snowblind style angst

[powersouls]

[They're in one of the nicer houses at the moment. Whoever lived here must have been rich, and while the place is looking a little worse for wear, it's still huge. That makes it a pain to search, but they're also more likely to find something useful.

Royce used to collect weapons almost obsessively, but Tifa doesn't think there's much point to that now. To be fair, weapons were never at the top of her list, but now there's no one to use them against. It's not like they do anything against the anomalies, after all. Personally, Tifa always holds out hope that she'll find something silly. It's fun to tease Royce, and she's secretly trying to find something even more hideous than that sweater that she can give him.

There's a big, ornate dresser pushed up against one wall that Tifa is rifling through. She's long since stopped wondering how it's possible that they can search a house and find something that they're certain wasn't there a few days ago. It's just another mystery of the town, like what keeps restocking the supply points or how the tablets stay charged. This drawer mostly seems to be a bunch of paperwork, full of bills and things she doesn't see any use in stopping to read. At the bottom, though, she finds a fake, glittery pink flower, slightly crushed but still intact. She snorts softly, pulling it out and then glances over at Royce.]

Hey, Royce.

[He should probably know by now from that tone that she's going to do something stupid.]

Comments

[powersouls]

[Tifa brushes a few snips of hair from his shoulder, fingers lingering in an attempt to get him to relax, even just a little.]

Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie at first. They died when we tried to stop ShinRa from dropping the plate. Then Vincent, Yuffie, Cid, Nanaki, and Reeve. And Cloud and Aerith.

[Those last two names are said more softly. She still misses them.]

[bywolves]

[ He does relax. Just a little, but it's enough.

And he picks up on that tone. He tilts his head a little to glance up at her. ] You miss them.

... I've heard you mention Aerith.

[powersouls]

Yes.

[Tifa is silent for a moment as she keeps snipping, focusing on keeping the length even.]

Aerith was killed by Sephiroth. We got there just in time to see it happen.

[She still hates talking about it, even all these years later.]

She was one of the kindest people I've ever met. She didn't deserve it.

[bywolves]

[ There's a long pause, as Royce thinks about that - he's not completely apathetic about other people, he knows there's an appropriate response here. And with Tifa, he won't let that just go.

He lifts a hand to rest on Tifa's to stop her from cutting for a second, and then catches her gaze. Softer, sincere: ] I'm sorry.

[powersouls]

[Tifa smiles just a little, giving his shoulder a squeeze with her free hand.]

Me too. It's okay. It was a long time ago now.

[bywolves]

[ He lets go of her hand, settling back down to let her continue. The word still feels awkward on his tongue. Wryly: ] Time supposedly heals all wounds.

[powersouls]

[So she keeps cutting! Almost done. Man, he has a lot of hair.]

Supposedly? You don't sound very convinced.

[bywolves]

[ He didn't even realize how much. He stares at it as it falls down around him. ]

I still miss Hadrian. [ Royce says, bluntly, casually. ] And I don't think that's going to ever leave me.

[powersouls]

[Tifa stays silent as she finishes up, brushes the bits of hair from his shoulders, and then sits down on the edge of the tub beside him. There isn't much room, so she's forced to squish herself up against him.]

It might not. I still miss Aerith and Cloud, too.

[bywolves]

[ Yes, because he minds that. No - she settles down, and he reaches up to run his fingers through his newly short hair, wrinkling his nose at the loose strands that come away. ]

I don't think I want it to. [ Royce says after a moment. ]

[powersouls]

[Tifa nods, leaning into him further to rest her head on his shoulder. She's probably going to get little bits of hair on herself, but whatever.]

I don't think I want it to, either. It doesn't feel fair to them.

[bywolves]

[ When she does, Royce turns and slips his arms around her, burying his face in her hair. He's much less tense now, eyes closed. ]

Mmhm. [ He agrees, reaching to tuck her hair behind her ear - he can't stop touching, so convinced before that he wouldn't get to again. ] I'm not much, but I can at least do that for him.

[powersouls]

[She shifts again to wrap her arms around him, pressing a kiss to the side of his head.]

Don't say that.

[It still catches her off guard when he states something like that, so matter of factly.]

You're amazing, Royce.

[bywolves]

[ And she always corrects him. It makes him smile a little this time. ] Am I? I'm not the one who came back despite all odds.

[powersouls]

[She buries her face in his neck, laughing a little.]

I didn't do that.

[bywolves]

[ He huffs a laugh of his own. Gently teasing: ] I'm trying to be romantic, don't ruin this for me.

[powersouls]

[This time she kisses his neck, lips brushing against his skin as she responds.]

I'm sorry. You're being very romantic.

[bywolves]

[ He shivers! Still teasing, mirroring what she said earlier: ] You don't sound very convinced.

[ He's pleased that he's not... so terrible at this. ]

[powersouls]

[She laughs again, closing her eyes and letting herself lean against him fully.]

No, you're doing a great job. I promise.

[bywolves]

[ He keeps her close for a good while, running his fingers through her hair. Soon enough, though, he slides away a little so he can tilt her head back, lifting her chin with his fingers. He kisses her gently, almost a little shyly. ]

Could use some sleep. [ He tells her, smoothing her hair back. ] Or at least the couch and blankets.

[powersouls]

[Tifa lets out a soft, pleased noise when he kisses her, then smiles when he pulls away.]

Okay.

[She sneaks one more kiss and then stands up, offering him her hand.]

You're not allowed to freeze on me.

[bywolves]

[ He takes her hand when it's offered, and keeps hold of it with a soft hum of I won't freeze on you. Linking their fingers, he leads her out to the living room, gesturing for her to sit so he can grab some stuff.

Blanket, an extra shirt that he finds buried at the bottom of his pack, a pillow, and of course, the little owl plush. He's surprised it's lasted this long.

Royce settles on the couch with a wince, still sore, still slowly recovering, but he absolutely stays open for her to curl up with him, if she wants. And if she does, he hands her the owl, smiling. ]

[powersouls]

[She does, of course, settling against him. It's automatic at this point, as automatic as taking the owl. It's gotten a little ratty over the past two years, but it's not in bad shape.]

How are you feeling?

[bywolves]

Better. [ He shifts, and maybe pulls her a little into his lap. Brushes her hair out of her face and presses a kiss to her cheek. ]

Sore. Not hurting. I didn't move for a day, I suspect that helped.

[powersouls]

It would.

[She's completely fine with that, and she scoots her way into his lap fully, setting the owl down to loop her arms around him.]

We don't have to go far tomorrow.