[ tifa doesn't honestly want to think about seventh heaven for a lot of reasons right now. too much had gone into all of that and the price had been far, far too high at the end. those screams would haunt her for a long, long time. sometimes she could still feel that wire cable shaking in her hands, the landing they took from it, and the awful screeching sound right before the gigantic CRASH that ended so many lives and stopped avalanche's efforts in sector 7 cold.

very, very cold.

barret's reaction over marlene had been the worst. thankfully, marlene had been saved. at least they had that to cling to. but all the others who hadn't been so lucky...

tifa curls her fingers over the edge of the table, holding so tightly to it that her knuckles go white. ]

You always were my knight in shining armor... weren't you?

[ when she looks back up, her smile is soft and gentle, but very, very fond. it's a quiet sort of fondness. she never needed protecting and they both know it now, but cloud's willingness to help her, to stand in the way of anything that might threaten her, means so much to her now.

even if she's still questioning a whole lot of memories and time.

she sighs and pushes away from the table to grab the broom and start sweeping. ]

But you're right. It has to. And I'll just have to make sure it does.