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

[starshower]

🧙 WHO: Tifa Lockhart & CR
⚔️️ WHAT: Event aftermath threads, checking up on friends, adopting a kitten
🕒 WHEN: Dated directly after the event
🗺️ WHERE: The Inn, Aerith's house
⚠️ WARNINGS: N/A

Comments

[starshower]

Your food...

[She's already grabbing his things he'd left near the couch, putting whatever she can fit into a couple small tote bags, and Clover hops down from the table to follow, pausing on the floor to meow loudly at Eustace to walk with her.

And if he does get up, by the time he arrives in the living room, she'll have nicely packed up his gear as if she was packing him lunch instead.]

[flamekthunder]

I've already finished.

[And it's true, he has a clean plate! He's also going to be nice and bring it to the sink first before joining Clover. He looks down at her with a sigh before walking into the living room, feeling a little awkward at how she's packing his things.]

...You really didn't have to do this.

[starshower]

It's fine.

[She holds out the couple of tote bags for him, checking around them for anything she might have forgotten. Even if she has, she'll be sure to return it to him later. Can't be leaving things behind when there's a family staying here.

Speaking of that...

...

.... ]

If you ever wanna visit, or need anything, I can give you the address to Aerith's. I'm sure Clover would be happy to see you.

[Tifa, too.]

[flamekthunder]

[Aerith...right, the place she's going to stay while the refugee thing is going on.

He takes the bags first, looking at everything neatly packed into them before finally answering.]

...Sure, it would be good to have on hand.

[starshower]

[She leans forward playfully, a finger tapping against the center of his chest.]

How about as soon as I hear you got home safe, I'll send it to you? Hm?

[Now he has no choice but to text her when he gets home!]

[flamekthunder]

[...Is she really.

REALLY.

He just looks at her dumbfounded before he lets out a small breath-like laugh.]

All right, I will.

[starshower]

[There's a silence that hangs there after that, because Tifa knows what she should say next. A "take care" or "see you later", but it's strange—on one hand, she wants this to end as soon as possible, but at the same time, she wants to prolong this as long as possible. She knows as soon as he leaves, Clover will be sad, and... the thought of that "see you later" is still leaving that dull twinge in her chest.

So, rather than say either of those right away, she nods, straightening.]

I promise I'll take good care of her. Clover.

[flamekthunder]

[It's an awkward silence, and he's about to just say his goodbyes and part. How strange it is that doing such a simple thing is somehow difficult...he's always able to just turn and leave at the drop of the hat, especially when he wants to get out of something troublesome. But this time...it's like he wants to linger as long as possible.

So he just looks at Tifa for a moment before he nods.]

I know.

[The words to remind her to call him if something happens or...something else to that effect come to mind, but in the end he just shoulders the bags and takes a half turn away to finally leave.]

...I'll text you when I get home.

[That is such an odd thing to say, it feels so weird leaving his mouth. But it's not a bad feeling, either.]

[starshower]

[Really, she had been joking about it earlier, but the fact that he is took it so seriously and still does is... endearing. Sweet. Not something she would have expected out of him, but is it that much of a surprise? Not quite.

Clover, who's been watching this from the couch, calls to him, and Tifa quickly moves to scoop her up to hold her against her chest.]

He has to go home. And we're going to ours.

[There's a sense of soft finality to her voice as she moves aside, giving him space to leave.]

Thank you, Eustace.

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace sees Clover's pleading eyes and can hear her sad mews. He lets out a small breath as he reaches out to pet her...

...

.......]

...Do you need help carrying anything there? I could help.

[What is he doing he's supposed to be going home???? Not sticking around??? Yet the words were out of his mouth before he even realized it.]

[starshower]

[Well, that surprises her.

She had expected him to leave it at that, turn around, and take his leave with all of his things, and Tifa isn't even sure how to answer that. On one hand, she wouldn't mind the help, but on the other..

Looking around at the half-packed suitcases sitting on the floor near the couch, and thinking back to ones that had been on her bedroom floor too...]

I haven't even finished packing... There's still so much I've got to do.

[After another brief moment of reconsidering, she gives a firm shake of her head.]

No, you should get back. Gran's probably worried.

[flamekthunder]

It's fine, I already sent him a message earlier. And if you that much, then it might be more difficult with Clover around.

[Just leave, dammit. Though Clover is loving this. Here she was, trying to beg him to stay. Did it work??]

[starshower]

[Clover is absolutely loving this. Her tail is tapping gently against Tifa's arm, her eyes wide and black with amusement.]

Eustace.

[Her voice is firmer now. If he doesn't go now, then she's never going to get anything done! And it's only going to make it harder for her to say goodbye. Clover, too.]

We'll be fine. If you stay, is it really going to be better for her in the long run?

[He does have a point, but so does she!]

[flamekthunder]

[...She has a point. And really, what came over him? So he lets out a small sigh.]

...You're right. Then I'll take my leave.

[Sad cries from Clover, "Noooooo!"]

[starshower]

[The sad cries break Tifa's heart, but... this is for the best. She gives Clover a small squeeze, a scratch behind her ears, and that seems to placate her some, her loud cries turning into small, sad mewls as she watches him as Tifa walks him to the door.]

I'll see you later.

[Sometime.]

[flamekthunder]

Later.

[Really, why does it feel so...weird to leave? But he just mentally shakes it off and only gives them both one last glance as he bids his final farewell before walking out the door.

He came over for a reason and he's accomplished it. Now he can just return home and back to his usual life. There's nothing to feel weird about.

And when he does return home, he'll do as promised and send Tifa a simple text saying he's returned home safely so she better keep up her end of the deal in giving Aerith's address. Not that he would...do anything. Given what did happen that morning, maybe a little distance would be better, until he would later ask her to join him for an outing... But that's in the future.]