when I fight. It’s rude to your opponent, and if you are willing to fight them, they deserve all your attention.” Old lessons spilled from her mouth. It was odd sounding like her teacher. “It would have been a lot more close if you hadn’t had that thing of yours.”
He tilted his head. “My Dual Hound? It’s part of how I fight. But I wouldn’t mind playing again. If I don’t use it, can we?”
The question threw her off guard. She could use a sparring partner. Cloud was good, and they both knew that he had an insane amount of control over those blades of his, but there was really only so much they could do against each other before it started getting really dangerous. Her fists could and had cracked SOLDIER bones, and his steel could slash open even her somewhat damage resistant skin.
Plus, she really did have to admit, it felt good going out full force against someone like that. It had been a long time since she had been able to, to really let loose and really get into the fight.
“Grab a restore, and we can. Want it nearby, just in case.”
Expression lighting up, Loz padded into the house and then back out, setting a bracer carefully where he had been sitting, then continued out into the yard. He was still wearing his leathers, just like the others, and she was in her normal gear. Only thing missing was his Hound, and Tifa grinned.
This was going to be fun.
“No damaging the house,” she said, “and no damaging the neighbors houses. Other than that, lets go.”
That was all the warning she gave him before darting forward. He didn’t need more than that, shifting into a form she didn’t recognize and meeting her charge with an aggressive defense.
It was a dance. A dance of hitting and bending, shifting out of the way of strikes or taking them flat out. He had the reach on her, and an insane amount of brute strength. Neither of those really helped him. She was flexible and fast. Couldn’t damage what he couldn’t hit. Her hits were hard, but he shook them off easily.
It was the most equal fight she had been involved in for, gods, years. It all blurred, and they continued to moved. Trading hits and kicks, they wove around each other, her speed letting her land a lot more blows than him, and his moves hitting with a lot more force.
It ended in a draw when they heard a small cry, and Tifa froze, Loz doing the same a split second later, hand inches from her face. Looking over, she saw Marlene, face white, hands covering her mouth. It took only a moment to realize what the girl was probably thinking.
“No, it’s okay,” Tifa said quickly, shifting to stand up straight, not in the twisted position she had to avoid the punch. “We’re just sparring, like Cloud and I do sometimes.”
Loz smiled at the girl, who was still. Tifa sometimes wondered what had happened after Marlene had been grabbed, but despite the fact he had beat Tifa to unconsciousness and kidnapped her, the girl still liked Loz over both of his brothers.
She continued to eye them both, slowly relaxing, but not completely letting go of the tension. After a minute, Tifa nodded. “It’s okay, Marlene. I think we’re done for the day, right, Loz?”
The man nodded, and then smiled almost shyly at her. “This was fun. I like playing this game with you.” His eyes were bright green and the pupils just thin lines, and she was amazed at how they still reminded her of Cloud’s at that moment. “Maybe we’ll be able to play more later.”
Something in his tone made her wonder just what all Loz thought of as playing. But even as she tried to wrap her mind around it, he was moving and crouching in front of Marlene, asking her what she thought they might have for breakfast.
Watching them, Tifa thought about things that had already changed, and things that would most likely change in the future.
It was a lot.
Still, that was life, and she would make of it what she could.
Moving towards the house, she made a note to watch Loz more. He had her curiosity now, and Cloud could attest that she was a stubborn woman.
Now, to see what would happen next.
Just like any good fight.
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Pairing: Tifa/Loz
Author/artist:
icedark_elfRecipient:
starherdRating: PG-13
Beta:
forgottenloverWordcount: 2,251
Warnings: None, really.
Any Good Fight
The last few days had been chaotic. It really was the simplest word for everything. Between the remnants, finding out about Cloud’s Geostigma, and the fighting, Tifa could honestly say it was the most excitement that they had had for a long time.
However, even with all of that, she did not expect what she found when Cloud had called everyone to the church. The last time they had seen him was while he was fighting Sephiroth, and they lost track of him as the rain started to come down. A call from the Turks had let them know something was odd at Aeris’s church, but it had been water, not Cloud. Still, the water was the best news most of the world had ever heard, and Shinra had put his resources to good work spreading the word.
Tifa, though, worried about her friend, who was still missing. She had done odd things around the bar, wanting to be out looking for him, but unable to really abandon her responsibilities. One of which was the kids, who were just as unhappy as she was with being unable to go looking for Cloud.
Thankfully, for Tifa’s state of mind, the others hung around, both to catch up and to look for Cloud. It wasn’t just for him, either. They also took care to see if there were any signs of Sephiroth or the remnants around. If they had survived, they needed to be dealt with before they could cause anymore damage.
Still, when Cloud had called, sounding exhausted on the phone, Tifa couldn’t help but feel something in her chest relax. She had accepted long ago that Cloud simply wasn’t ready for anything like she had hoped, but he was still her friend.
There was a lull in the crowds that were heading to the church, as most of the closest people had already visited, and Shinra was taking water to those further out. When she had gotten a hold of the others, she had headed down with the kids, wondering why Cloud hadn’t simply come back to the bar.
Seeing the three silver haired men behind Cloud had made her pause, and push both the kids behind her. “Cloud?” she asked, eyes narrowed as she studied the men. The one who had been the most vocal of the group, what had Vincent said his name was, Kadaj?, was behind Cloud, looking at her with wide eyes. Beside him, looking bored even as he studied her back, was the one she knew had to be Yazoo. Last of all was the one she perhaps knew the best. Loz.
He smiled at her, almost hesitantly. He wasn’t really behind Cloud, more off to the side, and he was shifting in place. Not fidgeting, just making sure of his stance and foot placement.
“Before anyone starts anything,” Cloud said, voice still tired, “lets get one thing out. Tifa, they don’t have Jenova anymore. Aeris did something to them to clear it out of their system. Spent the last few days making sure they didn’t die because of that, but everyone is good now.”
“Cloud,” Tifa said calmly, “would you please come over here?” The man clearly hesitated, but moved over quickly enough, and, after telling the kids to stay away from the men, she dragged him towards the side of the church.
“Are you insane?”
There was a tired look of humor in the back of his eyes, and while Tifa was happy to see it, now was not the time. “At this moment, no.”
“Cloud, why? They kidnapped Marlene and did something to Denzel that I’m still not sure if he’s fully recovered from it.”
“And they hurt you. I know, Tifa.” And he did look somewhat contrite.
“He didn’t hurt me that bad. All together, it was a good match, and it would have been a lot more even if he didn’t have that electrical device. That’s not the point. Are they safe? Safe enough you would trust the kids with them?”
A nod. Instant and steady. “They’re alone, Tifa. Totally. No Jenova, no Sephiroth. Just me. I know technically I’m not related to them in anyway, but.... They want a family, Tifa. And they need one to keep them out of trouble. They’re young. Younger even, really, than Denzel and Marlene. No real experience for themselves at all. And, in some strange way, they are my responsibility.”
She looked at them then. Kadaj was watching them calmly, Yazoo was watching the door, and Loz was...engaged in some type of conversation with the kids using gestures and smiling.
“Kadaj,” Cloud said softly, “reminds me of me. Even a little of Zack. He’s a brat, a charismatic one, and without his “mother” pushing him, he’s lost. I’d rather get that under control now before someone else puts it to their advantage and causes more trouble. Yazoo’s an odd one. Quiet, lethal, and is a lot like Sephiroth before everything went bad. He just needs somewhere to belong to be content. And Loz just wants to be where people want him.”
He looked at her, eyes tired. “Been talking a lot. To them, to Aeris. They need me, need a family.” Blue eyes were bright as she looked back at him, then at the men. A moment of quiet asked before Cloud added, almost too low for her to hear. “Aeris asked me to.”
Or were they? Like Cloud had said, they didn’t have much real experience with life themselves. They had been Jenova’s puppets, like Cloud had been, more than once. If he deserved a second chance, didn’t they deserve a first chance? They were like kids, in a way. New, young, learning.
“They still call me brother, Tifa. Please?”
Well, really, how was she supposed to say no to such an earnest look?
Even with all the funds that they had donated towards getting Edge started, there was still plenty coming in from various monster bounties and Cloud’s birds to buy a new place. A desperately needed new place. With three new additions to the house, space was just too limited in the area above the bar. So Tifa and Cloud had packed up Denzel, Marlene, their things, and moved house to one of the larger buildings that had been left standing.
It was on the outskirts of Edge, with lots of room in the back. That space promptly got turned into a sparring area. One of Tifa’s demands to agreeing to this was that Cloud had to spend more time at home. No more hiding in the church. Since he had agreed, a practice space was needed. A rather large practice space, given the inhabitants in the house.
It had taken a few weeks to get settled, and Tifa still wasn’t fully comfortable with the men. They were slowly charming the others, though. Kadaj was always willing to talk to the kids about things, and it had only taken a few warnings from Tifa to get him to tone down his stories some. Didn’t need kids having nightmares with some of the things the men had done.
Yazoo was a great deal more reserved, but he had a fan in Elmyra. The woman had come by to visit the kids in their new place, and Yazoo had looked at her and gave a very, very slight smiled and called her his mother’s mother. That had caused a stir, but once it was settled, Elmyra had accepted that these boys, in a way, were her grandsons, the only ones she would ever get. They were added to the “my kids” pile, along with the other two, and she was particularly fond of Yazoo. That, Tifa decided, she was never going to figure out.
Loz had drifted for a bit, but there was definitely some leanings towards Tifa. Like everything else with them, she was unsure but slowly growing used to it.
Cloud took them on trips with him at times, just like he did with Denzel and Marlene. Usually, though, the trips they went on were a lot more dangerous than the ones he took the youngest ones on. It did make her feel a little better knowing that there was someone with him during those trips, even if it was them.
It was the day after he had gone out, Kadaj and Yazoo trailing after him like puppies, and Tifa was going through her morning practice. Too early in the day for most people to be up, she could normally go through her routine without having to deal with anyone.
This morning, she had a guest.
Loz settled on the steps by the back door, watching her with bright, curious eyes. It was a little disconcerting, and she slowed, then stopped. “What?” she asked, studying him.
“You were fun to play with,” he said simply. “Like that one Turk. Rude. Both of you don’t hold back.”
She quirked a brow. “I don’t hold back when I fight. It’s rude to your opponent, and if you are willing to fight them, they deserve all your attention.” Old lessons spilled from her mouth. It was odd sounding like her teacher. “It would have been a lot more close if you hadn’t had that thing of yours.”
He tilted his head. “My Dual Hound? It’s part of how I fight. But I wouldn’t mind playing again. If I don’t use it, can we?”
The question threw her off guard. She could use a sparring partner. Cloud was good, and they both knew that he had an insane amount of control over those blades of his, but there was really only so much they could do against each other before it started getting really dangerous. Her fists could and had cracked SOLDIER bones, and his steel could slash open even her somewhat damage resistant skin.
Plus, she really did have to admit, it felt good going out full force against someone like that. It had been a long time since she had been able to, to really let loose and really get into the fight.
“Grab a restore, and we can. Want it nearby, just in case.”
Expression lighting up, Loz padded into the house and then back out, setting a bracer carefully where he had been sitting, then continued out into the yard. He was still wearing his leathers, just like the others, and she was in her normal gear. Only thing missing was his Hound, and Tifa grinned.
This was going to be fun.
“No damaging the house,” she said, “and no damaging the neighbors houses. Other than that, lets go.”
That was all the warning she gave him before darting forward. He didn’t need more than that, shifting into a form she didn’t recognize and meeting her charge with an aggressive defense.
It was a dance. A dance of hitting and bending, shifting out of the way of strikes or taking them flat out. He had the reach on her, and an insane amount of brute strength. Neither of those really helped him. She was flexible and fast. Couldn’t damage what he couldn’t hit. Her hits were hard, but he shook them off easily.
It was the most equal fight she had been involved in for, gods, years. It all blurred, and they continued to moved. Trading hits and kicks, they wove around each other, her speed letting her land a lot more blows than him, and his moves hitting with a lot more force.
It ended in a draw when they heard a small cry, and Tifa froze, Loz doing the same a split second later, hand inches from her face. Looking over, she saw Marlene, face white, hands covering her mouth. It took only a moment to realize what the girl was probably thinking.
“No, it’s okay,” Tifa said quickly, shifting to stand up straight, not in the twisted position she had to avoid the punch. “We’re just sparring, like Cloud and I do sometimes.”
Loz smiled at the girl, who was still. Tifa sometimes wondered what had happened after Marlene had been grabbed, but despite the fact he had beat Tifa to unconsciousness and kidnapped her, the girl still liked Loz over both of his brothers.
She continued to eye them both, slowly relaxing, but not completely letting go of the tension. After a minute, Tifa nodded. “It’s okay, Marlene. I think we’re done for the day, right, Loz?”
The man nodded, and then smiled almost shyly at her. “This was fun. I like playing this game with you.” His eyes were bright green and the pupils just thin lines, and she was amazed at how they still reminded her of Cloud’s at that moment. “Maybe we’ll be able to play more later.”
Something in his tone made her wonder just what all Loz thought of as playing. But even as she tried to wrap her mind around it, he was moving and crouching in front of Marlene, asking her what she thought they might have for breakfast.
Watching them, Tifa thought about things that had already changed, and things that would most likely change in the future.
It was a lot.
Still, that was life, and she would make of it what she could.
Moving towards the house, she made a note to watch Loz more. He had her curiosity now, and Cloud could attest that she was a stubborn woman.
Now, to see what would happen next.
Just like any good fight.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
From:
no subject
Yay, the other two are here, too! :3
I think Cloud is so shaken up in the head he really only can take "kids."
... But I have four words of supreme awesomeness for this chapter:
Yazoo takes up knitting.
From:
no subject
Yep, this time all three stuck around.
*is now snickering over a knitting Yazoo*
From:
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no subject
“He didn’t hurt me that bad. All together, it was a good match, and it would have been a lot more even if he didn’t have that electrical device.
I decided, right then and there, Tifa gets cookies. Because, basically, I read, "Cloud, shut the hell up" and there much mental pouting at the unfairness of it all.
And Elmyra. Oh Elmyra. She's got more kids to feed on Thanksgiving and it'll be wonderful. I love that woman. *grins*
From:
no subject
Elmyra needs more love. Her and Ifalna both. *nods*
I swear, I work just as much of the people's families in. I play with Cloud's parents, Zack's parents, Aeris's mothers....
From:
no subject
I'm totally requesting Elmyra and Ifalna on your prompts list now. Because they would be fun.
From:
no subject
And your Tifa rocks like mountains. I don't even really LIKE Tifa, but I find the way you write her quite endearing. She's so realistic and human and just THERE that is makes me very, VERY happy to read.
Yeah, you're my hero. ^___^
From:
no subject
Tifa is fun, and I really do try to keep her human. I tell everyone the second I start bashing a character, smack me upside the head.
Yay, I like being a hero.
*adds Tifa and Loz to the list of complimented on characters* I've had Sanzo, Goku, Cid, Hojo, Rukia, Renji, and Ichigo on there.
From:
no subject
This would be interesting to see where it goes as well as those around them.
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