[That feeling in his chest changes into more of an ache as she breaks down, his arms automatically tightening around her as he holds her close to him. He can only close his eyes and press his face against the top of her head as he listens and feels all of her emotions pour out onto him, remaining steadfast as he absorbs it all and continues to support her.
It's not the first time he's heard someone's heartwrenching wails, not the first time he's seen the raw emotions. He's even had his own share even if that had been from a distant past. But although he always felt pity or sympathy, he never felt as moved and frustrated as he does now. Never had he felt so helpless and wanting to do something to stop them from feeling this way. Yet here with Tifa in his arms, he feels exactly that. Maybe it's only because she's the first one to be like this since his own heart had opened up from its once frozen state. Maybe it's only because he's allowing himself to feel more than he used to. Maybe he could have felt like this with anyone else and she just happened to be the one right now.
Or maybe it's something else.
He doesn't know. He probably won't know for a while. All he does know is that this feeling is suffocating. Even if he remains calm on the outside, it's as if some kind of spark is kindling inside, making him restless. Yet he suppresses it and only waits—waits for her to let it out, waits for her to calm down on her own. Slowly he'll rub her back, a hand drifting to thread through her hair and support the back of her head as he keeps her nestled close against him. Waits for her to loosen that hold on him and look at him, his gaze calm and quiet even when she pushes back a little more.
Hearing her words and that shaky laugh... There's a small tug at the corner of his lips as he goes along with it.]
...I'm back.
[Even if he had never left her he knows what she means. Yet... Why does saying those two little words sound different despite having said it to countless people before?
He reaches up to once again slowly brush his thumb against her cheek and under her eyes, pushing back a few long strands of hair away.]
But this is the second time... You're not going to cry every time I return, are you?
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It's not the first time he's heard someone's heartwrenching wails, not the first time he's seen the raw emotions. He's even had his own share even if that had been from a distant past. But although he always felt pity or sympathy, he never felt as moved and frustrated as he does now. Never had he felt so helpless and wanting to do something to stop them from feeling this way. Yet here with Tifa in his arms, he feels exactly that. Maybe it's only because she's the first one to be like this since his own heart had opened up from its once frozen state. Maybe it's only because he's allowing himself to feel more than he used to. Maybe he could have felt like this with anyone else and she just happened to be the one right now.
Or maybe it's something else.
He doesn't know. He probably won't know for a while. All he does know is that this feeling is suffocating. Even if he remains calm on the outside, it's as if some kind of spark is kindling inside, making him restless. Yet he suppresses it and only waits—waits for her to let it out, waits for her to calm down on her own. Slowly he'll rub her back, a hand drifting to thread through her hair and support the back of her head as he keeps her nestled close against him. Waits for her to loosen that hold on him and look at him, his gaze calm and quiet even when she pushes back a little more.
Hearing her words and that shaky laugh... There's a small tug at the corner of his lips as he goes along with it.]
...I'm back.
[Even if he had never left her he knows what she means. Yet... Why does saying those two little words sound different despite having said it to countless people before?
He reaches up to once again slowly brush his thumb against her cheek and under her eyes, pushing back a few long strands of hair away.]
But this is the second time... You're not going to cry every time I return, are you?