Leaves you no arguments to trade

[thisdesertrose.livejournal.com]

Characters: Firion and Tifa
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Firion wants to talk to Tifa about what has been going on.
Location: Lindblum
Date: March, shortly after Cloud returned to Lindblum
Warnings: None



Firion hesitated slightly as he stood in the doorway of the kitchen. The kids were outside playing with the puppy and Cloud was supervising while playing around with motorcycle thing. They had only been home for about a day now since dropping Genesis off at the Marquis Ondore's mansion (escorting a blind man, how odd!). But ever since Tifa had asked if he was also returning he felt... uncomfortable. He almost didn't want to return with Cloud. No, he wasn't scared of the woman, nor was he mad at her or anything like that. He just felt... almost unwanted. Like he didn't belong. And in a way, he probably didn't. Cloud was the only one who knew him. Marlene had warmed up to him quickly as did Denzel. But Cloud knew many people here and many did not know him.

Actually, no one did. Only Cloud. He was grateful for having been giving and roof over his head. He truly was. But now he felt a bit more like a intruder and as if he were a freeloader. Which, currently, he sort of was considering he had no definite job or a way to support himself. But he hadn't been here too long, he was still getting used to this place. However, that was the least of his worries right now. Ever since that fight these two had, Firion just felt like he was out of place here.

Perhaps he really was. Perhaps he was a partial trigger for it all. It certainly seemed like whatever these two were thinking had been building up well before he ever arrived. And now, he just wasn't sure anymore.

Finally, he gave a small knock on the frame to the kitchen and spoke softly. "Miss Tifa? May I speak with you for a moment?"

Comments

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa was cooking - something that she enjoyed, especially since she had gotten used to Lindblum cuisine. Which was why she was currently chopping up strong-smelling Gysahl pickles. The whole kitchen smelt of them.

She turned as Firion spoke, and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Firion? Sure. What is it?"

He looked rather nervous, she thought. Truthfully, Tifa was rather embarrassed that Firion had been in the house when she and Cloud had argued. She didn't know him as well as she would like - he stuck to Cloud like glue, and no wonder, poor man, when it seemed as though Cloud was the only soul he knew in Gaia.

[thisdesertrose.livejournal.com]

Firion didn't mind the smell too badly and ignored them for the most part. He walked into the kitchen, keeping a respectable distance by the counter where he stood. He was silent for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts.

He didn't want to upset Tifa with his line of thinking, he was simply curious.

"I know you don't know me very well, other than that I am Cloud's friend. And I don't know you very well, other than that you are also Cloud's friend and fiance. I am grateful for you to let me stay in your home but I wanted to ask you honestly... how do you feel about my presence here?"

Firion wasn't asking her if she liked him or hated him. Of course, knowing if she hated him or disliked him in some way would probably cement why he felt a bit uncomfortable, but he mostly wanted to know if his presence was effecting things. If it was making things worse in this household.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa blinked. She hadn't expected such a direct question, and for a moment her hand hovered over the chopping board, frozen. Then she put the knife down and leaned back against the counter.

"Are you worried that you're intruding on us?" She shook her head. "I'm sorry if I've made you feel that way at all, Firion, I didn't intend to. Any friend of Cloud's is a friend of mine, and you're welcome to stay for however long you need." She paused, wondering if she ought to reassure him more. "I know the situation is pretty strange. We're all like refugees, almost, but as long as people keep appearing here and needing somewhere to stay, I wouldn't turn them away. Especially friends." She smiled. "And it's not like you've been a problem, you get on with the children very well, and you'll always have my gratitude for taking care of them while Cloud and I were gone. If you feel like you haven't earned your place here, don't worry. You have."

[thisdesertrose.livejournal.com]

Firion furrowed his brows lightly before remaining silent, to gather his thoughts. That... hadn't been the answer he expected. It was odd to hear this now when Cloud had not only told him of her initial reaction to his leaving to get him but also the odd vibe when she had asked if he would be staying with Cloud (he didn't think she thought he had moved already, when Cloud stormed out).

Now, she was treating this as if she was used to housing refugees all the time (and maybe she was? Who knew?) and that he had earned his place. It was... still so very odd for him. Something tugged at him. But what was it?

"I... see," Firion replied softly.

He really didn't.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Firion still seemed unsure. Tifa didn't know the reason for his hesitance, but she thought she could guess.

"If this is about me and Cloud," she began, "we're dealing with it. I'm - I'm sorry you had to see that." Her cheeks reddened slightly; she wanted to sink into the ground even to mention it. "Things are tough, but we're getting through it. We've been through worse before."