[With a sheepish smile, Tifa leaves the room and takes her time out in the kitchen. Longer than what she probably would need were she simply grabbing what she needed to clean up the floor because she, too, needs a moment to process everything in the quiet stillness, her own guilt threatening to overcome her completely and force her to withdraw back into her shell.
Except she knows that she shouldn't. She can't. She needs to worry about him, not herself—it wasn't her whose mind was toyed with by something again. If he can't bear his guilt on his own, then she needs to be able to shoulder some of it, too. That's what she does. That's what she's always done.
...
Though, more of his words stick to her like parasites, bleeding into her and making her worry all the more that she might be pushing too hard.
With a sigh, Tifa returns to the room with a small mop, some towels, and a full glass of water for him as promised. There's also a small plate of fresh, assorted fruits from the fridge that she sets down on his bedside table. And unless he says something to her, she's silent as she gets to work cleaning up. It isn't a big mess by any means so it won't take up too much time, but the quiet makes it feel like an eternity longer than it is.]
no subject
Except she knows that she shouldn't. She can't. She needs to worry about him, not herself—it wasn't her whose mind was toyed with by something again. If he can't bear his guilt on his own, then she needs to be able to shoulder some of it, too. That's what she does. That's what she's always done.
...
Though, more of his words stick to her like parasites, bleeding into her and making her worry all the more that she might be pushing too hard.
With a sigh, Tifa returns to the room with a small mop, some towels, and a full glass of water for him as promised. There's also a small plate of fresh, assorted fruits from the fridge that she sets down on his bedside table. And unless he says something to her, she's silent as she gets to work cleaning up. It isn't a big mess by any means so it won't take up too much time, but the quiet makes it feel like an eternity longer than it is.]