isleofavalon | closed 🌠 the night is blind, so hard to find the way back home

I'll be fine, they'll heal soon enough.

[...She really is self conscious about him, isn't she? A small smirk tugs at the corner of his lips, but he maintains a neutral look as he continues to watch her. Only the small light of amusement in his eyes gives away his true feelings of this situation.

But just as he's thinking he should giver he a break and stop teasing her (why is he teasing her to begin with?), he hears those pitiful mews.

...Just as he feared.

He reaches out and pokes the kitten.]

I told you I'm not staying here. Tifa will be taking care of you so you need to get used to—

"MYA!"

[His words are cut short when Clover leaps up at him. Knowing full well those claws would fucking hurt, he quickly catches her with his hands. But doing so along with her subsequent wriggling actually makes him fall back—

Towards Tifa.]

[Really? Really!?]

What is wrong—!?

[It's all she manages to spurt out before she's screwing her eyes shut, startled by the sudden movement. Clover is able to wriggle herself free from Eustace grasp and bounces off his shoulder and back onto the bed, giving more momentum to his fall, and Tifa holds her hands out to shield herself, or to catch him...

If he doesn't save himself, he'll wind up right in her lap while Clover takes a seat to watch it all unfold, her tail curling politely around herself as if proud of the chaos she's wrought.]

[If it hadn't been for that shoulder jump he could have at least caught himself with his hands against the bed. As it is, because his body was twisting a bit and he was just sitting on the edge of the bed, he ends up losing his balance and collides into Tifa.

However the momentum and movement is such a way that he also ends up half sliding off the bed. Out of reflex he reaches out to grab something, but he realizes too late that something isn't the bedsheets but Tifa. There's a moment of shock as he looks at her before he ends up pulling her down with him with a hard thud.

At least she'll land on top of him, but... Ow.

Dammit Eria, you spread your influence onto Clover...!!!]

[Not that it's any better with him breaking her fall...

Tifa's first instinct is to grab onto something else to keep herself from falling, and in the end, takes the sheets down with them, where they flop unceremoniously to cover them both on the floor and ruining the bed that she made for Clover. Not that Clover seems to mind, because she's peering over the edge of the bed, her eyes now black from her wide, playful pupils.

And she'll meow again, but for Eustace, it will be more like "you stay!"

Tifa, on the other hand, blinks her eyes open to find herself shrouded in the dark, and realizing a few seconds later that she's had her face buried against his chest.]

Huh!?

[She pushes up and off him, but gets them both tangled further in the mess of sheets...]

[That kitten is grounded. Grounded.

But for now he just feels the dull ache at the back of his head and barely hears Clover's words... And that, too, is quickly swept away when Tifa starts moving and struggling on top of him. He had already been aware she was there but wasn't paying much notice. However, because of some certain movements he could not ignore it. Doesn't help that their legs are entangled—]

Tifa, wait—stop!

[Eustace roughly grabs her waist to try and make her still, and given that she's obviously made things worse with the sheets, at least it will look like that's the reason and not for. Another. That fortunately won't be noticeable as long as she doesn't move anymore.

It's a damn good thing he has an excellent poker face as he stares up at her, his eyes narrowing slightly into something a little more commanding. ]

[Her hands fall against his chest when she feels him stop her with his hands on her waist, but they barely stop her, and so she stumbles forward a few more inches, elbows breaking her fall instead. It brings her right up to his face, her entire body lined against him while their legs remain tangled, lips so close that he'll be able to feel her shaky, panicked breaths on his.

...

Clover continues to watch for a little longer from her spot on the bed. Should she be watching!? This feels wrong. She's only a child!

Her own gaze narrows as she stares down at him as best as she can. It's a little hard with all the blankets and her hair cascading down all over his face.]

What, we're just gonna—

[There's a shuffle from the outside and from a hole near their heads, Clover pops her head in.]

[...Seriously, what the hell is this now!? How do they keep finding themselves like this...and why is it each time he finds himself not disliking it? He's naturally tense due to the situation, but he's not actually uncomfortable. If anything—no, stop that foolishness.

If only it were so easy.

Although his eyes remain mostly focused on hers, with them now momentarily still several things are picked up at once. The way her breath tickles his lips almost teasing them, his own breathing a little steadier but slightly quickened from the sudden action. How her hands and arms press against his chest, his own still firmly gripped at her sides. Belatedly it's realized that instead of fabric what he's really feeling is the warmth of her smooth skin, her muscles taut from the tension, similar to his own. And their legs still tangled, hips just resting over his...

None of this should have made him think or feel anything other than, "We need to separate," and yet a completely different impulse is starting to develop. One that isn't helped when she starts talking because the movement can still be felt and his eyes instinctively flick down—

And for once he is grateful for that kitten because the moment Clover pops her head in the strange feeling is broken as if q bucket of cold water had been dumped on him. Honestly maybe he really does need it—]

...Just try sitting up first and get the sheets off us before she decides to do something else to make this worse.

[His brain now functioning properly again, he just tries to focus on the real problem and gives out directions. His voice is a little stiff and slightly terse, but that could probably be expected given their compromised positioning and everything leading up to it.]

[It's for the best that Clover has come to interrupt.

Especially because she can still feel the strong grip of his fingers pressing into her waist, or feel the way her entire body slides down against his as she moves find some space to push herself up, or how her nails scrape against his skin, hair tickling his chest as it trails along behind her... Or how his gaze flicks down... It makes her breath stop in her throat, catching in a sharp exhale over him.

....

Yeah, it's for the best.

Even better that the kitten replaces Tifa on his chest where she starts to make herself comfortable. And Tifa would think it much cuter if she wasn't currently straddling him under the sheets. So, she's quick to start peeling and pulling the blankets back, albeit slowly and carefully so as not to make things harder for them. Back and back and then over until she frees herself from the confines of the heavy duvet, and she gives a small gasp for air before shuffling off him and onto the floor.

With Clover on his chest, he's on his own!]

Edited 2021-10-29 20:19 (UTC)

[Again he's grateful when Clover hops onto his chest. If she hadn't... Primals he shouldn't feel tortured by this. He shouldn't even feel anything let alone tempted to just—

His hands are still on her.

Releasing a breath and keeping his gaze averted, he hastily releases his grip and one of his hands awkwardly moves to roughly pet the kitten. There's a small protesting mewl and he quickly softens his actions, but he continues wondering what the hell is wrong with him and hoping Tifa didn't notice. Given that she hasn't shown any signs of unease aside from natural expectations of their situation, he can only believe he's in the clear.

...Why is this so damn difficult... Why is she the one who makes him feel differently? He can't even blame their circumstances because he would never have felt anything remotely close to this. Whatever "this" is.

When she finally frees them of the covers and removes herself, he feels the weight of that tension finally released and can only then start to relax. Of course now he has a kitten to deal with...

Or should he just stay on the floor? Maybe that would be better—

Silently he picks up the kitten and holds her high up above his face, frowning at her. Let's stop thinking about Tifa and focus on this troublemaker.]

Look, you already caused enough problems. You're sleeping here with Tifa—

[Ah, there she goes protesting again. It's just a bunch of sad and angry mewls, but Tifa can tell from his tired expression that she's throwing a tantrum.

"No!! I'm not ready!! I want to sleep with Daddy!!"

Primals why does she keep saying that—]

I told you, I'm not your—

["I miss Mommy!! And my brothers and sisters!! I don't want you to leave me like they did!!"

....

.........

Ah....... Shit now her crying has turned to actual heartbreaking mews and he quickly sits up and holds her against him, his eyes wide as he looks up at Tifa before he looks genuinely troubled.]

...This is bad.

Edited 2021-10-29 20:50 (UTC)

[Tifa has no idea what's going on, and only watches the conversation unfold with confusion as she combs her hair back into place, avoiding Eustace's gaze still while the redness in her cheeks only starts to worsen. The implications of what Eustace is saying to Clover, or her persistent cries, don't make it any better.

She climbs up on the bed quickly, wanting to avoid any further trouble being on the floor might bring, although she has a feeling that she's in for some worse news.]

What's wrong?

[Please don't say it. Please don't say it. Please don't say it.]

[He opens his mouth to explain, but seeing her expression he hesitates and looks back down at Clover. Lips pursed into a hard line, it takes another moment before he finally speaks again.]

...She's just attached to me because I've been with her, that's all.

[In the end he couldn't quite say the truth, but she'll probably figure out the implications as he continues.]

Since this is a new place, she's just...scared. I know it's not ideal, but she might feel more comfortable if I'm in the same room. I can just be on the floor.

[He barely finishes that last sentence before Clover is crying again, even louder this time. Her meows are long, shrill, but sad, and enough to pull at Tifa's heartstrings. Enough to make her fight back a tear while she gathers up the blankets from the floor and sets it all down on the bed. The kitten hops up and stares at Eustace, drilling a hole right through his eyes.]

... Are you sure?

[Her head tilts, and her brows furrow into a frown when Clover turns and meows at her.

This is going to take a long time.]

That doesn't seem very comfortable for hi—

[MEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWWW! (Not on the floor! On the bed with me and Tifa!)

This one's got quite the mouth on her!]

[This kitten.....

But not wanting to drag this out further, Eustace sighs and slowly gets up before looking at Tifa.]

Which side?

[YEP. They are doing this. He actually considers just being there until Clover falls asleep, but if she wakes up and freaks out...

...

They're both adults, they can handle this.]

[ ....

........

???????

Tifa looks between the two of them.]

What do you mean, which side?

[Wasn't he planning on sleeping on the floor? What's going on? Someone explain!

Meanwhile, Clover's next mewl is not upset at all, but happy as she trots around to where her blanket is sprawled across the bed, the makeshift one that Tifa had made for her ruined by the chaos she'd caused earlier, but she doesn't seem to mind as she curls up in it and waits for Eustace.]

[He just looks at Clover. What happened to all those tears from before??? But while some of it really may have been a ploy, he knows the loneliness she felt is genuine.

...And he knows full well what it's like to suddenly lose one's family, how terrifying it can be to be suddenly alone surrounded by strangers and clinging into the first person who seems safe.

So he just closes his eyes briefly before looking at Clover again.]

One night.

[The kitten looks disappointed... But perhaps because Eustace had been explaining things to her for a while now that she understands a little bit. That this will be the last time she gets to sleep with him before having someone new, and it's all the more reason to be stubborn in making him stay over. Clover looks at Tifa and mews a bit, as if also trying to persuade her new "Mommy."]

If we do this she'll feel more comfortable and hopefully adjust for when it's just you. So which side should I sleep on?

Seriously...?

[Tifa's eyes flit to Clover, then to Eustace, then back to Clover.

She can't be serious... It was already enough that Eustace was being forced to stay over by her, but now?

Of course, they are adults, and they can handle it. It's not like it means anything, right? So why has that nervous fluttering in the pit of her stomach only gotten worse since he broke the news? It's not a big deal and yet, there's a burning at the tips of her ears and she can't quite bring herself to make eye contact with Eustace again.

This might actually be easier if he were wearing a shirt, you know.

Tifa hugs her knees to her chest and pulls the blanket up over herself.]

Uh, it doesn't really matter... not like I have to pick a side every other night.

[God, is she really going through with this? It's for Clover's sake, and if she wants this kitten to learn to trust her, then... Yeah, it's all for the kitten who's just lost her home and her family.

It's not like the side makes much of a difference anyway. The bed isn't very big to begin with...]

[He fully realizes how awkward this situation is, especially after...what happened on the floor just now, but as long as he thinks of it as some kind of "mission" to appease Clover and get through the night, he can keep a more calm and rational mind.

...It won't mean he won't be aware of their closeness, however.]

I know it's not the best arrangement... But it's just for one night.

[Eustace glances at Tifa with a slight apologetic look before moving to the other side of the bed. ...It really isn't that big, and he should know since he used to live in these apartments. But it should be big enough, and he assumes Clover will end up joining them and be in-between. That should work, right?]

[Tifa, on the other hand, can't think about this any other way. She can tell herself all she wants that this is for Clover's sake, but that won't make her face any less red, or the fluttering any less obvious in her stomach, and thinking about it doesn't help either. It only brings more attention to the fact that this is—for some reason—making her nervous, and she can't quite put her finger on why.

So stupid. She's a grown up. They're not teenagers. Come on.]

Right. Just one night.

[Her voice comes out sharp, more so than she intended and almost more like a warning than anything else, and she tosses the duvet across the other half of the bed for him, almost smacking him with it. Unintentionally.

And then she's laying her head down on her pillow, but her body is stiff as a board. How the heck is she supposed to relax and actually sleep like this?]

[There's a slight frown when he hears that sharpness in her voice followed by her unintentionally almost smacking him with the duvet. But it's not like he can really complain, especially since she's clearly uncomfortable about this.

...Somehow that idea annoys him more than anything else, something he realizes is not fair to her since it's only natural for anyone to feel the way she does. So he ends up getting a little irritated at himself and just gets into bed and rolls onto his side back to her.

It's just one night and all they're doing is a sharing a bed to sleep. Compared to a lot of other things they've been through, this is fairly tame if uncomfortable in different ways.]

[Tifa rolls so that her back is to his, and she's practically hanging off her end of the bed. She curls herself up, her feet accidentally bumping his as she readjusts, but she says nothing—best they just pretend it didn't happen, because it would just make the bed feel even smaller. Has it always been this small, now that she thinks about it?

It isn't even that small in comparison to what she slept on in Midgar, and it's a very comfortable bed, but having someone else in it just makes it that much more obvious...

With their backs to each other now, Tifa can feel Clover's small paws over the sheets, stepping over them to find a place to settle between them both. She wants to turn over to give her a pet for a job well done, but he'll be right there. So, she mutters into her pillow instead.]

Goodnight...

[He's a little startled when her foot brushes against his, but he pushes away the strange, awkward feeling. It's bound to happen, unless there's a giant body pillow between them there's no way they'll get out of this without accidentally touching each other. But as long as they keep their backs to each other it should be minimal...

Why is this bed so damn small—

Eustace glances back towards her before he straightens again.]

...Night.

[...He says "goodnight" to Gran everyday now, and he's said it to the others back home. So why does this feel different? Just because they are in the same bed?

...

He just closes his eyes and tries to sleep... Which is actually easier for him to do than expected. He had known he was tired, but he didn't realize how much fatigue he really had accumulated until he found himself in a comfortable bed. He would have thought this situation would still keep him tense a bit, but ironically he's actually comfortable in her company. So it's not long before he's out, already sleeping deeply as exhaustion hits him in full force. He's usually a light sleeper too, capable of waking at the slightest movement or sound that could be a threat, but that won't be the case tonight.]

[Tifa, on the other hand, doesn't fall asleep so easily. She's become hyper-aware of her surroundings, namely Clover being pressed against her back, and the warmth that Eustace gives off under the sheets that it's hard to think of anything else other than that and not rolling over and accidentally squishing the cat.

She closes her eyes and tries, but the relief of sleep never comes.

And at some point in the night, she has no idea when, the twitching, kicks, and small cries coming from behind her has her finally turning onto her other side. Clover is curled up into the tightest little ball, and even in the dark, Tifa can see her whiskers twitching. She slides a hand out from under the covers, and just as she's about to place a hand on the cat's head to comfort her, Clover lets out the saddest yowl before her eyes open and her body snaps into an alert position.

Instead of a pet, Tifa nudges the man laying on the other side to wake him, if that cry didn't already do the trick.]

Eustace...

Mmm...

[Has she ever heard him sound so sleepy and groggy? Drunk from that margarita doesn't count. But fortunately she won't have to try shaking him because the nudge alone is enough to get him at least aware and Clover's cry following him snaps him more awake.]

What happened?

[He sits up and looks at Tifa before looking down at the crying kitten.]

[Need she say more? The kitten speaks for herself, and Eustace will be able to at least understand that she's in distress, crying out for her mother and her siblings in her low, scared yowls.

Tifa is almost too afraid to touch her, like she might break if she does, so she only lays there next to Clover, her head propped up on a hand as she gently tries to lull her back to sleep. She has to give up after a few moments though, because nothing she tries to do seems to work.]

Nightmare, you think?

[Can he translate what she's saying, or is she just crying?]

[Similar to when a child cries, it's hard to really tell what it is. But he doesn't need to hear any words... He can see and understand it very plainly what it is.]

...Something like that.

[Nightmares yes, but it's more than that. Worse than that. He stares down at Clover, his expression strangely blank as if it's a mask as he first reaches out to pick up the kitten before his hand stops just a over he back.]

...Pick her up and hold her. This won't be the last time for a while, so you need to know how to take care of her and so she can learn to rely on you. What she needs is reassurance that she's not alone and that you won't leave her.

[His voice is quiet yet a little stiff, almost detached as if he's just giving instructions and nothing more, which might seem strange in this situation. It's not even him staying calm in an otherwise emotionally tense situation.]

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