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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[Cloud is sat on the floor of his garage, working on his bike with a set of tools he has no idea how to use, but at least he hasn't broken it yet. The phone is on the floor beside him while he keeps working.]

Has anyone seen Cid Highwind? I haven't spoken to him in a while...

[He tries to start the bike engine... and there's nothing but a splutter and a whine. He sighs and accidentally smears oil on his face. Yeah, there's a reason for him asking after Cid.]

Vincent? Aerith? How've you been?

[Cloud actually looks a lot happier than he last did, and while it isn't like he's grinning there is a faint smile on his face.]

Yuffie, are things okay in Wutai? Did you manage to handle everything?

[He wrinkles his nose and just puts his tool down, facing the camera properly.] How are you, Genesis? Are your eyes still... um...

[He goes quiet and looks away.] Uh... if anyone's spoken to Cid, let me know.



[The phone has been picked up by this point and Cloud looks worried.]

Firion, did you make it to Treno okay? Did you find the orb yet? I've got to get to work soon, but I'll find time to reply to you.



[Action.]

[Cloud gives up on his bike, heading back through the house, after wiping his hands off, gathering up their puppy when he jumps at him, trying to find Tifa somewhere in the house. He wants to talk to her. Or at least just find her and... well, he hasn't planned for anything, he just wants to see her.]

Tifa? Are you home?

Comments

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Good.

[He's clean enough now, so she touches him lightly on the arm and turns to wring out the towel over the sink before throwing it in the laundry basket.

Then she looks back at Cloud. She's missed them being close too, but that doesn't change the fact that he's avoided really talking about their previous argument.]

Would you like a coffee? You look like you could do with a break.

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

I... yeah. Okay... but I've got a shift soon, so I can't sit for long.

[He smiles a little at her, but his face slips back to a blank expression pretty quickly as he tries to think of something, anything, to say. He hates feeling awkward, especially around Tifa.]

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Okay.

[Brewing up a coffee.]

When's your shift?

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

In about a half hour. [He sits at the kitchen table.]

Where are the kids? I was thinking about what to name the dog... since Marlene made me in charge of it.

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

[Tifa quickly fetches her own coffee from the living room, then sits down with Cloud, passing his coffee to him.]

Upstairs.

[She takes a sip.]

So have you got any name ideas yet?

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[He sips his coffee and shrugs a little.]

Maybe Rex. I don't know... I'm not good at this sort of thing...

[He scratches behind the dog's ear when he jumps up at him.]

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Rex? That sounds okay. I'd just like something to call him. I think the poor thing thinks his name is 'Boy' by now, don't you, boy?

[True to Tifa's word, the puppy's ears prick when she mentions 'boy' and he jumps up at Tifa too.]

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[Cloud laughs softly.] Yeah... then we'll call him Rex before he starts getting used to 'Boy'.

[He settles back in his seat, quiet as he drinks his coffee.]

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

[Tifa nods.

She drinks her coffee too, watching him pensively.]

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[And considering how awkward Cloud is, he just shrinks into himself a little.]

...what?

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

[Tifa smiles, but it's a half-serious question.]

Am I making you nervous?

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Only when you stare at me like that. [He's only slightly joking. Being watched makes him an awkward turtle.]

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Sorry.

[She looks into her coffee cup.]

Cloud... You said we needed to talk, right?

...Would now be a bad time?

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Uh... um... [And there is more shrinkage as he looks into his cup and then glances at the door, wondering if he could run away.]

I... no, I guess it's... okay...

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

You sure? You said there was something I didn't understand...

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

I don't think even I understand, really. I just... don't know...

[Cloud sighs and sips his coffee.] I just need some time to get my head straight... but I've been trying for years... and maybe...

[He shakes his head a little.] I think I just need you to be patient, o-okay? I really do want to marry you... it's just... I asked and then I think I scared myself.

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

[She nods.] Okay. I guess I thought... Well, you're a year ahead of me and it seemed like in that time we'd really progressed, so when you asked I thought that meant you were ready...

I didn't want to put pressure on you. I mean, when you asked, it was a total shock... I guess neither of us were ready, were we?

[She frowns. It's more than just the engagement. There are bigger things going on here.]

You know I want to go home. I feel like we want different things... But I don't want us to drift apart because of that.

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

I want to go home too... but even if we don't, I'm okay with that. [He sighs and draws a knee up to fold his arms on it, his chin resting on his arms.]

I still want to be engaged to you... I just think that... we shouldn't rush. An engagement is a promise so... I promise that when I'm really ready I'll tell you.

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

That's okay, Cloud, really. I don't want to rush either. Just having that promise is more than enough.

[Tifa finishes her coffee and reaches out to rest her hand on his.]

I just want us to be open with each other, that's all.

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[Cloud curls his fingers around hers and sighs softly, nodding a little bit.]

I love you. I want to make this work, because I love you... I'm tired of only ever giving things half the effort. This is important, so I want to do my best.

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

[A big smile.]

I love you too. And I want to do the same... That's why... Before I say anything more, I want to ask you... Is there anything I can do to make things better? What can I do to help you?

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

I... just don't know. I want to get better at... well, everything, really. I just don't know how to. I mean, give me a sword and I know what I'm doing. Give me a crying Marlene or Denzel and I'm just... lost.

[He laughs awkwardly, and rubs the back of his neck, much like Zack would.]

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

You mean you want me to help you with that? Cloud... I think you're a better father than you think. You're really great with them, honestly. But if you're ever unsure, you can always ask me.

[She shrugs, leaning back again.]

I mean, I'm just making this up as I go along too, you know? I didn't have a mother for a lot of my childhood. And we're both too young for this really... But we've managed, haven't we?

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[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

It's not just that, but that's one thing for sure.

[He sighs and shrugs a little.]

I guess we have. I kind of wish Barret was here, since he knows what to do better than we do...

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[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

I wish he was here too...