Characters: Zack, Tifa, Zell, Kunsel, and... Jim? Kind of? Location: House 43 Date: Day 72 Summary: Jim tries to take out a monster and fails miserably. Warnings: Death, violence, grief? You know, Snowhell stuff.
[What other answer could she have expected? Of course he doesn't know. She had been hoping, since he's been here the longest out of all of them, that he might have a slightly better idea, but... If the way he reacts is any indication, all she's managed to do is hurt him.
Really, though, how could it make sense for Cloud to come back two weeks later? And if he did, what would that mean? After what those spiders did to Rhys and Angel while they were still conscious... She can't imagine what being revived would be like. And with Hiro and Jim...
Tifa tries to take in a few bracing breaths, but they're far sharper than she intended. She squeezes him back, briefly, wishing she could think of something comforting to say, but she can't even manage that. She finally responds shakily, her voice quiet.]
[ It takes him another minute to compose himself once more. It's cruel to lose himself again like this. Stop. Focus again, Fair. He takes a few more careful breaths. Do it if not for himself then for Tifa. For her and for Zell and for Kunsel, too. Stop it, damn it!
Only once he feels... slightly more in control of his emotions again. Only once he thinks he's got himself in check again does he softly cede. ]
I know... [ His eyes still burn. His throat feels tight again right after he speaks. But he's... getting there. He finds himself subconsciously rubbing circles against her back. Whether it's to help her or help himself, he's not sure. ]
[She rests her forehead against his shoulder and closes her eyes tightly. She knows they have to keep going. What's the alternative? Giving up and dying? But it's hard not to feel like they're being picked off one by one. All the more reason to double down on their efforts to find a way out of here, but that's such a daunting proposition when she feels like they don't know anything at all.]
I know.
[Which means he can't keep blaming himself, either. She pulls back to look up at him, reaching up to put her hands on his shoulders. Tifa pauses for a moment as she tries to figure out how to say it, her eyes flicking away and then back.]
And we have to take care of each other, right? You can't be this hard on yourself.
[ It is hard not to think that way. Really, he's trying not to. Thinking that way will get them no where. They gotta keep going, keep pushing themselves. Even if it's hard. Even if it feels hopeless. Giving up certainly won't get them anywhere. He's gotta contain himself again, gotta stand strong. No matter what. That's what they need. That's what...
Her pulling away as she does doesn't come as unexpected. But the hands on his shoulders and those words that follow... He swallows again, throat dry, as he watches her quietly, partly perplexed, partly... knowing. Eventually, he nods just a little... ] We gotta try.
[She manages a little smile. It's something, even if it's partially forced, and fades almost as quickly as it appeared. She gives his shoulders a squeeze, trying to be as encouraging as possible. They'll stick together and get through it, right?]
If you... If you need to talk, or...
[She sighs, her gaze dropping again. Sometimes she's so bad at this.]
[ The smile's at least a nudge in the right direction. Not enough to pull a smile from he, himself. But... it is enough to soften his expression. Enough to take off some of the edge of his tension. He's still not okay. He won't be for a while. But...
At least he's not alone in this.
He nods a little again. And then after a small hesitance, he pulls her close once more. He takes another careful breath in. Another one out. ] Thanks, Tifa.
[Tifa is a little surprised when he hugs her again, but she still needs it, so she squeezes back tightly. He seems... A little steadier. She knows he's not okay, and really, none of them will be for a while, but this is still something. She shakes her head again, the motion still a little difficult when she's pressed against him. It's not something he needs to thank her for, though.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Really, though, how could it make sense for Cloud to come back two weeks later? And if he did, what would that mean? After what those spiders did to Rhys and Angel while they were still conscious... She can't imagine what being revived would be like. And with Hiro and Jim...
Tifa tries to take in a few bracing breaths, but they're far sharper than she intended. She squeezes him back, briefly, wishing she could think of something comforting to say, but she can't even manage that. She finally responds shakily, her voice quiet.]
I know. I'm sorry. I just... I was hoping...
no subject
Only once he feels... slightly more in control of his emotions again. Only once he thinks he's got himself in check again does he softly cede. ]
I know... [ His eyes still burn. His throat feels tight again right after he speaks. But he's... getting there. He finds himself subconsciously rubbing circles against her back. Whether it's to help her or help himself, he's not sure. ]
But we still gotta keep moving, Tifa.
no subject
I know.
[Which means he can't keep blaming himself, either. She pulls back to look up at him, reaching up to put her hands on his shoulders. Tifa pauses for a moment as she tries to figure out how to say it, her eyes flicking away and then back.]
And we have to take care of each other, right? You can't be this hard on yourself.
no subject
Her pulling away as she does doesn't come as unexpected. But the hands on his shoulders and those words that follow... He swallows again, throat dry, as he watches her quietly, partly perplexed, partly... knowing. Eventually, he nods just a little... ] We gotta try.
no subject
If you... If you need to talk, or...
[She sighs, her gaze dropping again. Sometimes she's so bad at this.]
I'll be here to listen, okay?
no subject
At least he's not alone in this.
He nods a little again. And then after a small hesitance, he pulls her close once more. He takes another careful breath in. Another one out. ] Thanks, Tifa.
no subject