[ in some ways, it's a little strange to talk about "back then." even though they had known each other since childhood, they hadn't been really close until recently, until after nibelheim burned and they lost everything and everyone, after those four years passed and something in both of them changed. tifa still remembers that trip up the mountain, when she'd thought she could find her mother at the top of mount nibel. he probably does, too.

everything had changed after that. a lot of things between them had a habit of changing in nibelheim or because of it. ]

Good thing we have time now, isn't it?

[ someone somewhere might accuse her of flirting. in reality, she's just being genuine. she's glad for the opportunity to get to know him outside of what had happened in nibelheim. now that they are both adults and not starry-eyed children.

she knows what she's getting into as an adult, in more ways than one, and she gives her head a firm shake at the out he gives her.

she's not a quitter. she won't give up this early. ]

I did this for AVALANCHE and I didn't quit then. I'm not backing out on you, either.

[ she turns her sweeping so she can pause and give him a small, encouraging sort of smile before she goes right back to it. ]

It'll be hard and I know that. I know the risks. But I'm not giving up on you.

[ there are so many implications in those simple sentences that she just keeps sweeping, even when she's done with the spot under the table. other spots on the floor need to be swept and it's a perfect cover for the slight flush of her cheeks as she looks down at the floor.

she isn't giving up on any part of him, on his memory or this cause they're now both fighting for. he won't be the only person invested in this fight; he'll have her at his side. ]